Introduction to World Religion and Beliefs System Q3 Module 5-6

The chapter aims to examine the basic elements

of the three Abrahamic religions, namely Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. Specifically, the chapter looks into the origins,
sacred texts, doctrines, practices, denominations, and challenges
of these religions.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this module you are expected to:

Be able to define the three Monotheistic Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Be able to explain the origin, the nature, uniqueness, doctrines and practice, and similarities of
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Be able to state the differences and similarities of the origin, the nature, uniqueness, doctrines and
practice, and similarities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Be able to compare and contrast the origin, the nature, uniqueness, doctrines and practice, and
similarities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Recite the creation story in Rig Veda
Identify basic beliefs contained in the Vedas.
Identify the names of the major Hindu deities as well as their corresponding functions or powers.
Explain the core teaching of Hinduism in the attainment of liberation in the identification of Atman
and Brahman through the Four Yogas.
Simulate a particular yoga and write a reflection paper on your insights on Hinduism.

LESSON 1 – Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

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 The Origin

Judaism and the Jews

The followers of Judaism (literally, Judah-ism) are called Jews. Based on a recent estimate by Deming
(2015, 270-71), there are about 14 million Jews in the world. The majority of the Jews reside in Israel and
the United States, each having about 6.2 million Jews. Next to these two countries is France, which has
about 600,000 Jews (many of whom were migrants from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia). Canada has around
420,000 Jews and the United Kingdom has around 360,000. The rest of the Jews are scattered in other areas
of the world. On another account, Matthews (2010, 237) estimates the population of Jews in the following
areas: Worldwide: 15,118,000; North America: 6,169,000; Africa: 238,000; Asia: 5,350,00; Europe:
2,017,000; Latin America: 1,137,000.
The terms “Judaism” and “Jew” were derived from the word Judah, which was the name of the fourth
of the 12 sons of Jacob. Each of the 12 sons of Jacob became the ancestor of a certain tribe. The tribe of
Judah, therefore, was one of the 12 tribes of Israel (for Jacob was also called Israel). Originally, the term
“Jews” (“Yehudi,” in Hebrew) thus referred to the members of the tribe of Judah. But later on, the tribe of
Judah, along with some other tribes (those of Benjamin and Levi, brothers of Judah), became part of the
Kingdom of Judah when the Kingdom of Israel was split into the Northern Kingdom, which became the
Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, which became the Kingdom of Judah. The Kingdom of Israel
was later on conquered by Assyria (in 721 BCE) and the 10 tribes constituting it were exiled from the land.
They dispersed and were consequently assimilated by other peoples. The Kingdom of Judah, whose tribes
traced their lineage to Israel, was left (though after a century and a half this kingdom was conquered by the
Babylonians). In any case, from then on, the term “Jews” was used to refer to the members of the Kingdom
of Judah, and no longer just to the specific tribe of Judah.
While the followers of Judaism are called Jews, it must be noted, however, that in the present usage
of the term, “Jews” does not necessarily refer to followers or converts of Judaism. There are Jews nowadays
who belong to another religion (say Christian Jews) or who do not belong to any religion at all (some are
even atheists). This is because one becomes a Jew either by ancestry or by religious affiliation or conversion.
In terms of ancestry, one is automatically a Jew if both one’s parents are Jews. In the case of mixed
marriages, there are traditional and liberal views. Traditionally, one becomes a Jew if one’s mother is a Jew
regardless of whether one’s father is a Jew or not. Liberally, one can also be a Jew if one’s father is a Jew
even if one’s mother is not, so long as one chooses to be a Jew. In terms of ancestry, one becomes a Jew
regardless of whether one follows the teachings of Judaism or not. On the other hand, in terms of religious
affiliation or conversion, one is a Jew if one professes to the faith of Judaism or if one is converted to Judaism
through a formal process. Thus, it can happen that one becomes a Jew even if one has no Jewish ancestry
(see De Lange 2000,1-25; Rich 2012 for a more thorough discussion of this topic). In our discussion, we
shall, however, limit our use of the term “Jews” to mean followers or converts of Judaism. Jews are also
called Hebrews and Israelites. They are called Hebrews because they are descendants of Abraham (the
grandfather of Jacob) who was called a Hebrew. They are also called Israelites because they are descendants
of Jacob, who was also called Israel (see below how he got this name). In this light, the term “Israelites”
means “Children of Israel,” but Jews also take this term to mean “God’s chosen people.” Non-Jews, on the
other hand, are called Gentiles in the Hebrew Bible.

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THE HEBREW BIBLE AND OTHER SACRED WRITINGS

The Particular Books

The following are under the three particular books of the Tanakh.

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The Particular Books

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5
 Christianity
According to the estimate of Deming (2015, 326-27), “Christianity is the world’s
largest religion, encompassing a third of the world’s population or more than 2.2 billion
people ... Today about 20 percent of all Christians UNIT I 75 live in Africa, and about 25
percent live in Latin America; Europe accounts for another 25 percent, Asia for about 15
percent, and North America for about 10 percent.” On a very general level, Christianity is
the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and Christians are the followers
of these teachings.
The Holy Bible
The sacred texts of Christianity are contained in the Christian Bible, usually referred to as
the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is divided into two parts, which are called the Old Testament and New
Testament.

The Gospels
The word gospel comes from the old English God spell
(which in turn came from the Greek word evangelion and Latin word
evangelium), which means “good news” or “good tidings. “The good
news of the gospel is the coming Kingdom of the Messiah, and of redemption through the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus, the central message of Christianity.
Authors:
Mark

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 Matthew
Luke
John

Acts of the Apostles

The book of the Acts of Apostles describes the early stage of the development of Christianity. It narrates
how Christianity as a religion began and propagated first among the
Jews and later on among the Gentiles (the non-Jews), from the
ascension of Jesus into heaven until the time when the apostle Paul
preached in Rome. It also shows the dedication and sacrifices of the
apostles, primarily Peter and Paul, as they preached the teachings of Christianity in various regions. The Acts
of Apostles is widely believed to have been written by Luke, the same author of the book of Luke of the
Gospels. It is in fact believed that the books of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles originally constituted one
continuous account of the origin and development of Christianity by the same author which was later on
divided into two parts.
Within the period of 40 days between the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead and his ascension to heaven
Jesus appeared to the apostles and to his mother Mary and friends
in various times.
The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and gave them the gift
of tongues or the ability to speak various languages (this event
has been called the Pentecost).
Peter’s preaching resulted in many conversions and baptisms.
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and other Christians were
persecuted by Jews, which included Saul (from Tarsus).
Saul, on his way to Damascus to lead the persecution of further
Christians, had a vision (Saul went blind for three days until his
sight was restored by Ananias, a Christian), which led to his
High Lights on the Acts of
conversion to Christianity.
Apostles
Peter also had a vision in which food considered unclean in Jewish
tradition was made clean by God. He interpreted this as God’s
message that the gospel must also be preached to the Gentiles or
that salvation must be for everyone and not just for the Jews.
Saul, changing his name to Paul after his conversion, travelled in
various places, vigorously propagating Christianity especially
among the Gentiles.
Peter and Paul performed miracles which included curing the sick
and making a lame person walk. Due to resistance from certain
Jews in power, Peter and Paul, along with their companions, were
put to prison several times but God always helped them escape
(sometimes through an angel, sometimes through an
earthquake).

