Technological College of San Felipe Inc.

Fuentecilla Street Brgy. Amagna, San Felipe Zambales

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING MODULE

Introduction to World
Religions and Belief Systems

First Quarter
Week 1-9

Arianne Ross F. Leron

Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

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 Table of Contents

First Quarter

Week 1
Religion in a Different Light.......................................................................3

Week 2
Judaism....................................................................................................4

Week 3
Christianity.…………………………....................................................……....7

Week 4
Islam................................……………………………………………………….......9

Week 5
Hinduism………........................................……………………………………...10

Week 6 and 7
Hinduism..................................................……………………………………...14

Week 8 and 9
Hinduism.................................................................................................16

References……………………………………………………………………………...19

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Week 1: Religion in a Different Light

Learning Competency:

 Differentiate the concept, elements and characteristics of belief

system, world view, religion, and spirituality

Introduction
People have different attitudes toward religion. Some people are happy to
believe and practice what they have been taught.
Similar to social institutions such as family and education, religion pervades
many aspects of our everyday lives. Religion has become part of one’s identity
renders it not just as a sacred character but personal, too.

Defining Religion
There are two ways of defining religion as a a social reality. The first is
substantive, which is concerned with what constitutes religion. In this sense,
religion involves beliefs and practices which assume the existence of
supernatural beings.
Next one is the functional definition of religion, which is more concerned with
the social consequences of religion.
The French sociologist Emile Durkheim (2001) has a famous definition of
religion as a unified system of beliefs and practice relative to sacred things,
that is to say, things set apart and forbidden beliefs and practices which unite
into one single moral community.
From the point of view of the social sciences, we approach religion as a system
of beliefs and practices by which a group of people interprets and responds to
what they feel is scared and usually, supernatural as well. With this definition,
we can appreciate religion as a social reality in at least four respects that we
believe many individuals can easily recognize as pertaining to the religious.
First religion is a collective phenomenon an individual who professes a
religion is typically associated with a particular religious organization.
Second, religion is concerned with ordering behaviour in relation to the sacred
and/or the supernatural, the sacred is often associated with entities, events,
figures, objects, and sites that are treated with reverence as as opposed to
those that are taken for granted in everyday life.

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Third religion is involves a body of beliefs and moral prescriptions, which are
to be expected in religions mainly because they are guided by texts rendered
sacred by special events or figures.
Finally, religion expects it followers to follow a set of practices that relate to
the notion of the sacred. These practices are typically in the form of individual
and collective rituals involving prayer, worship, purification, baptism, and
sacrifice. Practices can also be in line with moral and behavioural
prescriptions. Wearing particular outfits or avoiding the consumption of some
foods.
Religions of the World
Pew Research Center (2012) states that Christians constitute the biggest
proportion (2.2 billion ) of the world population of almost 7 billion in 2010.
Followed by Muslims, who compromise 1.6 billion. There are about 1 billion
Himdus. 500 million Buddhists, and 14 million Jews around the world. Around
400million belong to folk or indigeneous religions, while 58 million subscribe to
other religions such as Baha’I, Jainism, Sikhism, Shinto, Taosim, and
Zoroastrianism.

Activity #1
Search and cut out different photos of things, personalities, events, or
activities that may be associated with religion, briefly explain why those are
considered or belong in religion

Week 2: Judaism
Learning Competency:

 Examine the brief history, core teachings fundamental beliefs,

practices, and related issues of Judaism
Introduction
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions, originating around 3,500
years ago. Despite its relatively small population (with respect to other
religions) around the globe and in the country, it has influenced Western
civilization. The two biggest monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam,
affirm the Torah of Judaism as God’s revelation, and therefore as good news for
everybody.

