UNDERSTANDING RELIGION

AND BELIEF SYSTEM

By: joan richele c. estrada

LEARNING MODULE IN INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION AND BELIEF SYSTEMS 1

(Cauayan City National High School-SHS Department)
INTRODUCTION

Religion has been a part of our culture. It provides codes and guidelines on how people behave, act and
believe. It sets a parameter into the belief systems and practices of each societal groups—that makes religion a
very complex study. In addition, religion is a concept that is very contentious among scholars because it has no
particular definition due to diverse belief systems. Hence, concepts about religion is still vague that Sociologists
find time to study this.

This module focuses primarily on the definition of religion, and its origin. This module will let the learners
discuss and appreciate the importance of religion in their lives. Also, this module allows learners to uphold their
belief system, and value others belief.

Subject Matter: Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems

Grade Level: Grade 12, Humanities and Social Sciences

Quarter: First Quarter, 1st Semester

Week: Week 1, Day 1

Time Allotment: (60 minutes)

MATERIALS:

 Pen Marker
 Tables, Semantic Web, Pie Chart
 Printed Pictures
 Manila Paper
 Powerpoint Presentation

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(Cauayan City National High School-SHS Department)
I. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, the learners are expected to:

1. Identify the origin of belief systems, religion of each groups.

2. Differentiate religion and spirituality.
3. Discuss and explain the importance of religion and the belief systems of each societal group.

Activities:

1. Guess what?
2. Mind the graph!
3. Let’s measure your understanding..

II. MOTIVATION (15 minutes)

Guess What?
In this activity, the students will identify the societal belief system as per symbols presented in the
roulette.

Directions: In this game, the learners are group into two (2). Each group shall have 8 members. The group
members will identify the belief systems behind the symbols presented in a roulette. The teacher will
rotate the roulette and the icon which the arrow points will have to be identify by the learners. The group
with the highest score will be the winner.

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III. LECTURE PROPER (25 minutes)

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF RELIGION

Similar to social institution, religion pervades many aspects of our daily living. In fact, religion
is a part of our culture together with customs, traditions and values. Religion provides guidelines, code
of conduct, belief systems, and practices that each group of society follows. Religion has become a
part of one’s identity and society. Religion reflects the kind of society a particular region would have.

Religion is defined as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially
a personal god or goddesses because they believe that there is something under this world. It is also
the "ideas about the relationship between science and religion. In addition, the study of religion
includes the belief systems of each region of the world. In a belief system, set of principles or tenets
are put together from the basis of a religion, philosophy, or moral code. Belief is an acceptance that a
statement is true or that something exists.

In the precolonial period, people are

chained with the idea about Animism. Animism
is the belief in a supernatural power that organizes
and animates the material universe. It is the
attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects,
and natural phenomena. During this period,
religion is homogenous. The beliefs every group
accepts is very common. Only this time that
religion has been differentiated since ideas and
philosophies of proponent differ.

Every region of the world has a

contribution to the World’s Religion. In India,
the oldest religion Hinduism was founded by
the Aryan people of India. In China, Confucius
founded the Confucian Philosophy which was
patronized by the people and later developed as
a religion. In Japan, the Prehistoric animists

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people started Shintoism. In Israel, Abraham and Moses started to educate the people about Judaism.
Today, the two biggest population in Religion are Christianity and Islam.

TRIVIA BOX

It is important to recognize that religion and religious movements have a massive impact on
our society. Generally, these influences are varied and both negative and positive influences can be
determined. Furthermore, study of world’s religion allows us to understand and see similarities and
differences of societies and nations philosophically and theoretically. Study of religion, in addition,
made and brought people together, removing highly build barriers from among cultures and societies.

Unarguably religion has played a

big aspect of our society and culture
since the beginning of human
civilisation. The origins of religious
beliefs in our ancestors remain
uncertain, yet according to social
scientists, the great world religions
started as the movements of
enlightenment and revitalization for
communities seeking more
comprehensive answers to their problems.

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 Processing Questions:

1. What is religion?
2. How does religion affect the lives of the people?
3. What are the positive effects of having religion?
4. How does animism affect the lives of the people during the precolonial times?
5. How does religion affect the moral principle of a human being?

IV. APPLICATION (10 minutes)

Mind the graph!

Procedure: In this activity, the learners will fill the graphs with information that corresponds a
particular philosophy, belief system, and religion. Give learners a copy of a graphic organizer, and
do the task within 10minutes.

RELIGION/ SYMBOL FOUNDER COUNTRY IT

PHILOSOPHY ORIGINATES

1. _____________ 2. _____________ ISRAEL

Shintoism 3. __________________ Animistic People 4. ______________

Islam 5. _____________ 6. _____________

7. _____________ 8. _________________ Lao Tzu China

Hinduism 9. _____________ 10. _____________

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V. REFLECTION (5 minutes)

Procedure: In a sheet of paper, the learners will create a chart of beliefs. This table allows them to
share their unique beliefs, this will help them identify beliefs from other religion/philosophy and their
reactions and reactions about the newly learner belief.

THE CHART OF
BELIEFS
What are the beliefs your religion has shared you?

What are the beliefs your classmates have shared that

differ from the teachings of your religion?

How would you deal with the beliefs of other people?

What are your reactions and realization upon
knowing some of their beliefs?

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 VI. EVALUATION (10 minutes)

LET’S MEASURE YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

Procedure: In a sheet of paper, the learners are tasked to react on the statement stated below. The
learners will provide their insights and learnings gained from the discussion.

1. “A person can be spiritual, but not religious, can be religious but not spiritual.”

VII. ASSIGNMENT

Ask the learners to bring reading materials (e.g, articles, booklets, pamphlets, and book related to
religion). Ask the students to review the concepts, idea and principles regarding the positive and
negative effects of religion. The learners will conduct a debate the next day.

References:

Introduction to World Religions and Belief System, First Edition (REX Book Store)

Introduction to World Religions and Belief System, TEACHER’S MANUAL

Web Resources:

https://www.kettlemag.co.uk/article/what-role-religion-society-today

http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/sociology/the-role-of-religion-in-society.html

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