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1. LESSON 3:
THE POWER OF RELIGION
HUMSS 1- Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

2.  PRAYER
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do
not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive
themselves, and their religion is worthless.
- James 1:26

3. LESSON 3:
THE POWER OF RELIGION
HUMSS 1- Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

4.  LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify the positive and negative effects of religion.
2. Present pieces of evidence that religion brought
about an event in history.
3. Justify that religion can have positive or negative
effects on society.

6.  EXPLORE
THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECT OF RELIGIONS
A popular quote goes, “If you want to make a good
impression, never talk about religion or politics to a
person whom you have just met.” It is understandable
that there are people who are “witnesses to their faith”
and want to proclaim the God that they believe in. Also,
there are people who put their hopes on some political
parties or politician whom they trust and believe to be
“true agents of change.” However, religion and politics
are very sensitive topics and we have to accept the reality
that not everyone will agree with our religious beliefs or
support our political views.

7. Undeniably, religion has immense power over man
and society. However, the fear and awe of human
beings in the presence of a spirit or a god has
positive and negative effects. In the fulfillment of
religious obligations, human beings have changed
(and continue to shape) the society and the world at
large.

8.  PRACTICAL ACTION TO ERADICATE MODERN-DAY SLAVERY BY
2020
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948
states that “No one shall be held in slavery or
servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their form” (Article 4). However,
modern-day slavery seems to exist albeit in different
forms and situations. According to the International
Labor Organization (2012), 20.9 million men, women,
and children around the world are victims of
modern-day slavery. People are still sold like objects,
forced to work for little or no pay at all, and at the
complete mercy of their employers.

9. When does one become a “modern-day slave?”
Someone is a modern-day slave if he or she is:
“owned” or controlled by an employer usually
through mental or physical abuse or the threat of
abuse; dehumanized wherein he or she is treated as a
commodity or brought and sold as property’;
physically constrained or has restrictions on his or
her freedom of movement.

10. In the celebration of the UN Day for the Abolition of
Slavery on 2 December 2014, Pope Francis and 11
religious leaders signed a declaration pledging to
work together to help end modern-day slavery by
the year 2020. The religious leaders who represent
the Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, Anglican,
Buddhist, and Hindu faiths have made a united
commitment to help eradicate the slavery worldwide.

11. The declaration recognized that any action that fails
to respect every person’s freedom and dignity “is a
crime against humanity.” The declaration also said:
“We (the religious leaders) pledge ourselves here
today to do all in our power, within our faith
communities and beyond, to work together for the
freedom of all those who are enslaved and trafficked
so that their future may be restored.”

12. In this occasion, Pope Francis thanked the religious
leaders for their “act of fraternity” on behalf of the
countless numbers of women, men, and children who
are exploited for personal or commercial gain. Pope
Francis added that, “global efforts, the scale of this
atrocious scourge is on the rise and it often disguises
itself behind apparently acceptable practices like in
tourism and different forms of labor.”

13.  Religious leaders who represent the Catholic, Muslim,
Jewish, Orthodox, Anglican, Buddhist and Hindu faiths
commit to help eradicate slavery worldwide.

14.  FIRM-UP
The Catholic Saint Irenaeus said, “Gloria Dei est vivens
homo” (The glory of God is man fully alive). In man’s
service and obedience to divine commands, what were the
significant contributions of religion that made him (and
other humas) “fully alive?” to provide a fair assessment on
religion, we will also ask, “Does religion have negative
effects on man and the world that he lives in?
Various events that transpired in the course of human
history have shown us that religion is closely knit to the
fabric of mankind and has contributed to as well as
hindered his development.

15. In this study, we shall focus on selected significant
events brought about by three world religions that
affected the social and economic spheres of man.
We will also look at how religion limits, controlled,
or protracted the social and economic dimensions
that hindered man from attaining his full potential.

16.  Below is the framework on how religion affects
human beings:
Religions
Man
Positive Contributions Negative Contributions
Positively and
negatively affects the
social and economic
dimension of man.

17. Religion has a positive contribution or effect to the
society when it serves as the catalyst for the creation
(and continuation) of an inclusive society. Inclusive,
in the social dimension, means that individuals treat
each other fairly in their lives . Also, social cohesion
is enhanced when peaceful and safe environment
within neighborhoods and communities are created.
Furthermore, religion has a positive contribution or
effect to the society when it helps in the
improvement of the people’s standard of living,
supports innovation and new ideas, and the creation
of an overall quality of life.

18. On the other hand, religion has a negative
contribution or effect to the society when it is used
to instigate war, stoke class struggle, and severely
limit people from attaining self-actualization.
Religion can also negatively affect the economic
dimension of man when it serves as the reason for
the inability of people to satisfy their basic needs or
limit economic progress.