The Epistles
The word epistle comes from the Greek work epistole,
which means “letter” or “message. ‘The Epistles
expound on the great themes of God’s saving work on

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the cross; thus, they play a major role in the formation of doctrines throughout the development of Christian
churches.

21 Epistles

Revelation
The book of Revelation (written around 95 CE) is the last
book of the Christian Bible. It symbolically describes how the battle
between good and evil would come to an end as revealed in visions.
In particular, it symbolically describes how the forces of evil (Satan’s
army) will be finally defeated and the Kingdom of God will finally reign in the world. It is considered an
example of apocalyptic literature, referring to writings that describe how the end of the world would come
about.
The author of this book, the one narrating his visions which he believes are revelations from Jesus
Christ, names himself in the text as “John of Patmos” (Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea). It
is traditionally believed that this is the apostle John, the same person who wrote the Gospel of John, but
some present-day scholars doubt this, claiming that the author, though certainly a Christian, may be a
different John.

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 DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES

THE NATURE OF GOD

Christians, like the Jews and Muslims, are monotheistic in that they believe there is only one God.
This is the same God as the God of Abraham, Moses, and the other prophets in the Hebrew Bible. In the first
of the Ten Commandments revealed by God to Moses, God affirms His oneness, saying “I am the Lord your
God ...You shall have no other gods before me.”

Unlike the monotheism of the Jews and Muslims, the

monotheism of Christianity is qualified by the belief that God has three
persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
This belief that God has three such persons has been called the belief in
the Trinity (sometimes the Blessed or Holy Trinity). Christians believe
that there is no rational explanation for this; it is simply a mysterious
truth that is accepted as a matter of faith. One helpful way to understand
the Trinity though is to think of it as the three fundamental ways of referring to the same God. There is just
one God, but we can refer to God as the Father (the Creator), the Son (the Savior or Messiah), and the Holy
Spirit (the power of God as experienced in human lives). The Trinity thus expresses the personal nature of
God, the three personal ways of how God is related to humans—that He creates, saves, and empowers them.

THE NATURE OF JESUS

There are at least seven fundamental beliefs that Christians hold about the nature of Jesus.
First and foremost, Jesus is God. Jesus is God in that He is the Holy Trinity’s God the Son. When we
say Jesus is the Son of God, we are not speaking of two gods here—one, the Father God, and the
other, the Son God. Rather, we are speaking of the person of Jesus as God, his being God the Son.
Second, while Jesus is God, he is also human. He became human when he was born into this world
and later on died on the cross in order to save mankind from their sinful nature. By being both God
and human, it does not mean that Jesus is half-god and half-human, making him a demigod. Rather
it means that Jesus is wholly God and wholly human; his divine nature is not weakened or diluted by
his human nature and his human nature is not strengthened by his divine nature. Jesus is wholly God
in that he has all the divine attributes in their full capacity, such as being eternal, all-powerful, all-
knowing, and all-good.

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 On the other hand, Jesus is wholly human in that he is subject to the same conditions and struggles
that ordinary humans are subject to, such as having free will, being subject to temptations and
ageing, having feelings of hunger and pain, and having a mortal body. His being human does not
make him a lesser God, and his being God does not make him a superhuman.
Third, Jesus is the Messiah that was prophesized in the Old Testament. Jesus came into this world in
order to save mankind from their sins. God becoming human was the perfect sacrifice that would
redeem mankind from their downfall and make them worthy of salvation again. Jesus the Messiah
will come again to establish the Kingdom of God in this world.
Fourth, Jesus came into this world (to become human) through virgin birth. Jesus was conceived in
the womb of Mary through the Holy Spirit, and not through the natural reproductive means humans
engage in to conceive a child.
Fifth, Jesus was sinless. As earlier noted, Jesus, being wholly human, was subject to the same kinds
of temptations humans’ experience, but Jesus was able to overcome all his temptations.
Sixth, Jesus resurrected from the dead. Three days after he died on the cross, Jesus became alive
again and met with his disciples, mother, siblings, and friends.
And lastly, Jesus ascended into heaven. After 40 days since his resurrection from the dead, Jesus
ascended into heaven and promised to come again during the Last Judgment.

SOME PRACTICES AND RITUALS

Baptism
Baptism is a ritual for moral purification (“washing impurities away”) and serves as an initiation rite.
A person who undergoes it signifies his or her commitment to repent from his or her sins, lead a new life,
and make himself or herself ready to receive the Kingdom of God. John the Baptist performed this ritual for
people to cleanse themselves of sins in preparation for the imminent coming of the kingdom of heaven. At
the same time, baptism is an initiation rite as it signals one’s entry into the Christian community.

The Last Supper/ Eucharist

The practice of sharing a meal of bread and wine imitates the Last Supper that Jesus had with his
disciples before his death, and recalls Jesus’s sacrifice leading to his death and resurrection. During this meal
of bread and wine, Christians prayerfully recall Jesus’s death and resurrection. It is a symbolic sharing of
Jesus’s life and death, but Christians have different beliefs about certain aspects of it. Some see the substance
(or essence) of the bread and wine as transforming into the substance (or essence) of the body and blood
of Jesus (the physical components of the bread and wine remain unchanged but their essences change into
the essences of Jesus’s body and blood, respectively, a process that is called transubstantiation).

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Lenten Season
Lent refers to the 40 days of repentance and preparation for
Easter— the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The 40 days signify the
40 days of fasting and prayer that Jesus spent in the desert after his
baptism by John the Baptist and before his public life or Messianic ministry
began. But instead of fasting, Christians usually do abstinence or avoidance
of pleasures like the consumption of luxury foods such as meat products
during this period. Some Christians begin the season with Ash Wednesday,
when priests put ashes in the form of a cross on the foreheads of believers.
The week before Easter, which falls on a Sunday, is called the Holy Week.
Some Christians celebrate the Sunday before the Holy Week, called Palm
Sunday, by waving palm branches, recalling Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem. Holy Thursday recalls Jesus’s last
supper with his disciples, while Good Friday recalls His death on the cross. Black Saturday is a day of quiet
and prayer. Easter Sunday, celebrated at dawn, recalls the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Each form
of Christianity has its own way of celebrating Easter Sunday.