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 Throughout Judaism’s history, their followers have been called many
names, and these names are often confused with one another. “Hebrews” refer
to those who accepted Yahweh as their God, and much of their history is
written in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.
“Israelites” refer to the descendants of the Hebrews, which originated from
Abraham. Israel was established as a nation-state and “Israelites” or “Israel
Jews” could also refer to citizens of the land. “Jew” comes from Yehudah or
Judah, the southern Kingdom of Israel.
Jews believe that being Jewish defines an important and critical part of their
being; many believe that Judaism tells them the meaning of life and how to live
it. On the one hand, all branches of Judaism select Jews along ethnic lines
according to their birth. Conservative Judaism defines the Jew as being born of
a Jewish mother, while Reform Judaism traces it to either a Jewish father or
mother.
If we ask what many Jews could identify with, they point to the Five Books of
Moses (the Torah). The Torah comes in the beginning and explains where it all
began. Torah is important because it forms the critical component of the holy
writings of Judaism.
The Hebrew bible also called the Tanakh, it’s a collection of 24 books,
divided into 3 parts : the Torah (teaching or law) the Nevi’im (prophets) and
the Ketuvim (writings).
The Torah contains the early history of Judaism, as well as the law and
teaching “handed down” to Moses by Yahweh or God Himself. The book begins
with the creation story: how God created the world in six days and rested on
the seventh, and how God created the human being in His image and likeness.
Next, it tells us the story of “ The Fall of Man” where Adam and Eve, the first
man and woman, were tempted by the serpent to disobey God, and as
punishment for this disobedience, God and as punishment for this
disobedience, God banished the human beings from the Garden of Eden.
The last great mythic story is the Great Flood, where God only saved Noah and
his family, as well as two of each living animal because of the infidelity of the
people.
Elaboration on Practices
There is no official Jewish creed, only set of central beliefs formulated by
the Jewish medieval philosopher Moses Maimonides: belief in a God that is
one, formless, all knowing, creator and judge, both loving and just; belief in
words of prophets; belief that God gave the law to Moses; belief that the
Messiah will come; and belief that there is a resurrection of the good in the

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world to come. But more than holding a set of beliefs, Judaism is even more a
way of living.
Dietary Practices
One of the areas of Jewish life heavily influenced by the laws from Torah
is their food. Food consumption and handling must be done according to
religious laws. For example, all blood must be drained before the meat is
cooked and eaten, because blood, which gives life, is sacred to God. The Jews
do not eat pork and shellfish because these animals are believed to be
contaminated by what they ate. There are also specific rules of how to
slaughter, cook, and serve the animals. This is called koshser, which means
“ritually correct” and particularly refers to food preparation and consumption.
Sabbath
By Friday afternoon, he has bathed, put on his Sabbath garments, and set
aside the affairs of the week. At home, his wife will have cleaned, cooked, and
arranged her finest table. The Sabbath comes at sunset, and leaves when three
stars appear Saturday night. As the day wanes, the synagogue calls for a late
afternoon service, and then comes a ceremony, havdalah, “separation”, effected
with species, wine, and candlelight, between the holy time of the Sabbath and
the ordinary time of the weekday.
Messiah
One of the most fundamental Jewish beliefs is that a Messiah, or savior, will
come. The traditional Jews refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and so now
they remain waiting for the Messiah.
The belief in the coming of the Messiah is one of those doctrines that have
changed across different versions of Judaism. Some believe that the Messiah
will be a political leader who will rule Israel as a model for the rest of the world.

Passover
Jews have many Holy Days throughout the year. The Jewish liturgical year
begins with the month of Nisan in spring, and the Passover begins on the 15 th
of Nisan, celebrated for 8 days.

Activity #2
Search 5 practices about Judaism and elucidate each, make sure to paste a
photo that is related in each practices.

