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Culture Documents
Module 2 World Religion
Module 2 World Religion
teacher to assess Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and pin point specific topics that need
emphasis during the discussion.
PRE-TEST
1. Arrange the juggled letters at the end of each sentence and place the correct word in the space
provided.
ROWLDWIVE _______________________________
MISTIPRIS _______________________________
FULNIS CAT
_______________________________
MISTHEPOLY
_______________________________
Learning Outcomes:
LEARNING CONCEPT
How did religion develop? Religion flourishes in space and time not in a vacuum. Geography is the
fertile ground for religion to flourish. Geography is the study of earth and its people. The relationship
between religion and geography can be termed as Religious Geography by which geographical ideas
are influenced by religion such as early map-making, and biblical geography that developed in the
16th century to identify places from the Bible. (Kong, 1990).
Do you know that major religions of the world have their origins in Asia? Asia is the largest and most
populous continent and the birthplace of many religions including Buddhism, Christianity,
Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. Some
of them spread in other grounds like Europe hence they were branded as Western religions like
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Those that remained in Asia are called the –Eastern Religions which
are Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism to name a few. There is a significant disparity
between Western and Eastern religions in terms of belief systems, worldview and philosophy about
life. The mindset of the West is different from the mindset of the East. It is possible that the
difference in mindset is brought by geographical influence.
1. Animism
Anthropologist Edward Taylor argued that Religion had its origin in the belief in immaterial
souls that might inhabit objects like stones, trees, animals, or human bodies, but which also
could exist independently from them.
Edward Taylor coined the term animism from the Greek word anima which means soul.
Historical evidence show that ancient Filipinos believe in anitos- spirits that dwell in natural
objects, including human bodies, that need to be pleased in order to live in harmony with
them and in the environment.
Confucianism
Confucius: 551 – 479
B.C.E
100 C.E Christianity Shinto
Jesus 1-33 C.E 100 C.E
600 C.E Islam
Muhammad: 570 –
632 C.E
The ancient Near East is considered one of the cradles of civilization. It was here that
intensive year-round agriculture was first practiced leading to the rise of first urban
settlements and the development of many familiar institutions of civilization; such as social
stratification, centralized government and empires, organized religion and organized welfare.
Significantly, most of these lands comprising the Ancient Near East were among the so-called
Bible Lands of the Old Testament.
East Asia
Major religions include Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and some of the indigenous
populations embrace Shamanism.
The culture of East Asia has been influenced by the civilization of China.
East Asia shared a Confucian ethical philosophy, Buddhism, political and legal structures, and
historically, a common writing system.
India
Five thousand years of history have nourished the growth of a great civilization. It has been
vitalized through cross-cultural contact and characterized by unity in diversity of culture, race,
caste, religion and language.
The great Indian tradition unites the diverse cultural regions, but, equally condones the
existence of different sects and local traditions.
1. JUDAISM
Some of the major beliefs of Judaism are:
a. Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and all knowing.
b. This god made a special covenant or agreement with Abraham, who is the ‘father’ of
the Jewish people.
c. God revealed his laws to his people through Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Western Wall
Star of David
A. Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and all knowing.
B. Jesus Christ died for the sins of humankind.
C. Salvation comes from faith in God.
2. ISLAM - is a monotheistic religion that developed in Saudi Arabia in the early 600s. Islam is
directly related to Judaism and Christianity. Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad
who lived from 570 to 632 in Saudi Arabia.
A. A statement of faith
B. Prayer (five times a day in the direction of Mecca)
C. Charity
D. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your lifetime (called the Hajj)
E. Fasting (during the month of Ramadan)
The teachings of Muhammad were collected into a book called the Koran. Muslims worship in
buildings called mosques. (Dome of the Rock, Mecca, Crescent and Star)
3. HINDUISM is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is a polytheistic religion that
originated in South Asia, present day India, around 2500 B.C.E.
Atman is the spirit or soul of a person, which most Hindus believe, is eternal.
Brahman refers to a supreme spirit but it can also mean an infinite and unchanging reality.
Hindus believe that the goal of life is to realize that your atman is the same as Brahman and
thereby reach moksha, or liberation.
Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma. A person dies, and then lives again, until they
finally reach moksha.
Hindus have several holy books called Vedas, Upanishads, and the epics the Mahabharata
and Ramayana.
The caste system is a system of social organization in India. When a person is born they
are born into one of four castes or as a Dalit.
4. BUDDHISM is related to Hinduism and shares many of the same basic beliefs. The
relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism is similar to the relationship between
Christianity and Judaism.
o Buddhism was founded by a man named Siddhartha who was born around 500 -
400 B.C. in Nepal.
5. TAOISM is a religion or philosophy that began in China around 500 - 400 B.C.
o Tradition says that Taoism is based on the teachings of Laozi. The Tao Te Ching is
a collection of Laozi’s teachings.
o The Tao is called the Great Mother
Civilization typically develops in and around river systems where easy access to water and
irrigation become possible, which allows them to grow crops and move from the hunter
gatherer lifestyle to farmers.
As a result, the famous River Ganges, Indus Valley, the Nile and Amazon Rivers became
places where different types of people have developed over time.
Mountains symbolize the way people in those days perceived reality.
The physical geography of the land determines how and when people would live in certain
places due to accessibility, resources, and climate, it would seem reasonable to conclude that
these people would regard these aspects of nature as having God-like immortality.
Objective: Determine the different sacred places from various religious beliefs.
Directions: Reflect on the religious beliefs of sacred places in the pictures and then answer the
following questions below.
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2. In terms of geographical location, find out what are their commonalities or similarities.
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Direction: Choose the letter that corresponds to your answer and write it in the space provided.
1. Various Religions developed in time and spaces all over the world carrying with them their
religious traditions and practices. One of those practices are particular places where the
believers enable to communicate to a divine entity. How do they call these places?
a. sacred places
b. sacred images
c. holy altar
d. holy war
2. Its concern is land and people. Its features are things like continents, seas, rivers and
mountains. It is the fertile ground for the proliferation of religion. It refers to what term?
a. Culture
b. Geography
c. Religion
d. Landscape
4. Each particular religion has particular places where they go and pray to their God. What
particular religion which considers temples as their places of worship.
a. Judaism
b. Christianity
c. Hinduism
d. Islam
5. There is a special relationship between religion and geography. Religion needs the other in
order to develop. What is the term appropriate for this kind of relationship?
a. Religious geography
b. Religious anthropology
c. Cultural geography
d. all of the above