Department of Education

Bureau of Learning Delivery Teaching

and Learning Division

Supplementary Learning Modules

for Senior High School Learners
Grade Level: Grade 11
Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Semester: First Semester (WEEK 1)

LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Differentiate the concept, elements and characteristics of belief system, world view,
religion, and spirituality.
 Belief System, World View, Religion, and Spirituality

K-12 Senior High School curriculum offers distinct tracks and strands to the learners that
surely would develop their promptness in mind, acquisition of suitable 21st century competencies in
the level of knowledge and skills to pursue better lives for themselves, their families, and their
community. Thus, one of its learning areas is the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems.

Religion is always been part and a powerful dimension of human experience. According to
Viktor Frankl, being human always points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than
oneself – be it a meaning to fulfil, or another human being to encounter. It is in the nature of human
beings to be religious, to go beyond oneself in the service of something or someone usually
perceived as greater than oneself and as a source of meaning and well-being.

This module will discuss the origins of great religions, their fundamental teachings, the
influence they bring, and the relevance of these religions in modern times. It will introduce you to
the various concepts related to religion, expound on the origin of religions, and evaluate the many
roles being played by religion in people’s everyday lives.

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1.1. Give an example of a belief system or a worldview. HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIa-1.1
1.2. Differentiate religion from:
a. Spirituality
b. Theology
c. Philosophy of Religion HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIa-1.2
1.3. Infer that:
a. A belief system or worldview is a particular way of ordering the realities of one’s world.
b. Religion is the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred belief system.
c. Spirituality is one’s integrative view of life. It involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate
value of life as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. HUMSS_WRB12-
I/IIIa-1.3
1.4. Prepare character sketches of a person who is spiritual but not religious and a person who
is religious but not spiritual.
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIa-1.4

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Direction: List down 10 things that you believe in by completing the following statements. What
have you observed in your own set of belief system.

1. I believe that__________________________________________________.
2. I believe that__________________________________________________.
3. I believe that__________________________________________________.
4. I believe that__________________________________________________.
5. I believe that__________________________________________________.
6. I believe that__________________________________________________.
7. I believe that__________________________________________________.
8. I believe that__________________________________________________.
9. I believe that__________________________________________________.
10. I believe that__________________________________________________.

Task 1: Find a religious item or a picture that shows a part of your religious activity/ritual at
home. Describe the item or activity/ritual guided by the questions below.

For religious item:

1. What is this item?
2. What is it used for? What is its meaning or importance?
3. How does it connect you to God?
4. What does it say about God?
5. How is it supposed to guide the believer on how to behave and relate with others?
For an activity or ritual:
1. What is this activity/ritual?
2. Describe how it is performed?
3. How does it connect you to God?
4. What does it say about God?
5. How is it supposed to guide the believer on how to behave and relate with others?

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Task 2: Find two adult believers in your home. These can be your parent, elder siblings or
grandparents. Interview them separately using the guide questions below.

Interviewee 1
1. What is one core belief in your religion? What is its relevance to your daily life?
2. What is the highest form of worship in your religion? Why is it considered so?

Interviewee 2
1. Name one important law observed by a follower of your religion. What does it bring about
in the individual and community?
2. Identify one story or myth that the community of believers read from your religion’s
sacred writings. What truth does it convey about life or relationships?

Belief in god or gods is found in almost religion. There is a good reason to presuppose that
religion had existed during prehistoric times and that there seems to be universality in religion in the
modern period. Human life may have may have produced hundreds of religions and belief systems.

RELIGION

ATHEISTIC AGNOSTIC MONISTIC MONOTHEISTIC POLYTHEISTIC

Theism is defined as a belief in the existence of one God viewed as the creative source of
the human race and the world who transcends yet is imminent in the world. Theism is often used as
a synonym to monotheism. Monotheistic religions claim that there is only one god who could have
designed and created the universe or may have directed all events that led to the creation of
everything. Examples of this include Judaism, Christianity and Islam. On the other hand,
Polytheistic religions recognize many principal gods wherein no one is supreme. These include
the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Monism asserts that is no genuine distinctions
between god and the universe, two implications arise from this belief. Firstly, it contends that god is
dwelling in the universe as part of it. Secondly, the universe does not exist at all as a reality but only
a manifestation of the phenomenon of god. Lastly, atheists do not believe in the existence of any
god while agnostics deny the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of god.
Religion is defined as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship
a god or a group of god. It came from a Latin word religio which means to something done with
overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail. It refers to an expression of proper piety, which is,
binding to God. It was then used to designate formal belief systems and tenets.
While religion refers to any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning a supernatural
power, the term theology involves the systematic study of the existence and nature of the divine.
Theology is a particular branch of study concerning the nature purpose of god that may undertake
using lens of a certain group, such as feminist or liberal theology. In short, theology is a systematic
formulation of religious beliefs.

