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Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief Systems
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Understanding the Nature of
Religion
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems - Grade 11
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Understanding the Nature of Religion
First Edition, 2020
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Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief Systems
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Understanding the Nature of
Religion
Introductory Message
For the Facilitator:
Welcome to the Grade 11 Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Alternative Delivery Module on Understanding the Nature of Religion.
This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by
educators both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or
facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum
while overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also
aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:
Notes to the Teacher
This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and
assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the Learner:
Welcome to the Grade 11 Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Alternative Delivery Module on Understanding the Nature of Religion.
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an
active learner.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:
What I Need to Know
This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.
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What I Know
This part includes an activity that aims to
check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.
What’s In
This is a brief drill or review to help you link
the current lesson with the previous one.
What’s New
In this portion, the new lesson will be
introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.
What is It
This section provides a brief discussion of
the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.
What’s More
This comprises activities for independent
practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.
What I Have Learned
This
includes
questions
or
blank
sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.
What I Can Do
This section provides an activity which will
help you transfer your new knowledge or
skill into real life situations or concerns.
Assessment
This is a task which aims to evaluate your
level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.
Additional Activities
In this portion, another activity will be given
to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned. This also tends retention
of learned concepts.
Answer Key
This contains answers to all activities in the
module.
At the end of this module you will also find:
References
This is a list of all sources used in
developing this module.
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The following are some reminders in using this module:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
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What I Need to Know
Great day, Grade 11 learner! Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems subject. Why is there a need to study religion? Religion has
been in existence since the earliest time of humankind. ‘Wherever humankind
inhabits, religion too exists.
This module will introduce you to various Concepts related to religion,
expound on the origin of religion, and evaluate the many roles religion plays in
people’s everyday lives.
Religious ideas have helped inflame animosity and discord that shaped
conflicts and give rise to oppression and tyranny. Conversely, religious traditions
have also created a strong backbone that shaped the importance of peace, justice,
equality, toleration, and brotherhood.
May you have a significant journey in discovering religions and belief
systems as you follow through the process offered to you in the module.
At the end of this learning process, you will be able to:
❖ demonstrate understanding of belief system, religions, spirituality,
philosophy of religion, and theology.
Specifically, you should be able to:
a. explain the meaning of religion and belief system through the activities
provided in this module;
b. explain the role of religion in man’s existence and his role in the world;
c. describe the different kinds of beliefs and belief systems; and
d. explain how religion and belief system are helpful towards personal outlook
in life.
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What I Know
Self- test: Write your own views, practices, and beliefs since you were a child. List
each of them below.
1. I believe in/that ____________________________________________________________
2. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
3. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
4. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
5. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
6. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
7. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
8. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
9. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
10. I believe in/that _____________________________________________________________
What’s In
Interview: Conduct an interview to three people with different religions who are
near you. Use the following questions below to gather data. Write the information
gathered on a separate sheet of paper.
Guide Questions for the interview:
1. What is your religion?
2. Why did you choose this religion?
3. What influenced you to join this religion?
4. What beliefs or practices in your religion that you follow
faithfully?
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What’s New
Activity: Concept Map
Directions: Study the concept map below. Write what you know about these religions.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Rubric
Criteria
Content
Organization
Development
Description
Points
The content was well thought
of guide questions were
thoroughly answered
The paper was well written
with ideas easily conveyed to
readers
Points are thoroughly
developed
7
Points
Obtain
7
6
Total: 20
Processing Questions:
1. What does this concept map say about religion?
2. Does God reveal Himself to people? How?
3. As a senior high student, how does your own belief system help you to become who
you are at the moment?
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Let us discuss.
Understanding Beliefs and Worldviews
When we were young, we heard about beings not belonging to our world, spirits
that scare us. We believe in superstitions like “pag-pag” or any related old ways. Some
exorcism by priests, pastors or mostly “albularyo’s”. We have prayers like “salat” of
Islam, rosary and novenas for the Catholics, bible studies, praying over, and many
more. Some maybe an altar server, an angel during “salubong” or “sugat”, a member of
youth ministry, a lector or bible ministry, a choir member, or at least have known
some in your church.
These however, have honed your faith, spirituality, philosophy, and your
personal view of religion. It is by natural law to believe to that supernatural power as if
it is written in our hearts even before we were born. This experience of the human race
creates hundreds if not thousands of religions even beyond the recorded history. Many
have lived and even died because of these beliefs. This phenomenon shapes human
history including cultures, traditions, arts, and many more.
The belief to something sacred connects them to the supernatural reality of the
Supreme Being or God who is in nature holy. Various religions have different mode,
style, and system of worship in sacred places like the church, mosques, temples,
chapels, and many more. Despite diversity of views, we are united through reason in
creating harmony and peace.
We have different kinds of belief making us unique and diverse. This is a
phenomenon of religion. Let us discover different kinds of view that we may widen or
perspective about each other’s beliefs.
