Introduction to

World Religions
and Belief Systems
11
Quarter 1
Week 2
1Module1
Module4
ORIGINS OF RELIGIONS:
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Quarter 1 – Week 2- Module 4: Origin of Religions: Historical Background
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education Division of Pasig City

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Maribeth C. Paragas and Helen Grace O. Gutierrez

Editor: Joseph Mervin B. Camacho
Reviewers: Bernard R. Balitao / Lazaro P. Torres Jr.
Illustrator: Danim R. Majerano
Layout Artist: Danim R. Majerano , Clifchard D. Valente
Management Team: Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent
Aurelio G. Alfonso, Ed. D.
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Victor M. Javeña, Ed. D.
OIC – Chief Curriculum Implementation Division
Chief School Governance and Operation Division

Education Program Supervisors

Librada L. Agon EdD (EPP/TLE/TVL/TVE)
Liza A. Alvarez (Science/STEM/SSP)
Bernard R. Balitao (AP/HUMSS)
Joselito E. Calios (English/SPFL/GAS)
Norlyn D. Conde EdD (MAPEH/SPA/SPS/HOPE/A&D/Sports)
Wilma Q. Del Rosario (LRMS/ADM)
Ma. Teresita E. Herrera EdD (Filipino/GAS/Piling Larang)
Perlita M. Ignacio PhD (EsP)
Dulce O. Santos PhD (Kindergarten/MTB-MLE)
Teresita P. Tagulao EdD (Mathematics/ABM)

Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education – Schools Division of Pasig

City
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems Module on Origin
of Religions: Historical Background!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by educators

from Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its Officer-In-Charge Schools
Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin in partnership with the
Local Government of Pasig through its mayor, Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto.
The writers utilized the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum using the Most
Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) while overcoming their personal, social,
and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Character 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. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners
as they do the tasks included in the module.
For the learner:
Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems Module on Origin
of Religions: Historical Background!

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner
is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

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 material while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectation - These are what you will be able to know after

completing the lessons in the module

Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the

concepts to be mastered throughout the lesson.

Recap - This section will measure what learnings and skills that
you understand from the previous lesson.

Lesson- This section will discuss the topic for this module.

Activities - This is a set of activities you will perform.

Wrap Up- This section summarizes the concepts and

applications of the lessons.
Valuing-this part will check the integration of values in the
learning competency.

Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from
the entire module.
 EXPECTATION

In this lesson, the students are expected to:

a. Cite regions or places where specific religions evolved.
b. Identify the historical context of the different religions.
c. Explain how geography influences religion and religion affects culture.

PRE – TEST

Directions: Read the questions and encircle the letter of the correct
answer.

1. The following are the three Abrahamic religions except ______________

a. Buddhism c. Islam
b. Christianity d. Judaism
2. Who among the following was considered as the Muslim’s final prophet?
a. Abraham c. Jesus
b. Ishmael d. Muhammad
3. He was regarded as China’s greatest philosopher.
a. Buddha c. Lao Tze
b. Confucius d. None of the choices
4. What does it mean by the term Shinto?
a. Way of gods c. Way of nation
b. Way of Japan d. Way of people
5. He is called the “father of many nations”.
a. Abraham c. Jesus
b. Ishmael d. Muhammad

RECAP

Identify the theories on the origin of religion by filling out the missing letters.
Use the given pictures as your hint.
 1. A_ I M _ S M 2. THEORY OF O _ I G _ _ A L M _ _ O TH _ _ SM
2.

3. N _ _ U R _ W _ _ S _ I P THEORY 4. M _ _ _ C THEORY

5. W_ _ H FU _ F _ _ M _ NT

LESSON

ORIGINS OF RELIGION: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The table illustrates some significant dates in the history on the establishment
of several world religions.
Date (circa) Significance
c. 2000 B.C.E time of Abraham, the patriarch of Israel
c.1200 B.C.E time of Moses, the Hebrew leader of the Exodus
c. 1100- 500 B.C.E Hindus compiled their holy texts, the Vedas
c. 563- 83 B.C.E time of the Buddha, founder of Buddhism
c. 551 – 479 B.C.E time of Confucius, founder of Confucianism
c. 200 B.C.E the Hindu book, Bhagavad Gita, was written
c. 2 to 4 B.C.E -32 C.E time of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Founder of Christianity
c. 32 C.E the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
c. 40- 90 C.E the New Testament was written by the followers of Jesus Christ
c. 100 C.E beginnings of Shintoism (no known founder)
c. 500- 580 BCE. time of Lao Tze, founder of Daoism
c. 570 – 632 C.E time of Muhammad, who recorded the Qur’an as the basis of Islam

THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM

The prophet and patriarch Abraham played a major role in the
establishment of the three monotheistic religions: namely, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam, these organized religions are collectively known
as Abrahamic religions. The Jewish people regard Abraham as the
ancestor of the Israelites, through his descendants Isaac and Jacob. The
Muslims consider Abraham’s son Ishmael as the ancestor of the Arabs.
The Christians view Abraham as ‘father in faith’ as narrated in the
Bible and the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
The ancient Hebrews call their God Elohim, Adonai, or Yahweh.
Present-day Judaism uses the names “Lord” and “God.” For the Muslims,
they call their God as Allah. In addition, prophets and apostles play major
roles in these religions. Judaism has 48 prophets and seven prophetesses.
In Christianity, the 12 apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus Christ,
some of whom wrote parts of the New Testament. For the Muslims, they
believe that Muhammad is the final prophet or the “Seal of the Prophets.”