19.  CATHOLICISM
One of the positive contributions of the Catholic
religion to the society and the world which
significantly affected the social and economic spheres
was the development of the university system. These
early catholic universities includes Bologna (1088),
Paris (1150), Oxford (1167), Salerno (1173), Vicenza
(1204), Cambridge (1209), Salamanca (1218-1219),
Padua (1222), Naples (1224), and Vercelli (1228). By the
middle of the 15th century, there were already about
50 universities in Europe.

20. Many Catholic universities like Oxford still shows signs
of their catholic roots such as the quadrangles
modeled on monastic cloisters, Gothic architecture
and presence of numerous chapels. Furthermore, the
centrality of Greek and Latin to Catholicism has greatly
facilitated popular literacy, since alphabets are far
easier to learn than the symbols of logographic
(symbols which represents a word) languages. Through
the spreading of Catholic missions and exploration,
the Latin alphabet is now the most widely used
alphabetic writing system in the world.

21. However, historical events shows us that Catholicism
also contributed negatively to the social and economic
speres. The Crusades or military expeditions
undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th,
12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy
Land from the Muslims were carried with a papal
sanction. Christians participated in the Crusades for
various reasons but one prime motivation was gaining
indulgences (remission of the temporal punishment in
purgatory still due for sins after absolution).

22. There were also instances wherein Popes used
crusades for political reasons as means of conflict
resolution. Examples of these were the Crusade
declared by Pope Innocent III against Markward of
Anweiler in Sicily and the Crusade against the
Stedinger (a group of peasants) who refused to pay
their tithes to the Archbishop of Bremen (a town in
northwestern Germany). In the Philippines, the
abuses of some Spanish friars were documented in
Jose Rizal’s novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.

23.  ISLAM
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a paper entitled
Culture: a Driver and Enabler of Social Cohesion
(2013) cites UN definition of a cohesive society as
“one where all groups have a sense of belonging,
participation, recognition, and legitimacy.” Anchored
on the definition of a cohesive society, UNESCO then
describes the most important ways in which culture
contributes to socially inclusive development such as:

24. 1. Guaranteeing the freedom of people to be and to
live what they choose (i.e. to define themselves in
society and more fully realize their aspirations);
2. Providing a sense of belonging, of being part of a
community, and of maintaining close links to the
roots and land with which many people identify;
3. Ensuring a deep connection with a major source of
learning and inspiration.

25. From the indicators of socially inclusive
development, we can say that Islam and its
manifestation in the people’s culture (i.e. Islamic
culture) has contributed to the development of man’s
social sphere. One example is the expression of
Islamic art through the mosque. The mosque serves
as a house of prayer and a place of prostration. It is a
holy place where Muslims can come together for
salat or prayer. A mosque also functions as a center
for information, education, and dispute settlement
among believers.

26. Islam, as a religion, believes that God is one and
incomparable and man’s purpose of existence is to
worship God. Unfortunately, religious agents (i.e.
believers) who have espoused Islamic
fundamentalism (i.e. opposition of the infiltration of
secular and Westernizing influences and the strict
institution of Islamic law on behavior) has negatively
affected the development of man’s social and
economic spheres. One of the groups who espoused
Islamic fundamentalism was the Taliban in
Afghanistan.

27. During the height of their power, the Taliban received
a notorious reputation for sexism and misogyny. The
Taliban rationalized their acts of oppression against
women as a way to “secure the environment where
the chastity and dignity of women may become
sacrosanct again.” The Islamic fundamentalist group
forced women to wear the burqa (a long, loose
garment covering the whole body from head to feet)
at all times in public to ensure that men will not be
able to look at their faces which is a “source of
corruption.”

28. The Taliban also prohibited women from working
and receiving education after the age of eight.
Women, under Taliban rule, are only allowed to
study the Qur’an (Islamic sacred book).

29.  BUDDHISM
Central to the Buddhist worldview is the issue of
human suffering and the search for the means to
reduce and eliminate it. According to Buddhist
tradition, on the great day of the Buddha’s
enlightenment, he uncovered the nature, the cause,
and the means to end suffering. This constituted his
great wisdom, or Mah prajń. The first great result of
his Mah prajń was his Mah karu or expression of great
compassion. In the study entitled Buddhist
Contribution to Social Welfare in Australia by
Sherwood (2001), she described the deep

30. and extensive commitment of Buddhist
organizations in Australia to teach skillful means
and practice compassionate actions for the well-
being of people. This meant that the Buddhist in
Australia employ extensive education programs for
both adults and children to teach the skills of the
way of the Dharma (doctrine of the Buddha). Aside
from teaching the Dharma, the Buddhists are active
in their social welfare work: taking care of the sick,
serving those in prison, assisting the poor, and
helping those who are rehabilitating from drug
addiction.

