Department of Education

Bureau of Learning Delivery

Teaching and Learning Division

Grade Levels: Grade 11

Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems
Semester: First Semester (WEEK 2)

LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Analyze the interconnectedness of geography, culture and religions.

 Geography, Culture and Religions

Similar to living organisms, religions are born in history and they gradually
develop into living traditions and affect the lives of their followers. Belief systems
originate in certain localities within the context of culture and even geography.
Religions continually evolved into a complicated system replete with rites and
practices that made recruitment of members necessary. Unfortunately, other religion
faced death as in the case of Zoroastrianism that once flourished in South Asia but is
now only confined in Iran, India and Central Asia. They may also give impetus to
establish new movements within religion groups, such as in the case of Buddhism
that may be viewed as a reaction to the overly ritualistic beliefs and the exclusivity in
nature of Hinduism.

This module will discuss the connectedness between religion, geography and
culture. Religions have their stories of origin and are universal in nature. Geography
and culture have an effect on the establishment and development of religions.

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

2.1. Cite regions or places where specific religions evolved HUMSS_WRB12-

I/IIIb-2.1
2.2. Analyze the culture of the region that gave rise to specific religions
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIb-2.2
2.3. Explain how geography influences religion and religion affects culture
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIb-2.3
2.4. Conduct a group activity that demonstrates the influence of a religion in a certain
culture
HUMSS_WRB12

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Direction: Challenge yourself by accomplishing the table below.

PERSON OR PLACES OR
THINGS YOU
PEOPLE YOU SITES YOU
ASSOCIATE
RELIGION ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE
WITH THIS
WITH THIS WITH THIS
RELIGION
RELIGION RELIGION
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Daoism
Shintoism

Task 1: MAP READING. Study the origin of world religions on a map and
the concept map below. Then answer the following question.

ASIA

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 GEOGRAPHY

RELIGIONS
CULTURE

1. How geography and culture affected the development of religions?

2. How religions influence the geography and culture?

Task 2: Answer the following questions:

1. How important is the role of Abraham in the development of monotheistic

religions?
2. In what ways are Confucianism and Taoism more of a social philosophy rather
than organized religions?
3. How did geography affect the religious events and development in West Asia, in
the Indian subcontinent, and in China?
4. What are the major points of difference between Dharmic religions and Abrahamic
religions?
5. Why are natural forces and environment integral to Shinto religion?

The Western Frontier

West Asia is home of three great religions, namely, Judaism, Christianity and
Islam. Comprising the area bordered on the west by the fertile coasts of the
Mediterranean Sea an on the east by the arid desserts of Arabia, the history of these
religions is closely linked with this region.
Countries closest to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea north of the
Arabian Sea and south of Turkey, sometimes called the Levant, have experienced
numerous religious cataclysms in their existence as nation-states. These include
Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Syria, and Palestine. Gaining the independence in 1944,
Lebanon has undergone a protracted civil war from 1975 to 1990 between Christians
and Muslims. During that time, while the Christians controlled wealth and power,
majority of the Muslim felt discriminated. Around 250,000 lives were lost as a result
of conflict.
Presently, followers of the three Abrahamic religions place high regard on the
city of the Jerusalem in Israel because of the numerous sites that are central to their
belief system. In Jerusalem, there are more than a thousand synagogues, more than
a hundred churches, and more than 70 mosques. Jerusalem has been sacred for the
Jews almost three thousand years now with the city being the site of the First
Temple (King Solomon’s Temple) and the Second Temple. The Western Wall

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(Wailing Wall or Kotel), one of the four retaining walls that surrounded the Temple
Mount, is the second holiest shrine for the Jews.

The Indian Subcontinent

The Subcontinent of South Asia covers an area of more than one and half
million square miles stretching from the Hindu Kush and Baluchi Hills on the west
and the Great Himalayan mountain range on the north, to the Burmese mountain on
the East and the Indian Ocean on the south (Wolpert 1993). More than 4000 years
ago, a civilization emerged along the Indus River that developed a unique and
exceptional culture long before the dawn of Christian era. Invasions from people
originating in Macedonia and Central Asia have added diversity to India’s population
and complexity to its culture (Wolpert 1993).