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Week 3: Christianity

Learning Competency:
 Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Christianity

Introduction
One of the world’s biggest religions with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide,
Christianity is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ who lived in Israel some
2,000 years ago.
In addition to devotional rituals and objects, Christianity is a source of so
much religious symbolism. Good examples of these signs and symbols are the
fish (Greek=ichtus), the cross, the crucifix, the Greek letters Alpha (A) and
Omega (Ω), the logo HIS (Greek = iota, eta, and sigma), and the logo XP (chi-
rho).
Explore
There are hundred of buildings called churches in which people who call
themselves Christian gather periodically to pray, sing, eat together, get
married, prepare the dead, instruct each other of the bible, do catechesis, and
listen to sermons and homilies. In these churches people swallow small
quantities of bread or water and sip tiny amounts of wine, and at other times
they sprinkle babies and children with water or immerse adults or teenagers in
a special pool. In the Philippines alone, there are more than 500 separate and
distinct forms of Christianity.
Disciples of Christ
Christianity is a religion that was meant to be universal. Christianity is a
religion that developed from Judaism; some of its followers were originally
Jews. What distinguishes Christians from Jews is that the former accepts
Jesus Christ as the Messiah, or the savior, while the latter considers Jesus as
just another prophet of God, and the real Messiah is yet to come.
The whole of Christian conviction could be summarized in Jesus two great
commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your mind” and with all your
soul and with all your mind” and “love your neighbor as you love yourself”
( Matthew 22: 37-40). The life of the Christian is centered on these two things:
praise and thanksgiving for God, and acts of love to humankind (Brown 1991).

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Christians also believe in the life after death. After death, the soul of a person
will be judged according to his/her life in the world, and will either go to
Heaven. To dwell with God, or to Hell and be separated permanently from Him.
There is also belief in Purgatory, where there is temporary punishment for
those who do not yet deserve to go either Heaven or Hell.
Practices
The most important among them are believed to be signs of God’s grace, called
sacraments. People who will want to be converted to Christianity will have to
undergo baptism. The person is cleansed with water, to signify repentance and
cleansing.
During the last supper, Jesus broke the bread and shared the wine to
represent His Body and Blood, and the Apostles were sharing His suffering.
This is commemorated through sacrament of the Eucharist, where Christians
gather in the church, and share the Body and Blood of Christ.
Other practices includes confirmation, which is a blessing of initiation after
baptism; reconciliation, where someone confesses his/her sins and get
absolution; matrimony, where two people commit themselves with each other
for life with God as the center; ordination, where someone commits himself to
priesthood; and anointing of the sick, which is usually taken by a sick person.
Liturgical Year
Christians have several feasts. The biggest feasts are Christmas, to celebrate
Jesus’ birth, and Easter, to celebrate His resurrection from the dead.
In preparation for these festivals, there are also corresponding cycles that
precede them. Advent is a four-week preparation for Christmas, which
symbolizes the 4000 years that was once thought to be the gap between
creation and the coming of Jesus. Lent is a 40-day repentance to prepare for
Easter, recalling the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert. All pleasures and
luxuries are abstained or lessened during Lent.

Activity # 3
Locate important examples of Christian art and architecture in your area.
Prepare a self-guided tour tailored to a visitor who is interested in religious art
and architecture.

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Week 4: Islam
Learning Competency:
 Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Islam
Introduction
Islam is one of the fastest growing world religions today. It is the oldest
recorded monotheistic religion in the country. Revealed to humanity by the
Prophet Muhammad, those who follow Islam are called Muslims. They believed
that there is only one God- Allah.
Explore
Islam is the second most widespread religion, next to Christianity. Those who
practice Islam are called Muslims.
Muhammad is the Prophet of Islam and he is often referred to as “the seal of
Prophets”, he is the last prophet. The islamic message is none other than the
acceptance of God as the one and submission to Him, which results in peace;
hence the name Islam means surrender to the will of the one God, and He is
called Allah in Arabic.
The Qur’an
The sacred text of Islam, is believed to be the literal Word of Allah. It is consists
of 114 chapters or surahs, each composed of verses or ayahs. The shorter
chapters are called Meccan surahs because they are believed to have been
revealed to Muhammad in Mecca, while the longer ones are called Medinan
chapters, believed to have been revealed later when Muhammad was in
Medina. The goal of the Muslim society is to create a just society.
Five Pillars
The five pillars of Islam is the foundation of the faith of the Muslims. They
follow and practices these pillars.
Shahadah (Creed)
There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. This creed
summarizes the faith of a Muslim. It is the first sentence whispered into the
ears of a newborn infant; it is recited daily in prayer, and it is written in Arabic
everywhere inside the domes of mosques and over their doors.

