Introduction: The

Understanding of
Culture, Society, and
Politics
Cultural Variation and Social Differences (Religion)
Objectives
 explain religion as a form of cultural variation,
 describe the diversity of religions in the world and in the
Philippines, and
 analyze issues regarding religion in the world and in the
Philippines.
Religion as a Cultural Variation
 We live in a world with varying and diverse cultures.
 Cultural variation or differences take many forms within and
among societies, one of which is religion.
 Religion can be defined as a set of practices and behaviors
that relate to a group of people's belief in a god or a group of
gods.
 Sociologists studying religion consider it a part of society's
culture.
 In most cases, religion not only affects a person's belief, but
one's way of life.
Variety of Religion
 There are many religions around the world.
 Among the major religions in the world are Christianity,
Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
 Each of these religions has its own set of beliefs and
practices that must be followed by its believers.
 In a society, several religions may exist, and since religion
affects an individual’s way of life, we can observe cultural
variations in the form of different religions.
Religion in the Philippines
 The Philippines is a secular country, which means that the
government does not prescribe a specific set of activities
or laws based on religion. A citizen's right to choose his or
her own religion is protected by the Philippine
Constitution.
 In the Philippines, the majority of the population are
Christians, with a certain portion of the population
practicing Islam, particularly in the southern part of the
country.
Religion in the Philippines

 Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism are also

practiced by a small number of inhabitants in the
archipelago.
 Differentreligions are being practiced in Philippine
society today. This variation in religion is a product
of the evolution of Philippine society across time.
Understanding Cultural Variation in the Form of
Religion

 Cultural variations do exist as exemplified through

different religions in the world, more so in Philippine
society.
 For example, Christians and Muslims believe in one God,
Hindus believe in many gods, and Buddhists do not.
 The sets of practices and beliefs of a particular religion
influence the behavior of its followers and their interaction
with other members of society.
Issues Surrounding Differences in Religion
 Problems or Conflicts
 Problems or Conflicts
 Problems or Conflicts
 Since differences in religion do not only mean worshipping different
gods, conflicts sometimes arise between believers.
 Some believers of a particular religion feel like they are being
marginalized, while some feel like those following other religions are
taking advantage of their number.
 It may be easy to be swayed by religious differences and start a
conflict. A believer or follower of a particular religion may offend a
follower of another religion if he or she imposes his or her religious
beliefs or practices.
 In history, bloody wars happened because of religious differences,
and unfortunately, conflicts continue until now due to varying
religions.
 Solutions or Actions
 To prevent conflicts, the Philippine government, for example, started
recognizing some of the special days celebrated by different religions.
 Employees are not required to work during Holy Week, when Catholics
commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
 The start and end of the Ramadan are also considered holidays, just
like when the Chinese celebrate the start of their new year.
 This way, the government allows followers of different religions to
attend to their religious obligations without work getting in the way.
 To those conflicts brought about by differences in religion, the key word
is respect. This entails a conscious effort to acquire cultural knowledge
and understand which this course is mainly about.
Introduction: The
Understanding of
Culture, Society, and
Politics
Cultural Variations and Social Differences
(Exceptionality/Non-Exceptionality)
Objectives

 describe exceptionality and non-exceptionality as a

form of social category or one’s source of identity,
 explain the characteristics that make a person
“exceptional,”
 discuss the challenges and problems affecting
exceptional people, and
 suggest solutions to the problems.
Exceptionality and the Exceptional People

EXCEPTIONALITY
• a quality or a characteristic of a person that makes
him or her different from an established norm in a
society
• various physical and mental interference or
problems that affect a person and which makes it
difficult for him or her to function properly in society
Exceptionality and the Exceptional People