31.  DEEPEN
David Fontana in his book Psychology, Religion, and
Spirituality (2003) asserts that religion has inspired
many noble acts of self-sacrifice and altruism,
stimulated great art and sublime architecture and
motivated people to develop moral and ethical
systems. However, history has shown us that
members of these religions have also caused
enormous suffering to man and negatively affected
the social and economic spheres

32. (e.g. Crusades, the Inquisition, the Hindu-Muslim
atrocities after the Partition of India in 1948, Roman
Catholic and Protestant sectarianism in Northern
Ireland, acts of terrorism by Islamic fundamentalists
and others). Thus, we are faced with the question:
How powerful is religion and has man truly benefited
from it?

33. Throughout history, religion has played an important
role in shaping the ways of humans in understanding
the world around them and in the organization of
different societies. Among the world religions, we
can find common elements such as scripture, myth,
creed, and theology. Instead on focusing on factors
that contribute to tension and division among
people of different religious beliefs, we should focus
on one aspect wherein religion can positively
contribute. Dr. Hans Küng (2005), a Professor of
Ecumenical Theology and President

34. of the Global Ethic Foundation, declared that “There
will be no peace among the nations without peace
among the religions. There will be no peace among
religions without dialogue among its members.” In
line with this, there has been efforts among religious
groups to conduct inter-faith dialogues to help
progress the peace agenda.

35.  Religions for Peace – the world’s largest and most
representative multi-religious coalition advances common
action among the world’s religious communities for peace.

36.  THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF RELIGION ON
INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

37.  Positive Effects of Religion on Individual and
Society:
1. As a way of devotion.
- a process of connecting with whom an
individual believes as “divine.”
- an innate pattern of behavior of all
humankind to search for “spiritual someone” to
whom he/she offers his/her adoration and
gratitude.

38.  Positive Effects of Religion on Individual and
Society:
2. As recourse to have mental peace.
- religion teaches people that wealth would
not stay after death, but it is the “good deeds”
that would remain till eternity.
- a religious person never loses focus and
enjoys peace of mind.

39.  Positive Effects of Religion on Individual and
Society:
3. Encourages social work.
- Many religious organizations engage in
social work that contributes to the welfare of the
society.
- they provide alms to the poor, conduct
medical missions to the unprivileged, educate
the youth, etc.
- also fosters a sense of brotherhood
among the people.

40.  Positive Effects of Religion on Individual and
Society:
4. Teaches men to be compassionate.
- it teaches its followers to be benevolent
and sympathetic to others.
- it regulates life and encourages
individuals not to indulge in bad habits that are
detrimental to the society.

41.  Positive Effects of Religion on Individual and
Society:
5. Provides wisdom.
- the sacred texts impart wisdom to people
which benefits humanity.
- they stress the path to righteousness and
works toward the betterment of the society.
- they teach people to differentiate
between what is right and wrong.

42.  Negative Effects of Religion on Individual
and Society:
1. Religion as an expansionist tool.
- Since time immemorial, religion was used by
groups and even empires to fight wars with other
groups or kingdoms to advance their ideals and
expand their territories.
- Followers of a particular religion believe that
their teachings are superior to other religions, and this
usually breeds conflict.
- Ex. Battle of Tours in 732 A.D.

43.  Negative Effects of Religion on Individual
and Society:
2. Religion tends to have conflict with science.
- one of the major drawbacks of religion, as far as
science is concerned, is the belief that the world
originated from supernatural power.
- Scientific rational thinking is discouraged and
people asking questions based on reason are hounded
and some were even killed.
- Ex. The trial of Galileo Galilei.

44.  Negative Effects of Religion on Individual
and Society:
3. Religion tends to discriminate.
- a religious state rarely respects the rights of
minority religion and even some social groups. Forced
conversations are rampant and with regular diatribes
launched against gay and other racial communities.
- Ex. The trial of Joan of Arc.

45.  Negative Effects of Religion on Individual
and Society:
4. Religion can be an antidote to progress.
- Overtly, some scholars say, religious societies
cannot progress as they do not allow free thinking
innovation and scientific inventions. - Progress is
only possible when people are encouraged to think out
of the box and religion is not adopted as a way of life.

46.  Negative Effects of Religion on Individual
and Society:
5. Religion can be used as a political tool.
- Political parties around the world exploit the
general discontentment among people to whip up the
religious passion and capture power that will eventually
lead to chaos and wars.

47.  REMEMBERING AND UNDERSTANDING
Describe the power of religion.
How did religion affect the social and
economic spheres of man?
What are the common elements of religion
and how can they help prosper the peace
agenda?