Christmas
Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus which takes place
on December 25 of every year. The four-week preparation for Christmas, which
remembers the period prior to the birth of Jesus, is called Advent. Several days after
Christmas, on January 6, Christians celebrate the feast called the Epiphany or Three
Kings, which mainly commemorates the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus.

ISLAM AND THE MUSLIMS

ORIGINS AND SACRED

Because it began only in the seventh century BCE, Islam is considered
the youngest of the major religions. But with its followers, the Muslims,
constituting almost 25 percent of the world’s population, Islam is considered
the second largest religion (Deming 2015, 390). Though earlier Muslims were
Arabs, there are actually more non-Arab Muslims today than Arab ones.
According to the estimate of Deming (2015, 390), “the nation with the largest
Muslim population is Indonesia—where almost 13 percent of all Muslims live
(over 200 million according the Pew Research Center). After Indonesia comes
Pakistan (175 million), India (160 million), and Bangladesh (145 million). Egypt
and Nigeria currently tie for the fifth spot (78 million each); and Iran and
Turkey tie for the sixth spot (73 million each). Of these eight countries only three are in the Middle East
(Egypt, Iran, and Turkey) and only one is Arab (Egypt).”
In the context of the religious tradition of Islam, the word
specifically means “surrender or submission to God.” The word Muslim or
Moslem, on the other hand, means “one who submits to God.’ Thus, the
followers of Islam are the Muslims (or Moslems). Muslims refer to God in
Arabic as Allah (see Molloy 2010, 430;
Peters 1994, 8-9). The use of the word
“Allah” is not intended to qualify the kind of God that Muslims worship.

Though most Arabs are Muslims, and the early Muslims were Arabs, the
terms “Muslims” and “Arabs” are clearly not equivalent. Before most of the

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Arabs became Muslims, they were either Jews, Christians, or others (Judaism and Christianity were already
established when Islam was only beginning to establish itself). There are Arabs who remained non-Muslims
even today—the Arab Jews, Arab Christians, and others. Furthermore, since the spread of Islam outside of
Arab territories, there have been various non-Arab Muslims, such as the Muslims in Indonesia (whose
population is predominantly Muslims), Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, and many other parts of the world.
Submission to God, according to Muslims, means first
and foremost accepting and putting into action the
fundamental doctrines of Islam, which are contained in the
so-called Five Pillars of Islam. If Islam means “submission to
God,” then these five pillars are the Five Pillars of Submission
to God. In addition to believing in Allah, one also needs to
accept other beliefs especially that Muhammad is God’s last
prophet or messenger. This means that to be a Muslim, or to be one who submits to God (as Muslims
understand it), one must, in addition to believing in God, also accept that Muhammad is God’s last prophet,
among others.

THE QUR’AN AND HADITH

Muhammad shared God’s messages to

him first to his close family and friends and then
to other people. Though some of these
revelations were written down by his close
followers, memorization through oral
transmission was the primary way of preserving
these messages. The consistency of these
messages was maintained by Muhammad. If
there were questions about what these messages
really were and meant, Muhammad was there to clarify it. But when Muhammad died, his disciples became
concerned about how to deal with the variations that might arise with regard to the messages, so they
decided to write down an authoritative version of the messages.
The project of writing down Muhammad’s revelations was initiated by Abu Bakr, who became the first
caliph (from khalifa which means “successor”) or successor of Muhammad as Islam’s spiritual leader. The
project was finished in 656 CE during the caliphate of Uthman. The finished book was called the Qur’an,
which literally means “The Recitation” (see Molloy 2010, 425).

The Qur’an
Consists of 114 chapters (or suras), which cover a wide variety of topics which include the spiritual
origins of Islam in the persons of the different prophets, values, and specific instructions on how to live an
ethical life. As the messages of God were revealed to Muhammad in Arabic, an authoritative written version
of these messages had to be in Arabic. Thus, any translation of the Qur’an is considered to be an
interpretation of the original messages already. The Qur’an contains the main doctrines of Islam, but to help
themselves understand and interpret these doctrines; Muslims rely on what is called the Hadith, which literally
means “reports” or “recollections” (Molloy 2010, 462).

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The Hadith
The Qur’an consists of written narrations of Muhammad’s life, which report his words, actions,
decisions, and characteristics as a person. While the Hadith refers to the entire collection of narrations, a
hadith refers to each narration.
Each hadith consists of two parts:
The text or report itself and
The chain or series of narrators for the Hadith (this was intended to give authenticity to the report).
Each branch of Islam, however, refers to a different collection of hadiths, though they may be about the
same things. The idea behind the hadiths was that Muhammad’s life was an ideal manifestation or a perfect
model of a life lived according to the teachings of the Qur’an. While Muslims do not regard Muhammad as a
god (neither did Mohammad proclaim to be one), they regard him as a human who has lived a spiritually
and morally perfect life. Among the hadiths, those recalled by Muhammad’s wife Aishah are regarded as the
most trusted. One popular hadith was the one recalled by Umar, the second caliph of Islam. According to his
hadith, angel Gabriel appeared in human form and had a conversation with Muhammad about the essence
of Islam. It is said that while Muhammad was kneeling, a man kneeled beside him and asked him about what
it means to submit to God. Muhammad replied by stating the Five Pillars of Islam, to which the man agreed.
When the man left, Muhammad told Umar that the man he talked with was the angel Gabriel (Urubshurow
2009, 230).
The Hadith is generally also called the Sunnah. Some Muslim scholars, however, make a distinction
between the two (see, for instance, Peters 1994, 214-15; Matthews 2010, 336), and they disagree about the
nature of the distinction. We can identify at least three views on this. One view claims that the Hadith as we
have defined it is actually the Sunnah, and the Hadith actually just refers to the sayings of Muhammad, which
would make the Hadith simply a part of the Sunnah. Another view maintains the identity of the Hadith as we
have defined it above, and understands the Sunnah as a set of practices that Muhammad taught the Muslims
to follow and which were passed on to the next generations of Muslims. Consequently, this view sees the
Sunna as more reliable than the Hadith. Still another view simply regards the Sunnah as referring to the
contents of the Hadith, that is, the Hadith is the set of written records of the Sunnah—understood here as
referring to the words, actions, and decisions of Muhammad. These are issues that Muslim scholars are to
decide on. For our purpose of indicating' another sacred work of Islam that records the ideal life of
Muhammad as he practiced the teachings of the Qur’an, it will suffice to follow the third view, that the Hadith
contains the Sunnah.