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Salat (Prayer)
Muslims pray five times a day; before dawn, midday, midafternoon, sunset,
and nighttime. Before prayer, there is an individual cleansing ritual with water,
washing the hands, arms, face, neck and feet. Muslims prayed facing
Jerusalem. Friday is a day of public prayer. On other days, people may pray
privately, at home or at work, as well as in mosque.
Zakat (Charity)
Muslims donate certain percentages of their wages to the poor. In islamic
countries, the government is involved in imposing taxes for zakat. In addition
to established yearly donations, a good Muslim is expected to perform isolated
acts of generosity and charity for the poor when such acts are called for in
everyday life.
Sawn (Fasting on Ramadan)
Ramadan is a period of shared fasting among Muslims. Its the 9th month in
the Muslim calendar, which commemorates Allah’s first revelations to
Muhammad. During the month long Ramadan, people abstain from food,
drinks, tobacco, and sex from dawn until dusk, except for travelers, pregnant
women, and the sick. The purpose of fasting is to discipline oneself, to develop
sympathy for the poor and hungry, and give to others what one would have
eaten.
Hajj (Pilgrimage o Mecca)
Pilgrimage is a religious journey by a believer to a sacred city or site, All
Muslims (unless prevented by poverty or sickness) are expected to visit Mecca
at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is already a practice before Muhammad’s
time.
Actvity # 4
Islam is an important presence in the Philippines, specially in Mindanao.
Discuss what contributions Islam might make in the arts and culture of
Mindano. Also discuss how non-Islamic cultures might influence or change the
practice of Islam.

Week 5: Hinduism
Learning Competency:
 Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Hinduism

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Introduction
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world today, 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. It has also directly
influenced other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism, which also
originated in India.
Explore
The Sanatana Dharma
Believers usually refer to the Santana Dharma or the Eternal Religion when
they refer to Hinduism, which is believed to be one of the oldest religions in the
world. The name Hinduism is itself relatively recent: The term was introduced
by Persians in the 9th century B.C.E to refer to people residing near and
beyond the eastern side of the Sindhu or Indus River. British colonial rulers
continued using the term “Hindu” to refer to populations in India who were
neither Christian nor Muslim.
Hinduism is a religion of the Dharma, according to Hindu belief and practice, it
is what holds the universe together, and means “duty”, correct practice, and
truth. Hindus consider the Dharma to be so central that they consider it a
privelege to be able to uphold its teachings and apply them in their everyday
life.
A significant portion of the Hindu scriptures called the Vedas emphasizes the
cultivation of virtues according to the person’s standing in society.

Hinduism as Vedic Religion

Hinduism was able to preserve important teachings in sacred writings that
contain elements of doctrine, morality, and worship. These sacred writings are
called the Vedas, for which reason Hinduism is also referred to as Vaidika
Dharma or Religion of the Vedas. The term veda in Sanskrit means knowledge,
and has already been commited to memory by sages and passed on to disciples
before it was recorded in writing. Vedas, unlike the Torah (Judaism), the Bible
(Christianity), or the Qu’ran (Islam) ,Vedas are not contained in a single
volume. It has a collection of hyms to the Gods, while chapters and volumes
includes dialogues, stories, and sagely advice from religious masters.
There are two types of scriptures in the Hindu tradition; the Shruti scripture
(meaning “that which is heard) which contains fundamental elements of Hindu
philosophy and morality. The shruti scriptures, which are primarily the four
Vedas, are considered to be of divine origin as reveled to sages (called rishis).

