Introduction to World Religion and Beliefs System Modules

1. Department of Education
Bureau of Learning Delivery
Teaching and Learning Division
Supplementary Learning Modules
for Senior High School Learners
Grade Levels: Grade 11
Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems
Semester: First Semester (WEEK 5)
Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices,
and related issues of Christianity.
LEARNING COMPETENCY:

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Christianity
(Abrahamic religion)
Christianity is considered the most popular region in the world with the most
number of adherents among all religions. Starting around the 1st
century C.E., it
developed out of Judaism during the reign of the Roman Empire in West Asia. It
centers on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the
Messiah or Savior of humanity. The most common symbol of Christianity is the cross,
for Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humanity from their sins
and to restore people’s relationship with God the Father. Christians also believe in the
Holy Trinity, which means God has three aspects- Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It
is believed that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem humanity
from their sins for them to avoid the eternal flames of hell.
This module will discuss about brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Christianity.
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
5.1. Recite the Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer or the Beatitudes
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIe-f-5.1
5.2. Interpret the Parable of the Prodigal Son
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIe-f-5.2
5.3. Explain: The core teaching of Christianity is the message that a loving God sent His
begotten Son in order to redeem humankind from eternal damnation.
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIe-f-5.3

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Direction: Remember to take on the attitude of openness and respect as you
approach this tradition. What do you know about Christianity? You may be right, but
be aware also of the possibility that the information you have is flawed or inadequate.
So, fill out the second and third column of this table.
What I Know What I Want To
Know
What I Learned
About Jesus of
Nazareth
About the Christian
Bible
About the God
Christians believe
in
About Christians
Task 1: The Gospel of Matthew contains an example of prayer that Jesus
gave his followers, setting the pattern for how to pray for. Recite this
prayer.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be
done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
What attitude toward God is assumed by someone who prays like this?

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Task 2: Formulate questions based on the words written inside the box. You may
start you questions with what, where, when, why, or how.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Christianity is a religion that is very familiar to Filipinos because the Philippines
have become predominantly Catholic since the Spaniards occupied the country for
16th
to the 19th
centuries, with the spread of Catholicism as one of their enduring
legacies to the Filipino people. It is considered the world’s largest religion, a religion
based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who is considered the Son of God and the
Messiah or Savior. Here are some of the basic facts about Christianity:
Symbols
The symbols shown above are the most common symbols associated with
Christianity. The cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over sins when He
died on the cross for humanity’s redemption and salvation. Christ died on the cross
and the cross serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by God in order for humanity
to live. In Roman Catholic churches, the crucifix is a regular feature, with the image of
Christ nailed on the cross. This aims to emphasize Christ’s sufferings for humanity.
Meanwhile, Protestant churches often feature only the cross without the image of the
body of Christ, to emphasize Christ’s resurrection and not His sufferings.
Meanwhile, the fish symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it was used by persecuted
Christians as a secret sign when meeting other Christians. Because Christians were
threatened by the Romans during the time, they had to make secret code to avoid
persecution
Messiah
Cross
Holy Trinity
New Testament
Jesus Christ

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 CE. It was founded by Jesus,
considered to be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an offshoot of
Judaism, Christianity has survived and even surpassed Judaism and other religions in
terms of number of adherents. Today Christianity is divided into three major sects-
Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox Church, and Protestantism. These major
Christian sects are further subdivided by Christian denominations that differ in certain
beliefs and practices but are united in worshipping Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The Pope serves as the head of the Catholic Church, the inheritor of Peter. He
has his headquarters in the Vatican, an independent state in Rome. He is responsible
for the general supervision of the church. He is the head of the Catholic Church and
the head of Vatican. He also has the authority to appoint administrative and religious
officials in Vatican.
Next to the Pope are the cardinals, who are also appointed by the Pope. The
cardinals represent the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in different parts of the
world. They serve as advisers to the Pope and elect a new pope as the need arises,
thus they have the power to choose the successor of the outgoing pope. The body
comprising the cardinals is called the College of Cardinals.
The Bishops also form part of the hierarchy. Bishops are teachers of the doctrine,
priest of sacred worship, and ministers of church government. They provide pastoral
supervision for a diocese and serves as representatives of the Church. The Pope
himself is a bishop. A bishop ordained to his station, just like priests.
DIETY/GOD
Christians believe in one God, therefore Christianity is a monotheistic religion.
God is seen as the creator and maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be
omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present), and
omnibenevolent (all-good).god is also sacred, moral, unchangeable, compassionate,
graceful and timeless.
HOLY TRINITY
Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that God is composed of
three persons: God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This
doctrine of the Holy Trinity was affirmed at the council of Nicea in 25 C.E. where it was
agreed upon that the Son has the same substance with the Father, therefore they are
both eternal. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was Christianity’s way to end the
controversy generated by Arianism, a teaching by Arius which claimed that Jesus
Christ was not actually a God.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Bible considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection of
songs, stories, poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. It is composed of two books,
the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is considered the
original Hebrew Bible, written between 1200 and 165 B.C.E. the New Testament was
written by Christians around 100 C.E.

