DATACOM

INSTITUTEOFCOMPUTERTECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF

SYSTEMS
2nd semester/Quarter 3 AND 4

Second Semester AY 2020-2021

(SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL)

Inquiries and comments on this syllabus should be addressed to:

Tessie F. Besario

Teacher

Gizelle Rodero

Teacher

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 WEEK 3 – 4

ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS

I. JUDAISM

Dear learners, this module was designed especially for you to let you understand the elements,
brief history, and core teachings of Judaism. As the activity unfolds, you will get to learn more about
Judaism. Enjoy reading!

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: Understand brief history and core teachings,
fundamental beliefs and practices and related issues of Judaism

VOCABULARY LIST

Word Definition
- monotheistic religion developed among the ancient Hebrews. It
characterized by a belief in one transcendent. God who revealed himself to
Judaism
Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets. The cultural, social, and
religious beliefs and practices of the Jews.
- is what Christians refer to as the “Old Testament “(though the term is
considered mildly insulting to Jews – “Hebrews Bible” is preferred).the
Tanakh
religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture,
and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic and Protestant Bodies.
- are the first 5 books of the Tanakh: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Torah
Deuteronomy.
- the scripture, though the more common religious “word” for it is (Tanakh),
an acronym for the three parts into which Jews divide the Hebrew Bible,
Torah (the Pentateuch), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings)a
Hebrew
member of an ancient people living in what is now Israel and Palestine and,
according to biblical tradition, descended from the patriarch Jacob,
grandson of Abraham.
- an ethnoreligious group originating from Israelites and Hebrews of Israel
Jewish and Judah. Judaism is the ethnic religion of the Jewish people, while its
observance varies from strict observance to complete nonobservance.
- principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and
Morality bad behavior. A particular system of values and principles of conduct,
especially one held by a specified person or society.
- a belief about good behavior and what things are important of a person or
Values society. A collection of guiding principles; what one deems to be correct and
desirable in life, especially regarding personal conduct.

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 - contains the truth, the way, and the life. After we attain salvation, there is
no longer any more pain, tears, or sorrow, nor any more feelings of
Salvation
helplessness. We live with more purpose and meaning, and we live within
the promises and blessings of God.
- the body of knowledge and principles that develops within specified
Wisdom society or period. The ability to know what is true or right or the collection
of one’s knowledge.
- relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge. For someone who
Ethical is honest and follows good moral standards. It describes a person or
behavior as right in the moral sense-truthful, fair, and honest.
- a rule that must be obeyed, especially one handed down by God. A divine
Commandment rule given by God to Moses such as the rule that “Thou shall not kill’’ is an
example of a commandment.

God is the universal spirit and Creator of the world, the source of all salvation for humanity, saving
from the value of human existence. We have our own belief to show the way by example to other people.
The standard that God has already given us the example of His commandment to love, He himself is the
model of how we should love one another. You are not just a child of God by name; you are asked to live
the life of a Christian. You should act out your faith in all areas.

Defining characteristics and principles of Judaism

God promise Abraham to make of his offspring great nation (Hebrew Bible), many generations
later, he commanded the nation of Israel to love and worship only one God; that is the Jewish nation is to
reciprocate God’s concern for the world. He also commanded the Jewish people to love one another; that
is Jews are to imitate God’s love for people. These commandments are but two of a large corpus of
commandments and laws that constitute this covenant, which is the substance of Judaism. And not only
ordinary things and occurrences bring them the experience, evil as good. God is like non other, the
occasions for experiencing Him.
Ethical monotheism is the central in all sacred or normative texts of
Judaism. Moreover, some have argued that Judaism is a non-creedal
religion that does not require one to believe in God (main article-
Jewish principle of faith).

Almost over 1000 to 100 BCE the Tanakh Jewish Holy Books (which
include the Torah) ancient collection of writings that are sacred to the
Jews.

The word Tanakh comes from the three first letters of the three books: the Torah, plus the Nevi’im
(prophets) and the Ketuvim (writings, which include histories, prophecies, poems, hymns, and sayings).
Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law, was created. It contained the Mishnah
and another text known as the Gemara (which examines the Mishnah. It was first finalized around the 3rd
century A.D. the second form was completed during the 5th century A.D.
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 The Temples around 1000 B.C., King David ruled the Jewish people. His son Solomon built the first
holy temple in Jerusalem, which became the central place of worship for Jews. Like other religion, you are
encouraged to be a model to other people through baptism; you accept God and become His ambassador.
You represent Him in every place and situation you are in. You carry His holy name in what you do and
say.