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Each of the four Vedas are further subdivided into four types of religious
literature:
(a). Samhitas, hymns dedicated to gods and goddesses;
(b). Brahmanas,explications of the Samhitas and other ritual acts performed by
priests;
(c). Aranyakas, philosophical interpretations of ritual acts; and
(d). Upanishads, explanations of general philosophical knowledge.
The Smriti (meaning that which is remembered) are considered secondary
scriptures and mostly contain stories and advice from sages. The Smriti
scriptures include the following:
(a) 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.
(b) Ramayana, a shorter epic poem about kingship and royal virtues, tells
the story of the battles that Rama had to fight in order to save his wife
Sita from the Demon Ravana. It is one of the epics that depict the battle
between good and evil.
(c) Dhrama Shastras, legal treaties that emphasize the importance of
practicing virtue.
(d) Bhagavad Gita, meaning “Song of the Lord”,is actually one of the books
in Mahabharata. It is considered by many Hindus as an important
religious text that extols the power and benevolence of Krishna and his
instructions to Arjuna.
(e) Puranas, these are stories that depict the secratarian divisions within
Hinduism. There are multiple creation stories, legends, and war stories
by the different Hindu sects.

Many Gods, One Divine Principle

If you visit any Hindu temple, you will amazed at the different names of gods
and goddesses and the different forms they are depicted.
Goddess Ganesha, who is portrayed as an elephant, God Shiva, who portrayed
with more than two arms; or the goddess Kali, who holds a head severed from
its body while standing on corpses. When worshiping, a Hindu would usually
pay his/her respects to each enshrined image by bowing to them one by one. A
Hindu is not required to worship all gods and goddesses, nor is he/she obliged
to worship any particular deity exclusively.

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In Hinduism, there is a belief in three highest deities who fulfill different
functions in the universe. This is called Trimurthi (or Trinity), of which
Brahma is the creator,Vishnu (or Vishnu) is the preserver, and Shiva (or Shiva)
is the destroyer. Each of dieties have their own goddess consorts who are also
worshipped by devotees: Sarawasti, the goddess of speech, is to Brahma;
Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is to Vishnu; and Parvati, usually worshipped
as the Mother Goddess, is to Shiva. Brahman is not seen by Hindus as a direct
object of worship, althought it is seen as the most supreme of all beings.
A Permanent Self (Soul); Atman
Hinduism believes in the Doctrine of the Atman, which claims that there is a
“soul” (called atman) in each and every living creature. It is the atman that
assumes a physical body (through reincarnation) depending on the merit’s of
one’s deeds.
Karma, Samsara, and Moksha
The use of karma in Philippine language is interesting, we usually say “karma”
when we want something bad to happen to someone who has done something
ill or improper to us. The origin of the word karma is Sanskrit, but it does not
primarily mean misfortune or bad luck. Karma simply means “action” but more
so the consequences of one’s action. The law of karma, means that the person’s
actions in the present will have consquences, and thus will shape the person’s
future. It is a strong teaching that there is nothing that can prevent the
consequences of one’s actions.
The cycle involve in reincarnation is called samsara the wheel of birth-death-
rebirth. An atman that has not achieved the sufficient level of enlightenment
and detachment from material goods and pleasure will be reborn again and
again in different material receptacles. The goal of spiritual practice, therefore,
is to end this cycle and stop the wheel of samsara. The end of the wheel of
samsara is experienced as momentous release or liberation from the seemingly
never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This experience is called
mosksha, and it is aim of serious spiritual practitioners to achieve moksha
within their lifetime.
Activity # 5
Search for a photo of Samsara and write your reflection about it. Please do not
forget to put the photo on your answer sheet.