THE SHARIAH
From the religious doctrines of the Qur’an and the Hadith, Islamic scholars formulated the Shari’ah,
which literally means “pathway to be followed” or the path leading to the watering place”—for the path to
this place is the whole way of life in the desert.
Shari’ah refers to the Islamic Law or the basic Islamic legal system. Recognized by most Muslim groups, the
Shari’ah is a system of duties, responsibilities, or rules which Muslims must follow as a matter of religion.
It covers all aspects of life such as issues arising from one’s personal dealings with other people;
matters concerning marriage contracts;
trade regulations;
how to govern the state;
rules for prayer, charity, fasting, sexual intercourse, hygiene, and diet among others; and
punishments for specific crimes like theft, drinking alcohol, adultery, and murder (these punishments
include beheading, stoning, and flogging).
In varying degrees, Shari’ah serves as the basis for making legal laws in many Muslim countries which
include Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Mauritania, Qatar,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In sum, the primary sacred text of Islam is the Qur’an. The secondary ones are

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the Hadith and the book of Shari’ah. The Qur’an contains God’s messages to Muhammad. As Muhammad is
believed to be the last prophet (and there will not be another one), these messages are believed to be the
final messages of God to humanity. The Hadith is a written record of the words, actions, decisions, character,
and practices of Muhammad, which constitute a perfect model for a life, lived according to the teachings of
the Qur’an. The Shari’ah refers to the Islamic legal law, which was based on the Qur’an and Hadith and was
formulated to serve as specific guidelines for Muslims in carrying out their everyday affairs and activities.

DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES

Oneness of God
At the core of Islamic faith is Tawhid, referring to the belief in the oneness of God. The Arabic word
“Allah” for God already existed even before Muhammad received his messages from God, but the Arabs then
regarded Allah as merely one among the gods that they worshipped. Acting on the messages that he received
from God, Muhammad taught and asserted that only Allah is God and there are no other gods aside from
Allah. Allah, in fact, embodies everything that the other gods were thought to embody. That means Allah,
the only true God, has all the powers attributed to the other gods, such as the powers to help humans deal
with their problems, forgive, and send rains, among others. The Qur’an particularly notes that God, being
one, cannot have a father and a son, indicating Islam’s non-acceptance of the Christian doctrine of the Holy
Trinity.
Aside from the word “Allah,” Muslims call God by other names (it is said that Muslims have 99 names
for God), each name indicating a specific divine power. These names include the following:

The Afterlife
Like the Jews and Christians, Muslims believe in an afterlife and in the Day of Resurrection and Day
of Judgment. A day will come when dead humans will be resurrected and will be judged by God according
to their deeds on whether they deserve eternal happiness or suffering. In this connection, Muslims also
believe in heaven or paradise (Jannah), a place of eternal happiness where good people (people who submit
to God’s will) are put by God; and hell (Jahannam), a place of suffering where evil people (those who do not
submit to God’s will) are put by God.

THE PROPHETS
As already noted, Muslims believe in prophets or messengers of God. God speaks to the people
through the prophets. Muslims recognize many of the prophets recognized by the Jews and Christians though
they appear in the Qur’an in their Arabic names. These include Adam (Adem), the first prophet, Abraham
(Ibrahim), Ishmael (lsm‘l), Noah (Nu), Moses (Musa), Elisha (Alyasa), David (Dawid), John the Baptist

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(Yahya), Jesus (Isa), and Muhammad. Jesus, as earlier noted, is recognized as a prophet and not as a god.
Muhammad, as also previously mentioned, is regarded as the last of the prophets (Peters 1994, 185-189).

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

These activities were mentioned by Muhammad in the famous
hadith involving the angel Gabriel. To recall, in this hadith, Muhammad had
a brief interaction with Gabriel who had assumed a human form. The angel
Gabriel asked Muhammad what “submission to God”—or “Islam”—meant,
and Muhammad replied by stating the five pillars.

The five pillars, which define the Muslim life, consist of the following:

The Jihad
Though not officially a pillar, the important Islamic principle called the jihad—which literally means
“struggle"—is sometimes referred to by some Muslims as the sixth pillar.
Nowadays, most non-Muslims understand jihad as a military warfare or battle of Muslims against non-
Muslims. Muhammad and his followers did engage in military warfare against non-Muslims when they went
back to Mecca from Medina, so jihad does include the meaning of physical struggle to defend Islam. But
jihad is not limited to this. It also means psychological, spiritual, and moral struggle to overcome the evils
within oneself and in one’s environment and thus to lead an ethical life according to the principles of Islam.
In this consideration, a distinction is made between greater jihad, referring to spiritual self-perfection, and
lesser jihad, referring to warfare. In its general sense, jihad thus means any kind of struggle to defend the
faith of Islam.

Activity 1

Directions: Enumerate what is being asked in by the table. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.
Divine Attributes of God Divine Attributes of Allah The Nature of Jesus

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 Activity 2
Directions: Compare and contrast Judaism, Christianity and Islam using a tri-Venn diagram. Use a separate
sheet for this activity. Use a separate sheet of paper to answer the activity.

LESSON 2 - Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, but it is relatively unknown in the Philippines. It
has a rich history and a wide variety of practices, schools of thought and styles of worship. (Jayeel Serrano
Cornelio, Mark Joseph Tumada Calano and Manuel Victor Jamias Sapitula 2016)
Most people would be hard-pressed to describe the basic beliefs of the Hindu religion, but they could
easily identify the influence of Hinduism in our popular culture, mainly because…
Everybody knows what it means to have good karma, something that is very much a part of
Hindu culture.
All kinds of people (including many movie stars and rock musicians) practice yoga, a mainstay
of Hinduism.
The Hindu practice of meditation is a recurring theme on television and in the movies.
So, is all of this dabbling in Hindu philosophy and practice pretty harmless, or is there more to it? Are
the tolerant and inclusive ideas of Hinduism a healthy alternative to our materialistic and me-centered culture,
or are they a doorway to something else? Let’s find out in this module about one of the world’s oldest and
most influential religions. (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)