THE INDIAN MOSAIC

Religion is an essential part of the Indian tradition. Four great
religions originated in India – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism –
and a myriad of minor cults and local sects. Hinduism perfectly reflects
Indian heterogeneity with its eclectic, diversified, and assorted ways of
religious expressions that are quite confusing to outsiders. It has no
specific founder, no one sacred book, and with innumerable gods and
goddesses that any Hindu can venerate. As such, Hinduism can be
considered as a ‘museum of religions’ (Israel and Grewal 1989).
Through Siddharta Gautama, Buddhism was established. Through his
meditations, he was able to identify ways on how to avoid human suffering.
THE WAY OF THE DAO

Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest, dating back almost

4,000 years ago. Even during the olden days, the Chinese had already
endeavored to establish and attain good governance (Perry 1988). China
adopted Kung Fu-Tzu's (Confucius) ideals and ethics as the nation
developed meritocracy as a basis for government officials. Confucius is
regarded as China’s greatest philosopher and teacher who lived at the
same time as Siddhartha Gautama in India (Perry 1988).
 Meanwhile, mysteries abound the birth and personal life of Laozi
(Lao-tzu) who may have written Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching or The Book
of the Way and its Power) around the 6th century B.C.E

On the other hand, Shintoism is a loosely organized local belief of Japan,

somewhat an ardent religious form of Japanese patriotism (Hopfe 1893).
Its mythology highlights the superiority of Japan over other lands.
Shrines celebrate great heroes and important events in Japan’s history.
The term ‘Shinto’ was coined around the sixteenth century C.E. to
distinguish native belief. The term actually originated from the Chinese
words shen and tao roughly translated as the ‘way of the gods’.

ACTIVITIES
Activity 1, Directions: Make a genealogy of Abraham and answer the given
questions. Write your answers on the space provided.

1.a) GENEALOGY OF ABRAHAM

1.b) Supply what is asked:
1.b.a. Who is viewed by the Christians as their “Father of Faith”?
______________________
1.b.b. Regarded by the Jewish people as the ancestors of the Israelites.
____________________
1.b.c. He is considered by the Muslims as the ancestor of the Arabs.
______________________
1.b.d. Regarded by the Christians as the ancestor of Jesus. ______________

Activity 2, Directions: Supply the missing words to complete the following

sentences. Write your answer on the blanks.
1. In Christianity, the primary disciples of Christ are composed of _____
apostles.
2. The term Shinto came from the Chinese word shen and tao which means
___________________.
3. Confucius is considered as _________ greatest philosopher.
4. Hinduism has no specific founder, no one sacred book, and with
innumerable gods and goddesses, thus it is considered as
_______________________.
5. The Muslims believe that _____________ is the final prophet.

WRAP – UP

Sum up your learnings on this lesson by completing the sentence.

In this lesson, I have learned that
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________.

VALUING

It is very important for us to learn how each religion that everyone practices
came to existence. Answer the given question below through an essay.
“Why is it important to understand that the development of religions
have historical and geographical context?”

POST TEST

Directions: Identify what is being described in the following statements.

Choose the letter of your answer from the box below. Place your answers
before the number.

_________1. The patriarch of the three monotheistic religion

_________2. One of religions originated in India
_________3. Number of Jesus Christ’s disciples
________4. Author of Dao De Jing
________5. It means “ways of the gods”
________6. Considered as the ancestor of the Arabs
________7. Regarded as China’s greatest philosopher
PRE-TEST
1. A 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. A
RECAP
1. Animism
2. Theory of Original Monotheism
3. Nature Worship Theory
4. Magic Theory
5. Wish Fulfillment
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1.a
ACTIVITY 1.b
1.b.a. Abraham
1.b.b. Isaac and Jacob
1.b.c. Ishmael
1.b.d. Abraham
ACTIVITY 2
1. 12
2. Way of gods
3. China’s
4. Museum of religion
5. Muhammad
KEY TO CORRECTION
________10. Muslim’s final prophet
________9. God of the Muslims
painful and continuous cycle of rebirth
________8. Discovered how to terminate sufferings in order to escape the
 REFERENCES
Book

Ong, Jerome & Mary Dorothy. 2016. Introduction to World Religion and Belief
Systems. Quezon City: VIBAL Group, Inc.

Table and Illustrations

“How to Explain or Defend Theism.” Accessed May 14, 2020 retrieved from
https://www.wikihow.com/images/e/eb/Explain-or-Defend-Theism-Step-4-
Version2.jpg

“Animism.” Accessed June 17, 2020, retrieved from

http://religionshistory.blogspot.com/2015/10/animism.html?m=1

“Animism”. Accessed June 17, 2020 retrieved from https://animismkv.weebly.com/