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Week 6&7: Hinduism
The Caste System
The traditional social structure that closely follows Hindu principles of karma
and samsara is called the caste system. The word caste is not Indian in origin,
its actually Portuguese, which means chaste or pure.
The term jati, a social rank one receives upon birth. Jati is a social
classification system determines one’s rank on the basis of the family’s
occupation.There are four main jatis in different varnas (social groups)
arranged from highest to lowest: (1) Brahmins, (2) Kshatriyas, (3) Vaishyas and
(4) Shudras.
The Brahmins are the highest in the hierarchy and are perceived to be the
purest among all castes. They serve as the ritual experts or priests who
officiate temple worship. They also handle sacred writings (Vedas) and study
them extensively.
Kshatriyas consit of political rulers and warriors, those who administer justice
and defend the territory against rulers and warriors, those who administer
justice and defend the territory against invaders.
The third caste, the Vaishyas, makes up the economic specialists and
merchants. They are responsible for producing food and other goods and
exchanging them in markets for everyone’s benefit.
The last caste, the Shudras, consist of manual laborers. They are considred
impure because of the nature of their job, which are usually trash collectors,
embalmers, or undertakers (those working in graveyards). In due course they
became known as “the untouchables of their association with impure or dirty
stuff.
The original intention of caste system was to reflect an individual’s talent and
skill and his/her contribution to society.
Puja
It is the common way to express worship for dieties. Its consist of offering
mostly material goods and rituals acts to the altar of god or goddess. Pujas may
be made in home altars or in temples. When it is done in homes, the essence of
the puja rituals is to welcome the deity as a guest. The images of the god or
goddess is the representation of the deity’s presence, is bathed, clothed, and
then fed in an elaborated manner.
The goal of the puja is darshan, where the devotee “exchange glances” with the
god or goddess. The darshan is an intimate encounter between the two, and

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the deity responds by sanctifying food ritually offered by a devotee, which
becomes Prasad, sanctified food that the devotee receives as a gift from the god
or goddess.
Festivals
There are countless festivals devoted to the deities in different parts of India
every year. The Hindu calendar is based on the lunar cycle, and most of the
dates of the festivals are not fixed.
1. Divali (Deepavali or Diwali). The festival of lights, some considers Divali
as the beginning of the New Year. The whole festival lasts five days, and
in preparation, Hindus clean their house and prepare new clothes. The
festival honors the return of Rama and Sita to their own kingdom. In
celebration, the houses are usually lit with lamps to honor the victory of
light over darkness.
2. Holi. The festival of springs and colors. In mythology, these fesivals
celebrates the slaying of the demoness Holika. During this festival,
devotees would drench themselves and others with water and would
spray colourful powder to celebrate the end of winter and the return of
spring. Some consider Holi as the time to forgive past faults and start a
new relationships with family and friends.
3. Dussehra. Closely associated with Divali, the festival of Dussehra
celebrates the actual victory of Rama over the demon Ravana. In some
areas this celebration continues to the festival of Navaratri, the festival of
dance, in honor of the goddess Durga.
4. Makara Sankranti. Festival of the harvest. Celebrated every January 14,
this festival is offered as a thanksgiving to the Sun-god for providing life
to the fields and making haravests possible.
5. Lohari. A midwinter festival, the festival of Lohari celebrates the symbolic
shunning of evil. Devotees would light bonfires and would throw nuts,
sesame sweets, and popcorn on them to symbolize rejection of evil.
6. Krishna Janmaashtami. Celebration of the birth of Krishna, a popular
god among Hindus.
7. Maha Shivaratri. The great night of Shiva. Devotees fast overnight in
order to earn the god’s favour, and then celebrate by merriment and
partaking of food.
8. Ganesh Chaturthi. A celebration of the birth of Ganesh, a god who is
represented as an elephant.
9. Guru Purnima. The festival of one’s teacher. A devotee honors his/her
Guru (teacher) yearly by offering puja. This is also celebrated by
Buddhists to honor Buddha. Hindus honor the birth of the sage Vysa,
who authored the Mahabharata.