Brief History of Hinduism

2300 to 2000 BCE The Indus Valley civilization is at its height.
2000-1500 BCE The Indus Valley civilization is decline.
1700-1500 BCE Aryans migrate into the Indus Valley; the Rig-Veda is composed
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 1200-900 BCE The Collection are brought to completion
900 BCE Aryan people spread eastward to the Ganges river
800-600 BCE The Brahmans are composed
500-400 BCE The first Upanishads are composed; Buddhism begins
5th-4th Century The caste system begins to take shape
300 BCE-300 BCE The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are composed; the practice of puja begins
3rd Century BCE Ashoka becomes king of the Mauryan dynasty
1st Century CE The Bhagavad Gita is composed
2nd Century CE The first evidence of Hindu temples
3rd-4th Century CE Devotional practices (bhakti) become popular in South India among Tamils
350 CE The first Paranas are composed
7th Century CE Devotional practices (bhakti) are used widely in Hinduism
1000 CE Muslims enter the Punjab
1206-1526 CE The Delhi Sultanate
1526 CE-18th Century The Mughal Dynasty
Mid-13th Century Buddhism disappears most of India
15th Century CE Sikhism founded
1600 CE The East India Company establishes offices in Kolkata
1757 CE The beginning of British colonial domination
18th and 19th Centuries The Hindu Renaissance
1869-1948 CE Mohandas Gandhi
1872-1950 CE Aurobindo Ghosh
End of British rule; millions of Hindus and Muslims are uprooted and resettle
1947 CE
during India’s Partition, which created the nation of Pakistan
1950s The Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste
1980s The resurgence of Hindu Nationalism

Origins of Hinduism
Hinduism has no specific founder or historical event to mark its beginning, so it’s nearly impossible
to come up with a date for when Hinduism began. Scholars know that about 4000 years ago a highly
developed civilization known as the Mohenjo-Daro was flourishing in the Indus River Valley in northwest
India. The people of this civilization were known as Dravidians. From archaeological digs we know they were
fairly- advanced and probably pacifists (there’s no evidence of weaponry). This apparently made the
Dravidians easy pickings for the invading Aryans, who, it is thought, came down from Persia (present-day
Iran) in 1500 B.C. and basically assimilated the Dravidian culture into their own.
The Aryan religious practices were mixed with those of the Dravidians, producing these fundamental
principles:
belief in reincarnation
the worship of a diverse group of gods who took various forms
belief in the essential spiritual unity of humankind
You can see elements of polytheism (literally, “many gods”) and monism (there is only one ultimate
reality, and we are all part of it) in these early beliefs that formed the foundation for Hinduism. (Bruce Bickel
and Stan Jantz 2002)

Symbols of Hinduism
The Aum, the Swastika and the Tilak
The “AUM” symbol (or OM – the symbol in the center) symbolizes the Universe and the ultimate
reality. It is the most important Hindu symbols. At the dawn of creation, from emptiness first emerged a
syllable consisting of three letters – A-U-M (often written as OM).
https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/mcastillo/india-mystic-and-historic/aum-symbolic-
meaning/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CAUM%E2%80%9D%20symbol%20(or,(often%20written%20as
%20OM).
While westerners generally associate the swastika with the atrocities of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime,
this association is uniquely western and only goes back to the early twentieth century. As a religious symbol
in India, the swastika is at least as old as the second millennium BCE—and has been used in Hinduism,
17
Buddhism, and Jainism for many, many centuries. The word swastika derives from an ancient Sanskrit term
for well-being. It later became associated with the pleasures of this life, with spiritual truth, and with endless
birth and rebirth in this world. In Hinduism it often denotes the blessings that come from Ganesha, the god
of good beginnings. (Blackwell, 2015)
The Tika (Tilak or Tilakam or Pottu) is a symbol put on the forehead of between the eyebrows. It
basically gives the wearer the feeling of sacredness and reveals the particular guide the wearer worships. It
also has non-religious uses. Hindu female uses the Bindu or Bindi (dot) as part of their makeup and red dot
as a mark of being married. (Mabaquiao, Jr.)

The Vedas
The Vedas are the religious texts which inform the religion of Hinduism (also known as Sanatan
Dharma meaning “Eternal Order” or “Eternal Path”). The term veda means “knowledge” in that they are
thought to contain the fundamental knowledge relating to the underlying cause of, function of, and personal
response to existence. They are considered among the oldest, if not the oldest, religious works in the world.
They are commonly referred to as “scripture”, which is accurate in that they can be defined as holy writ
concerning the nature of the Divine. Unlike the scriptures of other religions, however, the Vedas are not
thought to have been revealed to a certain person or persons at a specific historical moment; they are
believed to have always existed and were apprehended by sages in deep meditative states at some point
prior to c. 1500 BCE but precisely when is unknown. (Source: https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/)
The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500 B.C. This collection of
verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received by ancient saints and sages.
Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend all time and don’t have a beginning or an end.
The Vedas are therefore regarded as Shruti in Hinduism meaning “what is heard” as contrasted with
other texts designated Smritis (“what is remembered”), accounts of great heroes and their struggles in works
such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagavad Gita (although some sects of Hinduism regard the
Bhagavad Gita as Shruti).

The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)

The sacred texts of Hinduism are divided into two main categories: Shruti, which literally means “what
is heard,” and Smriti, which literally means “what is remembered” (Matthews 2010, 68-69; Urubshurow 2009,
384). Shruti refers to all Hindu sacred texts containing revealed knowledge (or knowledge based on direct
experience), while Smriti refers to all Hindu sacred texts containing remembered knowledge (or knowledge
based on the recollection of the experience). The Shruti texts (“revealed texts”) therefore are primary sources
that contain truths that are eternal and unchanging and of divine origin, while the Smriti texts (“remembered
texts”) are secondary sources that contain truths that may change over time and are of human origin. Shruti
texts are true by themselves while Smiriti texts are true only in so far as they conform to the Shruti texts.
(Mabaquiao, Jr.)
1. Rig Veda: The Rig Veda is the oldest of the works comprised of 10 books (known as mandalas) of 1,028
hymns of 10,600 verses. These verses concern themselves with proper religious observance and
practice, based on the universal vibrations as understood by the sages who first heard them, but also
address fundamental questions regarding existence. Sama Veda
2. Sama Veda: The Sama Veda (“Melody Knowledge” or “Song Knowledge”) is a work of liturgical songs,
chants, and texts meant to be sung. The content is almost wholly derived from the Rig Veda and, as
some scholars have observed, the Rig Veda serves as the lyrics to the melodies of the Sama Veda. It
is comprised of 1,549 verses and divided into two sections: the gana (melodies) and the arcika
(verses). The melodies are thought to encourage dance which, combined with the words, elevates
the soul.
3. Yajur Veda: The Yajur Veda (“Worship Knowledge” or “Ritual Knowledge”) consists of recitations, ritual
worship formulas, mantras, and chants directly involved in worship services. Like the Sama Veda, its
content derives from the Rig Veda but the focus of its 1,875 verses is on the liturgy of religious
observances. It is generally regarded as having two “sections” which are not distinct parts but
characteristics of the whole. The “dark Yajur Veda” refers to those parts which are unclear and poorly
arranged while the “light Yajur Veda” applies to the verses which are clearer and better arranged.
4. Atharva Veda: The Atharva Veda (“knowledge of Atharvan”) concerns itself with magical spells to ward off
evil spirits or danger, chants, hymns, prayers, initiation rituals, marriage and funeral ceremonies, and
observations on daily life. The name is thought to derive from the priest Atharvan who allegedly was
18
 well-known as a healer and religious innovator. It is comprised of 20 books of 730 hymns some of
which draw on the Rig Veda.