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The Old Testament
The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books
which are arranged in three parts: the first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are
considered “The Law” or “Torah” which may refer to guidance pr instruction; they are
called as such because they serve as guidelines on how people should live their
everyday lives, as well as other legal necessities. Later these books were called the
“Pentateauch” which were attributed to Moses. Meanwhile, the second part of the Old
Testament is called “The Prophets” which is divided into two parts, the former prophets
and the latter prophets, the book of former prophets is considered historical while book
of the latter prophets contain saying and stories of prophets. The third part is called
“The Writings”, which include Psalms (songs, prayers, and worship liturgies), Proverbs
(wise sayings), Job (a drama that explores the nature of suffering), and the five scrolls
(Megiloth) which were grouped together for their associations with a particular religious
festival.
The New Testament
The New Testament is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E.
and is composed of two sections: The Gospels which tells the story of Jesus (Mark,
Matthew, Luke and John); and The Letters (or Epistles) written by various Christian
leaders to serve as guide to the early Christian communities. They were written to tell
the life and teaching of Jesus. The Acts of Apostles and Luke tell how Christianity
developed from a small group of Jewish believers to becoming one of the world’s major
religions. Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, traditionally attributed to
the apostle John, which is considered an epistle and an apocalypse.
Seven Sacraments
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which are considered signs of inner
kindness given by God for Christians to live a genuine human life. The seven
sacraments include Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Marriage,
Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick.
Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes comprise what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded
in Matthew 5-7. The Beatitudes refer to the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of
the “Sermon on the Mount”. Here are the Eight Beatitudes mentioned in Matthew 5-7.
Apostles Creed
The Apostles Creed is believed to have developed in the 100 or 200 C.E. and
was influenced later by the Nicene Creed. A letter written by the Council of Milan in
390 C.E. is the earliest historical evidence of the existence of the Apostles Creed. It is
not written by the apostles themselves but it serves as a summary of their basic
teachings.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Christians have certain religious observances in which they commemorate
particular events in the history of Christianity. Some of the most important Christian
observances are Advent, Lent, and the Pentecost.

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According to Christianity, since human beings are created in the likeness and
image of God, they are intrinsically good; but they are also given free will so they are
considered prone to sin and in need of grace. The goal of every individual is to have
eternal life of the soul after death. For those who have become good Christians, the
reward is eternal life in heaven; for those who lived a life full of sins, the punishment
is etrnal damnation in hell. Death means the physical body is separated from the
soul, and the soul goes either heaven or hell, depending on how one lived his life on
earth. Heaven is a paradise with no more sadness and pain, while hell is a place
where sinners were thrown by devils into flames.
Task3: Read one of the most known stories told by Jesus, the parable of
“The Lost Son” which found in the gospel of Luke 15:11-32.
The Parable of the Lost Son
11
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12
The younger one said to
his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between
them.
13
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant
country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent
everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in
need. 15
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to
his fields to feed pigs. 16
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were
eating, but no one gave him anything.
17
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants
have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18
I will set out and go back to my
father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19
I am
no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20
So
he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion
for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am
no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put
a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s
have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was
lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard
music and dancing. 26
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going
on. 27
‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
28
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and
pleaded with him. 29
But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been
slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young
goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30
But when this son of yours who has
squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for
him!’