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 10. Kumbha Mela. The largest Hindu festival in the worls, the Kumba
Mela celebrates the Sarawasti river of enlightenment, an invisible river
that is believed to be at the joining together of Ganges and Jumma rivers.
Devotees do ritual bathing and religious asctics to purify themselves
before discussing religious matters with other ascetics.
Week 8 and 9: Hinduism
The Rise of Vedic Religion and Brahmanism
The rise of Brahmanic forms of religion occurred from around 1500 BCE to
around 500 CE. The Aryan people, settlers from the Central Asia, and the
Indo-European regions reached the Indus Valley. Aryans were seminomadic
they came in groups and first settled in small villages. There were influeces
that were unique to the Aryan’s the most important of which is animal
sacrifice.
The Classical Period
It is the most dynamic period in the development of Hinduism as a religion,
this period brought about the rise of devotional literature addressed to
deities, particularly to Vishnu and Shiva. This period also saw the writing of
the great Hindu epics, the Mahabharata. These epics opened Vedic
teachings to ordinary people, most of whom cannot access the Vedas
because of the nature of their occupation.
The Medieval Period
The most significant of this is the Mughal Empire, which ruled India from
1526 to 1858. The Mughals changed the Indian landscape with their
beautiful and unsurpassed architectural landmarks in Kashmir, Delhi, and
Agra. Example of this is the Taj Mahal, which was built for Shah Jahan’s
(ruled 1624-1658) favourite wife. At present the Taj Mahal is considered as
one of the wonders of the world for its beauty and architectural style.
The Modern Period
The British brought with them modern education and established schools
and universities throughtout India. They also imposed political sytems that
aimed to unite various tribes, religious practices, and legal systems into one
framework.
Main Schools of Thought
Hinduism is quite complex because multiplicity and variety are the norm.
unlike in monotheistic religions that have one God, one book, and one
community, Hinduism has relied on accretions of various texts, schools of

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thought, devotional practices, and manifestations. Six schools of philosophy
became recognized as expressions of the Sanatana Dharma.
1. Samkhya. It is an atheistic philosophy that is based on the writings of
the Samkhyakarikas, which was written by Ishvarakrishna in the
third century BCE. Its considered atheistic because it does not
mention any deity and does not rely on their power in explaining the
workings of the universe. Its also explains that there are two
fundamental principles in the universe: the purusha (person) and the
prakrti (nature).
2. Yoga. When we hear yoga we immediately associate it with bodily
practices that help achieve a healthy lifestyle. This is true, but yoga is
much more than health. Its main purpose is to achieve a sattvic state,
which characterized by spiritual calm, virtue, and joy. There are four
main yogas that suite the temperaments and conditions of different
people:
a. Raja Yoga. The path of physical and psychic practice. The purpose
of the exercises is to facilitate the flow of prana (invisible psychic
energy) along the different chakras (energy centers) of the body.
b. Jnana Yoga. The path of the rational mind and concentration, it
consists of doing meditative practices that aim to clear the mind of
impurities and attain a rational and calm disposition. The ultimate
goal of the practice is spiritual.
c. Karma Yoga. The path of action in the world, Karma Yoga appeals
to people who have strong desire to work. For the betterment of
society.
d. Bhakti Yoga. The path of devotion, it is the most popular from of
yoga practiced among Hindus in India. It’s the practice of deep
devotion and love toward the Divine, and is mainly expressed
through ritual acts such as puja (offering).
3. Mimamsa. It concerns the proper interpretation of righteous action
(dharma) as it is believed to be part of the Vedas themselves. It
focuses on the interpretative dimensions of the Vedas and provides a
useful methos in making sense of Vedic texts.
4. Vaisheshika. It resonates most strongly with an atomistic view of
reality. They believe that the foundational ingredients that make up
the universw are nine: This includes five elements, and then space,
time, mind, and self.
5. Nyaya. One of the most concerned with logic and establishment of
proof. This school argues that the human being is capable of arriving
at conclusions based on evidence. This is the principle of pramanas
and is expressed in four ways 1. Pratyaksha (perception) 2. Anumana

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 (inference), 3. Upamana (analogy) and 4. Shabda (authoritative
testimony).
6. Vedanta. The last to be established in Hindu thought. The term
Vedanta means the end of the Vedas, and this school gives emphasis
to the Upanishads, which is the last book to be considered part of the
Shruti scriptures.

Activity # 6
Look for 5 more trivias about Hinduism, and try to analyze the reason why this
is included in their religion practices.
Do not forget to put your references.

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References:
Cornelio Jayeel S.et. al.,Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems,REX Book Store, 2016.

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