The Upanishads are considered the “end of the Vedas” as in the last word on the texts. The term
Upanishads means to “sit down closely” as a student would with a master to receive some information not
intended for the rest of the class
Each of these is further divided into types of text included within them:
Aranyakas - rituals, observances
Brahmanas - commentaries on said rituals
Samhitas - benedictions, prayers, mantras
Upanishads – philosophical narratives and dialogues
The Upanishads are the best known and most often read of the Vedas because their discourse is
presented in dialogue/narrative form and they were the first to be translated into other languages. (Source:
https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/)

The Smriti Scriptures (That which is Remembered)

Mahabharata. An epic poem that is 15 times longer than the Bible, narrates the story of an ongoing
war among family members. It highlights the importance of virtues and devotion to the Gods,
particularly to Krishna.
Ramayana. A shorter epic poem about kingship and royal virtues. It one of the epics that depict the
battle between good and evil.
Bhagavad Gita. Meaning Song of the Lord, which is actually one of the books in Mahabharata. It is
considered as an important religious text that extols the power and benevolence of Krishna and his
instructions to Arjuna.
Paranas. These are the stories that depict the sectarian divisions within Hinduism. These are the
multiple creation stories, legends and war stories by the different Hindu sects.

The Creation in Rig Veda 10:129

The Paradox of Origin

Rig Veda, Mandala 10, hymn 129

Creation. Nasadiya Sukta ("Not the non-existent")

Nor aught nor naught existed; yon bright sky

Was not, nor heaven's broad woof outstretched above.
What covered all? what sheltered? what concealed?
Was it the water's fathomless abyss?
There was not death - hence was there naught immortal,
There was no confine betwixt day and night;
The only One breathed breathless in itself,
Other than it there nothing since has been.
Darkness there was, and all at first was veiled
In gloom profound, - an ocean without light. -
The germ that still lay covered in the husk
Burst forth, one nature, from the fervent heat.
Then first came Love upon it, the new spring
Of mind - yea, poets in their hearts discerned,
Pondering, this bond between created things
And uncreated. Comes this spark from earth,
Piercing and all-pervading, or from heaven?
Then seeds were sown, and mighty power arose -
Nature below, and Power and Will above.
Who knows the secret? who proclaimed it here,
Whence, whence this manifold creation sprang? -
The gods themselves came later into being. -
Who knows from whence this great creation sprang? -
19
 He from whom all this great creation came.
Whether his will created or was mute,
The Most High seer that is in highest heaven,
He knows it, - or perchance e'en He knows not.

VEDIC PRAYER
TRANSLATION BY: Dr. Sudhir Anand

Om Bhur bhuvah swah. Tatsavitur varaynyam

Bhargo devasya dheemahi. Dhiyo yo nah prachodyat.
(Yajur Veda 36:3; Rig Veda 6:63:20 and Sam Veda 6:30:1)

Hindu Gods and Deities

Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is believed to be the supreme
God force present in all things. Some of the most prominent deities includes:
Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati: the goddess of learning

The Big Three (Trimurti)

As Hinduism developed, most of the early Hindu deities disappeared (where they went, nobody
knows) and were replaced by three primary gods. The three most important deities in the Hindu pantheon
are Brahma (creator), Siva (destroyer), and Visnu (preserver), known as the trimurti. (Bruce Bickel and Stan
Jantz 2002).

• Brahma—This is the main god, known as the “Impersonal Absolute” and the “Ultimate Reality”. By 1000
B.C., Brahma had become so important that an entire order of priests known as the Brahmins developed.
• Vishnu—Here is Apu’s god, the champion of all good causes. Vishnu rules in heaven and rules over earth
as the preserver. According toreligious expert George Braswell, Vishnu has been compared to the Christian
concept of God. Vishnu has taken many human forms (also known as avatars), the most popular of which is
Krishna.
Visnu’s most important feature is as preserver and protector of the universe, which he accomplishes through
his many incarnations, known as avatars. (Yamamoto 1998)

20
• Shiva—The third god of the Hindu Big Three takes on many roles, including creator and destroyer. Shiva
signifies the eternal life-death rhythm of the universe. A popular Hindu idol or image of Shiva shows him with
four arms.

Hindu Caste System

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma.
Many scholars believe the system dates back more than 3,000 years. The four main castes (in order of
prominence) include:
Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
Vaisyas: the skillful producers
Shudras: the unskilled laborers
Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables” are a class of citizens that are
outside the caste system and considered to be in the lowest level of the social hierarchy. For centuries, the
caste system determined every aspect of a person’s social, professional and religious status in India.
In the 1930s the Indian nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi began referring to Untouchables as Harijans,
which means “children of God.” (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)
When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned discrimination based on caste.
Today, the caste system still exists in India but is loosely followed. Many of the old customs are overlooked,
but some traditions, such as only marrying within a specific caste, are still embraced.

Reincarnation, Karma and Moksha

The Wheel of Misfortune
Even though the philosophies of Hinduism can vary widely, there are two beliefs you can count on
when talking to a practitioner of the Hindu religion: reincarnation and karma. (Bickel and Jantz, 2002).