The Eastern End

At the eastern end of the great Asian continent one finds the cultural and
political dominance of China. Stretching more than 5,000 kilometers across the
Asian landmass, it is bordered by various bodies of water in the east and land
borders in all directions.
Chinese culture practically influenced all other countries at its outskirts,
including Japan and Korea. The supremacy of China on the eastern front can be
explained by the role of its environment and geography that includes vast alluvial
plains, extensive fertile valleys, and a pleasant climate. The location of China proper
in the valleys of two great bodies of water, the Huang He and Yangtze, is quite
favorable because of the support these streams provide to the Chinese people that
made historic China the center of culture. Geographically speaking, the farming
people of the river valley were isolated from the rest of the Asia because of deserts
and mountains. From these river valleys emerged small states now controlled by the
first recorded dynasties in China, the Shang and the Zhou.

Religion is considered universal and it can be found in all known

contemporary societies. Monotheism or the belief in one god is an ancient idea that
predated the establishment of Abrahamic religions. The prophet and patriarch
Abraham is considered the common origin of three monotheistic religions, namely,
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Religion is an essential part of Indian tradition as four main relions originated
here, namely, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The concept of dharma is
integral in religion that emerged in India, most especially Buddhism and Hinduism.
Heat and water are major features of India’s ecological setting. As a result, deities of
sun, fire, and water are venerated in India.
Both Confucius and Lao Tzu were followers of the Dao. The Confucian Dao
principally concerns human affairs while the Daoist Dao means the way the universe
work. Chinese culture influenced all other nations at its outskirts, including Japan and
Korea. Chinese belief system arrived in Japan and influenced the local culture and
the indigenous polytheistic religion Shinto.

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Task 3: Make a poster illustrating the unity of world religion. Explain your work
in three sentences only. Your poster will be graded based on the rubric below.

Rubric for Poster

Points
Criteria Description Points
obtained
Organization The concept was clearly and
6
creatively conveyed
Content Important concepts were highlighted
7
and explained
Presentation The idea was clearly presented based
7
on the poster presentation
Total:2
0

Asia is the cradle of all religions around the world. Why it is that poverty and
war is rampant in this part of the world?

TRUE or FALSE:

Direction: Write True if the statement is correct and False if it is not.

__________1. The term “Shinto” came from two Indian word.

__________2. The Hindu god of fire is Agni.
__________3. Judaism has 48 prophets and seven prophetesses.
__________4. The concept of filial piety is integral in Islam.
__________5. The Arabian Peninsula consists of countries that are predominantly
Buddhist in character.
__________6. God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at Mount Hira.
__________7. The Analects and Dao De Jing are sacred texts in Chinese Religions.
__________8. The Ganga is the holiest river for the Muslims.
__________9. The Hindus believe in the Trimurti or the three forms of their GOD.
__________10. The holy mountains in Japan are Mt. Fuji, Mt. Tate and Mt. Moriah.

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Glossary

Abrahamic religions –religious communities that claim descent from the ancient
Israelites and the worship of the God of Abraham
Confucian Dao - principally concerns human affairs
Daoist Dao – means the way the universe work
Dharmic Religion – religions originated in the Indian subcontinent
Subcontinent of South Asia - covers an area of more than one and half million
square miles stretching from the Hindu Kush and Baluchi Hills
on the west and the Great Himalayan mountain range on the
north, to the Burmese mountain on the East and the Indian
Ocean on the south
West Asia – comprising the area bordered on the west by the
fertile coasts of the Mediterranean Sea an on the east by the
arid desserts of Arabia

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Answer Keys:

Task 1 – Answers may vary

Task 2 – Answers may vary
Task 3 – Answers may vary
Task 4 – True of False

1. False 6. False
2. True 7. True
3. True 8. False
4. False 9. True
5. False 10. False

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References:

INTERNET SOURCES:
https://www.google.com/search?
q=map+of+the+origin+of+religions&sxsrf=ALeKk01RqL-cN1RTslsnX- wqv7_2kM

TEXTBOOK
Ong, Jerome A. and Jose, Mary Dorothy dl. Introduction to World Religions
and Belief Systems (Senior High School Textbook) Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg.,
DepEd Complex Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600, Vibal Group 2016

Manaloto, Christian B and Rapadas, Maria Teresita R. Pilgrimage to Sacred

Spaces:An Introductin to World Religions 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, The
Phoenix Publishing House Inc. 2016

Prepared by:

MARVIN P. SUBRIDA
SST-II
Passi National High School (Senior High)
Division of Passi City
Region VI- Western Visayas

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