Kinds
Description
Monism
There is no distinction between God and the Universe.
Polytheism
The belief and worship of many gods.
Monotheism
The doctrine or belief in One Supreme God.
Atheism
Disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god.
Agnosticism
God cannot be known.
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What is It
Origins of Religion
Worldview are beliefs
used to understand the world
and beyond.
Belief systems
are the stories to
define our
personal reality.
Religioncomes
from
the
Latin
word
‘Religare’ - which means to
bind fast together or to
create a system of attitudes
and beliefs.
Theism means that
God or god’s created
everything in the universe
and is actively participating
in all its activities.
Naturalism
believes that all
that exist is the
material universe
and there is no
God behind it.
Deism
believes
that God or gods created
the universe but is no
longer participating in
its activity.
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Panentheism is
a belief that God
or gods are the
inner spiritual
essence of
everything in the
Universe.
Monotheism is a
belief in one God.
Polytheism is a
belief in many gods.
Sacred means
something that
possesses holiness.
Religious Rituals are
religious rites which are the
sacred customary ways of
celebrating a religion or
culture.
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What’s More
Directions: Provide the information needed in the graphic organizer below.
What is your religion?
What are your beliefs about your religion?
Answer the following questions below.
2. Are there beliefs
that you do not
practice anymore?
Why? Give
examples.
1. How do these beliefs shape
you as a person?
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What I Have Learned
Directions: Complete the following statements.
1. Theism believes in the existence of one god viewed as the creative source of the
human race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world.
2. Monism believes
____________________________________________________________
3. Polytheism believes
________________________________________________________________
4. Monotheism believes
________________________________________________________________
5. Atheism believes
________________________________________________________________
6. Agnosticism believes
________________________________________________________________
7. Panentheism believes
________________________________________________________________
What I Can Do
Directions: Write a 150-word essay about religion and how helpful is it towards
your personal outlook in life.
Criteria for Essay
Criteria
Content
Organization
Development
Description
Points
Guide questions were thoroughly
answered
The paper was well written with
ideas easily conveyed to readers
Points are thoroughly developed
7
14
7
6
Total: 20
Points
Obtain
Assessment
Directions: Match the descriptions in Column A to the terminologies in Column B.
Write the letter of the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Answer
Column A
1. A belief in God’s existence is viewed as the
Column B
a. Theology
creative source of the human race and the world
2. Relating or affecting the human spirit or soul
b. agnosticism
that is one’s personal integrative view.
3. The belief that there is only one God who could
c. polytheism
have designed and created the universe.
4. The belief in many principal gods, among whom
d. theism
no one is supreme.
5. The belief that there is no genuine distinction
e. worldview
between God and the universe
6. Denial of the existence of God
f. monism
7. The belief that God’s existence is unknown and
g. monotheism
unknowable.
8. An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and
h. atheism
rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.
9. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe
i. religion
held by people
10. The systematic study of the existence and
j. spirituality
nature of the divine
11. To bind or to tie
k. naturalism
12. Something that possesses holiness
l. deism
13. God created everything but is no longer active
m. panentheism
14. God is the essence of everything
n. religare
15. All that exist is only material
o. sacred
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Additional Activities
Directions: Read and answer the questions below. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. How does religion help explain man’s existence and man’s role in the world?
2. How did religion originate? Cite key theories to support your answer.
3. What are the common characteristics of religions?
4. Do you agree that the universe is designed and created by a single divine being
or God? Explain your answer.
5. How can an individual lead a spiritual life? Cite some examples.
Rubric
Criteria
Description
Points
Points
Obtain
Content
Guide questions were thoroughly
7
answered
Organization
The paper was well written with ideas
7
easily conveyed to readers
Development
Points are thoroughly developed
6
Total: 20
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Assessment
1. d
2. j
3. g
4. c
5. f
6. h
7. b
8. i
9. e
10. a
11. n
12. o
13. l
14. m
15. k
Answer Key
References:
Auboyer, Jeannine. Daily Life in Ancient India (From 200 BC to 700 Ad). London:
Phoenix Press, 2002.
Bowker, John. World Religions. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1997
Brown, David A. A Guide to Religions (TEF Study Guide 12): Quezon City:
New Day Publishers, 1987.
Clasper Paul. Eastern Paths and the Christian Way. Quezon City: New Day
Publishers, 1992.
Ember; Carol R & Melvin Ember. Anthropology (Eight Edition). New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall, 1996.
Harvey, Graham. Contemporary Paganism: Listening People, Speaking Earth.
New York: New York University Press, 1997.
Jerome A. Ong and Mary Dorothy dL. Jose. Introduction to World Religion.
Department of Education Republic of the Philippines, Vibal Group,
Inc. 2016
King, Jenny. World’s Religions: Know and Understand the Different Beliefs.
Worldlink Books 2002.
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