Reincarnation—Hindus believe there are two types of souls. There is the individual soul, known as
atman, which is eternal and uncreated. And there is the Universal Soul, known as Brahman. One of
the major goals of Hinduism is for the individual soul to unite with the Universal Soul, and therefore
become one with the ultimate reality. In order for this to happen, the atman must die and be born
again time after time into the world in different bodies (some Hindus believe you can come back as
an animal or a plant). This death-birth cycle is called reincarnation, or the “transmigration of the
soul.” In Hindu terms it’s called samsara. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to break free from this
wheel of misfortune by uniting with the Universal Soul. This is called moksha. How does this happen?
That’s where karma comes in.
Karma—The law of karma has to do with good works and bad works (or if you prefer, good karma
and bad karma). The more good karma you can produce, the better your chances of attaining freedom
from the reincarnation nightmare. However, if the individual soul produces more bad karma than
good karma, then you are destined to die and come back as a horsefly. The bad news about bad
karma is that it carries over into the next life. But then, good karma also carries over, so there’s
motivation to produce good works.
Moksha, the ultimate goal of the Hindu is to attain moksha, which is freedom from samsara when
you finally unite with Brahman. This happens when you’ve got way more good karma than bad karma.
So far, so good. And how do you pick up the good karma? Well, there are three classic ways (called
margas) in Hinduism to attain good works: the way of activity (karma marga), the way of knowledge
(jnana marga), and the way of devotion (bhatki marga). Braswell writes, “One may choose one or
several of these ways in hope of breaking the birth cycle and experiencing ultimate freedom.” (Bruce
Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)

Karma and the Caste System

One of the unfortunate effects of the Hindu belief in reincarnation and karma is that it has perpetuated
the caste system in India. The only way to move up to a higher caste is to be reincarnated into that caste.
And the only way to do that is to be obedient to the rules of the caste you are in. For example, if a Shudra
wanted to move up to the level of a Vaisyas, he would have to be a very good Shudra and hope for a
promotion in his next life. Winfried Corduan writes, “To shortcut the system and attain a higher standard of
living would violate the structures of the caste and thereby only incur worse karma.” The reality of karma is
21
that it prevents people from attempting to rise to a higher caste or help members of other castes. (Bruce
Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002).

Yoga
When we hear the word “yoga,” we immediately associate it with bodily practices that help achieve
a healthy lifestyle. This is true, but yoga is much more than health. Yoga is actually Hindu in origin, and its
main purpose is to achieve a sattvic state, which is characterized by spiritual calm, virtue, and joy. Yogas
enable an individual to activate his/her sattvic qualities and escape the influence of raja and tama, which are
lower qualities. There are four main yogas that suit temperaments and consider of different people. (Jayeel
Serrano Cornelio, Mark Joseph Tumada Calano and Manuel Victor Jamias Sapitula 2016).
1. Raja Yoga. The path of physical and psychic practice. Raja Yoga consists of doing bodily exercises, and
the most well known outside India. A yogi (practitioner of yoga) engaged in this type of resorts to
asanas, postures that are meant to purify the body and achieve physical balance. The purpose of the
exercises is to facilitate the flow of prana (invisible psychic energy) along the different chakras (energy
centers) of the body. The most important chakra is the kundalini, which is located at the crown of
the head. Advanced yogis who have purified their bodies experience a sense of peace and oneness
with the Divine because prana easily flows into the kundalini chakra. This may also be achieved by
chanting mantras, which are syllables pronounced to achieve a certain level of spiritual awareness.
The most common mantra in Hindu practice is the OM.
2. Jnana Yoga. The path of the rational mind and concentration, Jnana Yoga consists of doing meditative
practices that aim to clear the mind of impurities and attain a rational and calm disposition. A yogi
engaged in this type sees ignorance as the most problematic of human problems, the cause of which
are blocks in the mind that hinder the individual from cultivating insight. Although connected to
acquiring knowledge, the Jnana Yoga is not restricted to the intellectual sphere; the ultimate goal of
the practice is spiritual. The yogi engages in meditative exercises that overcome doubt and confusion,
until he/she experiences the Divine directly and gain spiritual insight from the encounter.
3. Karma Yoga. The path of action in the world, Karma Yoga appeals to people who have a strong desire
to work for the betterment of society. A discussion of Karma Yoga is found in the Bhagavad Gita,
wherein Krishna explains that action should be offered to the Divine for it led to liberation. Otherwise
it enslaves the person in greed. This means that yogis in this type seek to do good deeds without
expecting for anything in return.
4. Bhakti Yoga. The path of devotion, Bhakti Yoga is the most popular form of yoga practiced among
Hindus in India. It is the practice of deep devotion and love toward the Divine, and is mainly expressed
through ritual; acts such as puja (offering). A yogi engaged in this type is
called a bhakta, and the ultimate wish of a bhakta is a manifestation, that
is, the appearance of the god/ goddess to him/her.

Yoga provides the Hindu with the method to reach freedom. The Yoga
posture with head erect and spine straight and breath control enables the Hindu
to attain supreme concentration. Through gazing upon certain sacred symbols
and reciting certain sacred sounds, the Hindu approaches mystical union with the
absolute, the world soul. Another way to achieve supreme concentration is
through self-torture. You know those pictures you see of a Hindu lying on a bed
of thorns or staring into the sun until he goes blind? These are people in this stage
trying to concentrate on the ultimate reality by renouncing their bodies.

Activity 3

Direction: Answer the questions:

1. What are your thoughts about the Hindu caste system? What do you think are its advantages (if any)
and disadvantages both to society and individuals?
2. Do you agree with the moral principle of karma? Can you identify events in your life that seem to
demonstrate this principle?

22
 Activity 4
Critical Thinking
Direction. Complete the sentence to test how much you’ve learned from the concepts presented in the
previous activities. Use a separate sheet for your answer.
As a Christian, my understanding and belief about…
1. the Hindu gods and deities is __________________________________.
2. the Hindu’s story of creation is _________________________________.
3. Hindu’s belief about life, death and salvation is _________________.
4. Yoga is ________________________________________________________.