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31
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is
yours. 32
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead
and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Do a personal reflection on the following questions:
1. What is the impact of the parable on you?
2. Why was the younger son’s leaving offensive?
3. What made him go back to his father’s house?
4. Do you have any similarity with the younger son?
5. If you were the eldest son, would you react to your father’s mercy toward your
brother? Why?
6. Which is the lost son? Why do you say so?
Task 4: Choose to do one of the following in a short bond paper:
1. In our daily lives, we encounter different kinds of Christians. In what way
did he live out or practice the core teaching of Jesus? Write the story below.
2. Look for a news report, article or story about a cChristian/group of
Christians who made a positive contribution in a community. Paste it below
and describe in what way he or they live out or practice the core teaching of
Jesus.
Answer the following questions:
1. What do you think is the most important message imparted by Christianity?
2. How does the Jewish view of Christ differ from that of Christians?
CHRISTIAN IN ACTION

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Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. What do you call the summary of Christian beliefs?
A. Ten Commandments
B. Apostles Creed
C. The Beatitudes
D. Catechism
2. What do you call the Eight ways on how to live a Christian life where Jesus give
these on his Sermon on the Mount?
A. Ten Commandments
B. Apostles Creed
C. The Beatitudes
D. Catechism
3. What is the celebration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ?
A. Christmas
B. Lent
C. Advent
D. Pentecost
4. What is the effort towards the visible and organic unity of different Christian
denominations in some form?
A. Ecumenism
B. Religious Dialogue
C. Divorce
D. Homosexuality
5. Who should teach children about sexuality?
A. Teachers
B. Friends
C. Peers
D. Parents
6. What book in the bible speaks about Christian vision of how in the end of time the
good will prevail over evil?
A. Epistles
B. Revelation
C. Acts of the Apostles
D. Gospels
7. In what sacrament, we eat the body and blood of Jesus Christ?
A. Baptism
B. Confirmation
C. Eucharist
D. Matrimony
8. What is the celebration of Christians where the Holy Spirit come down upon the
Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary?
A. Christmas
B. Lent

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C. Advent
D. Pentecost
9. What is the celebration of Christians where we prepare for the first and
second coming of Jesus?
A. Christmas
B. Lent
C. Advent
D. Pentecost
10. What is a Christian ritual for moral purification and serves as an initiation rite?
A. Baptism
B. Confirmation
C. Eucharist
D. Matrimony

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Glossary
Advent – season of waiting for the coming of Jesus
Apostle’s Creed – summary of the Christian doctrine
Beatitudes - comprise what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in
Matthew 5-7
Bishop – leader of a diocese
Cross – symbol of Christians
Ecumenism - effort towards the visible and organic unity of different Christian
denominations in some form
Holy Trinity - God is composed of three persons: God the Father, the Son (Jesus
Christ), and the Holy Spirit
Jesus Christ – founder of Christianity/ the Messiah
Messiah – the Savior
New Testament – book of the bible that discuss about the life and teachings of
Jesus
Old Testament - composed of 39 books which are arranged in three parts: the first
five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are considered “The Law” or “Torah” which may
refer to guidance or instruction
Pentecost – feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit
Pope – leader of the Roman Catholic Church
Sacrament – instituted by Christ to be the bridge of graces
Answer Keys
Task 1 – Answers may vary
Task 2 – Answers may vary
Task 3 – Answers may vary
Task 4 – Answers may vary
Task 5 – Multiple Choice
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. D
9. C
10. A

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References
INTERNET SOURCES
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32&version=NIV
TEXTBOOK
Ong, J. A. and Jose, M. D. dl. (2016). 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
Manaloto, C. B. and Rapadas, M. T. R. (2016). Pilgrimage to Sacred Spaces: An
Introduction to World Religions 927 Quezon Ave., Quezon City, The Phoenix
Publishing House Inc.
Prepared by:
MARVIN P. SUBRIDA
Teacher II
Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI
Evaluated by:
NESCEL P. PANES, PhD JUNAL M. MARCON, PhD
Education Program Supervisor Master Teacher I
Schools Division of Passi City Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI Region VI