EXCEPTIONALITY
Exceptionality and the Exceptional People

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE
• differ from societal and community standards
of normalcy
• have learning or behavioral problems and
physical and sensory disabilities
• are intellectually gifted
Exceptional People: Challenges and
Problems
Overcoming Challenges and Problems
In the Philippines, despite the passage of Republic Act 7277
or the Magna Carta for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in
1991, there are still significant barriers that keep exceptional
people from fully participating in society including the stigma
surrounding disability and society’s poor understanding of the
abilities and aspirations of exceptional people. However, the
government, private sectors, media, and some concerned
groups have been working together to solve these existing
problems.
Overcoming Challenges and Problems
Overcoming Challenges and Problems

 The picture below shows the International Symbol of

Access (ISA). It is found in locations or spots that are
designated for all persons with disabilities.
Introduction: The
Understanding of
Culture, Society, and
Politics
Cultural Variations and Social Differences
(Nationality)
Objectives

 define nationality as a concept in cultural variation

and social differences,
 explain different concepts regarding nationality, and
 discuss issues regarding nationality and
statelessness.
Nation, Nationality, and Citizenship
NATION
A nation is a large aggregate of people united by common
descent, history, culture, language, and economic life through
inhabiting a particular country or territory.
Example:
• The United Kingdom is a country inhabited mainly by people of
four nations: English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh.
A nation emphasizes a particular group of people, and a country
emphasizes the physical dimensions and boundaries of a
geographical area. On the other hand, a state is a self-governing
legal and political entity.
 Nation, Nationality, and Citizenship
NATIONALITY
• It is a person’s instinctive membership to a specific nation or country.
• It can be acquired by an individual from the country where he or she
was born (jus soli).
• It can be acquired by an individual through his or her parents (jus
sanguinis)
• An individual is a national of a particular country by birth. Nationality is
acquired through inheritance from his or her parents.
• People with the same nationality often share the same language,
culture, territory, and in some cases, ancestry. They share the same
rights and are protected by the same laws.
Nation, Nationality, and Citizenship

CITIZENSHIP
• It is a person’s legal and political status in a city or
state, which means that an individual has been
registered with the government in some country.
• An individual becomes a citizen of a country only
when he or she is accepted into that country’s
political framework through legal terms.
 Nation, Nationality, and Citizenship
CITIZENSHIP
Examples:
• An individual born in the Philippines has a Filipino nationality. He
may, however, apply for citizenship in another country, should he
wish to (e.g. a Filipino national applying for citizenship in Mexico).
• Some people from European Union member countries may have
European citizenships that are different from their nationalities
(e.g. an Italian national who is registered as a German citizen).
• No one will be able to change his nationality, but one can have a
different citizenship.
 Filipino Nationality
• The Philippine Nationality Law is based on the principles
of jus sanguinis or "right of blood." Therefore, anyone with a
parent who is a citizen or national of the Republic of the
Philippines can acquire Philippine citizenship. This is the
primary method of acquiring citizenship.

• For people born in the Philippines to non-Filipino parents,

the Administrative Naturalization Law of 2000 (R.A. 9139)
provides an avenue for administrative naturalization.
Issues Regarding Nationality and Statelessness

RIGHT TO A NATIONALITY
• Every person has a right to a nationality.
• The right to a nationality is a fundamental human
right. It is an individual’s right to acquire, change,
or retain his or her nationality. Thus, a country’s law
cannot deprive a person the right to gain a
nationality, in case he or she loses it.
Issues Regarding Nationality and Statelessness
STATELESSNESS
• People who do not have a nationality are considered as
stateless people.
• According to Article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), "a stateless person is
someone who is not considered as a national by any State under
the operation of its law."
• Most stateless people are considered "refugees," while others
lose their nationalities due to war or conflict, or if their country is
annexed by another country and loses its sovereignty.
Case Study: Statelessness in Sabah
Most Filipinos living in Sabah, Malaysia are considered
"stateless." Thus, they are not recognized as people with a
nationality. They do not belong to any country or nation.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR) handles all issues regarding refugees and stateless
people. The role of UNHCR is to identify stateless people and
protect their rights, as well as prevent statelessness from
happening all over the world. They also aid stateless people in
acquiring new citizenship in other countries.