References
Books
Introduction to World Religions and Belief System. Manila. Rex Bookstore, Inc. 2016
Bickel, Bruce and Jantz, Stan. World Religions and Cults 101.Formerly titled Bruce & Stan’s® Guide to Cults,
Religions, and Spiritual Beliefs. Eugene, Oregon. Harvest House Publishers, 2002
Internet
Yamamoto, J. Isamu. Zondervan, Guide to Cults and Religious Movements. Hinduism, TM and Hare Krishna.
Michigan. Zondervan Publishing House, 1998
Knott, Kim. Hinduism, A very Short Introduction. New York. Oxford University Press, 1998
Blackwell, Wiley, edited by Deming, Will. Understanding the Religion of the World: An Introduction. John
Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015
Frawley, David (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri). What Is Hinduism? A Guide for the Global Mind. New Delhi.
Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd, 2018

Links
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/649396/la-union-sillag-festival-a-fiery-celebration-of-
light/story/
https://outoftownblog.com/la-union-celebrates-7th-sillag-festival-of-lights/
https://favpng.com/png_view/lord-shiva-shiva-parvati-deity-hinduism-kali-png/JMcQGRLg
https://www.needpix.com/photo/598548/god-hindu-hinduism-non-human-beings-vishnu
https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
http://www.aryasamaj.com/enews/2009/jan-sep/aug/prayer.htm
https://www.creationmyths.org/rigveda-10-129-indian-creation/rigveda-10-129-indian-creation-2-max-
muller-translation.htm
https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-viovp
http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html
https://study.com/academy/lesson/people-of-the-book-comparing-judaism-christianity-and-islam.html
https://www.google.com/search?q=star+of+david&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjz7KiV0o
rsAhUzyosBHQ0sAVgQ_AUoAXoECBYQAw&biw=1366&bih=608#imgrc=GzM2QVHEpgXbsM&imgdii=nUWlff
8IPF_6bM
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+last+supper+cartoon&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi68KCW0orsAhUV
hMYKHX7cDbAQ2-
cCegQIABAA&oq=the+last+supper+cartoon&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAOgQIA
BBDOgUIABCxAzoHCAAQsQMQQzoGCAAQCBAeOgQIABAYUOjO3AVYqIHdBWCTg90FaABwAHgBgAGIA4gBx
yGSAQgwLjE3LjUuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=uTRxX_qvMZWImgb-
uLeACw&bih=608&biw=1366#imgrc=1VkbD_BxXjxhGM
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.1stpresla.org%2F4-1-18-lenten-
season.html&psig=AOvVaw0JK1xXOqGp9q3xGKGYAnQh&ust=1601353169070000&source=images&cd=vfe
&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCPC4o9v_iuwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.google.com/search?q=prophet+muhammad&tbm=isch&bih=608&biw=1366&hl=en&sa=X&v
ed=2ahUKEwi7wPb9iYvsAhVD6ZQKHefFDzIQBXoECAEQRA#imgrc=k_kebi6RKAeKAM

23
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education - Region III
Division of San Jose City
TONDOD HIGH SCHOOL - SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SY 2021-2022

UNIFIED LEARNING ASSESSMENT TEST

Introduction to the World Religion Belief System
Quarter 3 Week 5-6
I. Written Works
Direction: Choose the letter that represents your best answer from the selection. Write your
answer on the line provided before each number. Use a separate sheet of paper to answer the
activity.

1. We learn about the life of Jesus mainly from the___________

A. Gospels B. Acts of the Apostles C. Epistles
2. The ___________ are letters of the apostle Paul to the early Christians.
A. Acts of the Apostles B. Epistles C. Revelation
3. The___________ symbolically speaks about the Christian vision of how in the end of time the
good will eventually prevail over evil or how the Kingdom of God will reign in the world.
A. Acts of the Apostles B. Epistles C. Revelation
4. Of the four books of the Gospels, the book of___________ is not part of the Synoptic Gospels.
A. Matthew B. Luke C. Mark D. John
5. The Epistles addressed to individual churches and dealt with ministerial matters are called.
A. Prison Epistles B. Catholic Epistles C. Pastoral Epistles
6. The author of the Revelation introduced himself in the said book as
A. John the Baptist B. John of Patmos C. John the Apostle
7. The Christian belief that God has three persons, namely, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit,
is referred to as the___________
A. Trimurti B. Holy Trinity C. Tripikaya
8. The process wherein the physical components of the bread and wine remain unchanged but
their essences change into the essences of Jesus’s body and blood, respectively, is
called___________
A. transubstantiation B. transignification C. consubstantiation
9. The-------------------is a Christian ritual for moral purification and serves as an initiation rite.
A. Baptism B. Confirmation C. Lord’s Supper
10. The___________ recalls the first preaching of the apostles.
A. Feast of Ascencion B. Advent C. Feast of Pentecost
11. The effect of a person's actions in this and in previous lives.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Karma D. Moksha
12. Teachers and thinkers who left their homes to think and talk about religious ideas.
A. Brahmans B. gurus C. Kshatriyas D. priests
13. A religion based on priests and rituals, particularly sacrifices to the gods. Called the religion
of the Vedic age.
A. Brahminism B. Islam C. Judaism D. Zoroastrianism
14. Which word refers to a person's duty based on their age, gender, and caste.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Kharma D. Moksha
15. A long story of heroes told in verse.
A. Epic poem B. Scriptures C. Tanukh D. Vedas
16. The final goal for Hindus, liberation from reincarnation.
A. Brahman B. Moksha C. Reincarnation D. Yoga
24
 17. A person's duty or what is right for him or her.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Kharma D. Moksha
18. The last book to be written before the closing of the Vedic and Brahmanical Period is the
__________.
A. Atharva Veda B. Rig Veda C. Upanishads D. Yajur Veda
19. “Bhagavad Gita” means _______________________.
A. Song of Joy C. Song of the Enlightened One
B. Song of the Lord D. Song of Thanksgiving
20. The Untouchables or outcaste was renamed Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi in protest of the
injustice of the caste system. Harijans means __________.
A. Children of God C. Sons of God
B. The Awakened D. The Reincarnated
21. Why did ancient Hindus believe that the law of karma proved the universe was fair?
A. Each person had an equal opportunity to rise to higher social classes.
B. Once a soul had be reborn as a person, it could never be reborn as an animal.
C. Even in ancient times, people in all social classes were treated equally.
D. Souls would be rewarded or punished for the good and evil they had done.
22. Which of the following is NOT an example of something that the Aryans brought with them
to India when they migrated there?
A. A Language B. Caste System C. Hinduism D. Religious rituals
23. Which word describes the belief that all actions have a equal consequence?
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Karma D. Moksha
24. The final goal for Hindus is the liberation from reincarnation. Which word describes this?
A. Brahman B. Guru C. Moksha D. Epic poem
25. The three supreme gods of Hinduism—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—are collectively called in
Hindu as the __________.
A. Triadic B. Trimurti C. Trinity D. Triumvirate

II. PERFORMANCE TASK

Direction: In this activity you are to create a poster slogan that depicts your knowledge and
understanding about the divine power of God’s love and protection to human being. Your poster
slogan will be rated using the rubric provided below. Use a separate sheet for this activity.

Scoring Rubric

Prepared by:
PRINCESS MELANIE J. SOMERA
Subject Teacher
25
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. C
6. B
7. B
8. A
9. A
10. A
11. C
12. B
13. A
14. B
15. A
16. B
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. A
21. D
22. C
23. C
24. C
25. B

26