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 For thousands of years, people have been searching and yearning to understand the mystery
of life and universe. There may come a point when they experience dryness and meaningless life.
This is where spirituality comes in, being defined as relating or affecting the human spirit or soul
as opposed to a material or physical things. Spirituality can be manifested in quite a number of ways
like a person may believe in the presence of an overwhelming power greater than oneself or perhaps
a person can be fully mindful of one’s purpose in life. Spirituality is something an individual can have
without being implicated in the ambivalent complexity of human societies and institutions.

Religion may refer to any set of attitudes, beliefs and practices aimed at communicating or
propitiating with supernatural beings. Human may recognize a superhuman being controlling power
that seeks worship and obedience from them. While religions are frequently viewed as set of ideals
practiced and followed by organized groups, spirituality involves one’s integrative view of life that is
more personal while affecting the human soul.

Task 3: In a short bond paper, differentiate a spiritual person from a religious

person. Illustrate it and explain in three sentences only.

Spiritual Person Religious Person

____________________________ _____________________________

Task 4: Write a one page essay on the topic “Religion: What does it mean to me? Make
sure to include in your essay the different values your religion may have instilled in
you and the various guiding principles that you adhere in your life while mindful of
your religion.
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 RUBRIC FOR ESSAY
POINTS
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS
EARNED
Content The content was well thought of; guide
7
questions were thoroughly answered
Organization The paper was well-written with ideas
7
easily conveyed to readers
Analysis Analysis was clear and concise based on
6
the data presented
Total: 20

I have learned that ________________ ________________ ______.

I have realized that ______________ _________________ _____.
I will apply _____________ _________________ _______________.

Match Column A with Column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on the blanks
provided.
A. _____6. Denial on the existence of god
_____7. The belief that god is unknown
_____1. A belief in the existence of one and unknowable
God viewed as the creative _____8. An organized system of beliefs,
source of the human race and the ceremonies, and rules used to
world worship a god or a group of gods
_____2. Relating or affecting the human _____9. A collection of beliefs about life
spirit or soul that is one’s and the universe held by people
personal integrative view on life _____10. The systematic study of the
_____3. The belief that there is only one existence and nature of the divine
god who could have designed
and created the universe
_____4. The belief on many principal
gods wherein no one is supreme
_____5. The belief that there is no
genuine distinction between god
and the universe.
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 B.

a. theology

b. agnosticism

c. polytheism

d. theism

e. worldview

f. monism

g. monotheism

h. atheism

i religion

j. spirituality

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Glossary

Agnosticism - deny the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of god

Atheism - do not believe in the existence of any god
Monism - asserts that is no genuine distinctions between god and the universe
Monotheism - claim that there is only one god who could have designed and
created the universe or may have directed all events that led to the
creation of everything
Polytheism - recognize many principal gods wherein no one is supreme
Religion - defined as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to
worship a god or a group of god
Spirituality - defined as relating or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to a
material or physical things
Theism - defined as a belief in the existence of one God viewed as the creative
source of the human race and the world who transcends yet is imminent
in the world
Theology - systematic study of the existence and nature of the divine
Answer Keys:

Task 1 – Answers may vary

Task 2 – Answers may vary
Task 3 – Answers may vary
Task 4 – Answers may vary
Task 5 – Matching Type

1. D 6. H
2. J 7. B
3. G 8. I
4. C 9. E
5. F 10. A

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References:

TEXTBOOKS
Ong, J. A. and Jose, M. D. dl. (2016). Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems (Senior High School Textbook) Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd
Complex Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600, Vibal Group

Manaloto, C. B. and Rapadas, M. T. R. (2016). Pilgrimage to Sacred Spaces: An

Introduction to World Religions 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, The Phoenix
Publishing House Inc.

Prepared by:

MARVIN P. SUBRIDA
Teacher II
Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI

Evaluated by:

NESCEL P. PANES, PhD JUNAL M. MARCON, PhD

Education Program Supervisor Master Teacher I
Schools Division of Passi City Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI Region VI

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