The Ten Commandments written in the Torah:

1. Worship no other God but me.

2. Do not make images to worship.
3. Do not misuse the name of God. Observe the Sabbath Day (Saturday).
4. Keep it Holy.
5. Honor and respect your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely. Do not tell lies about other people.
10.Do not envy other’s possessions’

Three basic groups of Jewish people who have different understanding of the interpretation of the
Torah:

1. Orthodox Jews - believed that all of the practices in the Torah which is practical to obey must be obeyed
without question. Strict observance of traditional Jewish law and rituals is followed.

2. Conservative and Reform Jews - believed that ancient laws and practices must be interpreted for
modern life with inclusion of contemporary sources and with more concern with community practices
than with ritual practices. Typically, conservative Jews honor the traditions of Judaism while allowing for
some modernization.

3. Reform Jews - also allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both Hebrew and the local
language are spoken in services. Followers promote progressive ideas and adaptation.

The Good, the Right, and the Morality of Judaism

In the English language, “good” and “right,’’ when used in moral context, designate two related
but very different aspects of moral experience. Each person has the right to choose beliefs in a common
good. They are part of a uniqueness of each person. Value your fruits ripen just as God gives the grace of
growth.
Like the purpose of Torah is to provide the “instructions”, life skills to humanity by helping
everybody to live according to the principle of “Love your Friend as Human’s nature is considered to have

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two contrasting tendencies: a good impulse and an evil impulse. ‘’Missing the mark’’ basically means
choosing to follow the ‘’evil impulse’’. The cause of this problem is disobedience. Although responsiveness
is expressed on many levels, it is most explicitly called for within interpersonal relationships. Humans are
ethically responsible creatures who are responsive to the presence of God in nature and in History.
Humans keep cultivating the same thought patterns and resulting to physical reactions called emotions,
which have made them suffer, because they keep falling to realize that they themselves are the cause. To
seek, to know God better is to open ourselves to a marvelous adventure of a lifetime. Though it may lead
to some frustration, it can also lead us to grow and achieve inner peace. Knowing and appreciating life
and the mystery of God’s love is true happiness.
Before Judaism: Belief and Practice: An Introduction to the Jewish Religion, Faith and Traditions,
has bridging statements like the one given as an example.

Judaism originated in Israel around 4000 years ago; the oldest Abrahamic religion. They are about
15 million followers that are called Jews. Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the
universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship. The Place of Origin
was in Israel. Abraham the founder. The sacred called: The TeNaCh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ket... Their Sacred
Building was called the Synagogue. The Torah is the most important holy book of Judaism. The laws and
teachings of Judaism come from the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and oral traditions.
Some of these were first oral traditions and later written in the Mishnah, the Talmud, and other works.
Both Christianity and Islam are similar to Judaism. These religions accept the belief in one God and the
moral teachings of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), which includes the Torah or "‫"תורה‬

Moral Ethical code, Beliefs and Rituals of Judaism

Loving-kindness and compassion. Simon taught, "The world rests upon three things: Torah, service
to God, and showing loving-kindness (chesed)" (Pirkei Avot 1:2).

Loving-kindness is the core ethical virtue. Loving-kindness is closely linked with compassion in the
tradition
The Jewish moral code is a complex set of ideas sourced
from many writings and schools of thought, including the
Torah and the Talmud. The 613 mitzvot are found in the Torah
and fit into one of the categories of ten positive and negative
commandments. Belief in bodily resurrection requires burial;
cremation and embalming are prohibited. The importance of
communal burial societies:

Purification" (cleansing) of corpse, covering it in simple white shroud and recitation of "Kaddish,
affirmation of faith in Go

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Laws and Ethics Important in Judaism
“Ethics” is important because they help define the difference between good and bad/or ethical
act (=godly act) as opposed to a bad and unethical act.

... Ethics is our moral compass and those defined in the Torah are objective, not subjective. The
three main beliefs at the center of Judaism are Monotheism, Identity, and Covenant (an agreement
between God and his people). The most important teaching of Judaism is that there is one God, who wants
people to do what is just and compassionate.

10 Teachings on Judaism and the Environment

1. God created the universe.

2. God's Creation is good.
3. Human beings are created in the image of God.
4. Humanity should view their place in Creation with love and awe.
5. The Sabbath and prayer help us to achieve this state of mind.
6. The Sabbath and prayer help us to achieve this state of mind.
7. The Torah gives an obligation to save human life.
8. The Torah prohibits the wasteful consumption of anything.
9. Environmental Justice is a Jewish value. 1
0. Tikkun Olam: The perfection/fixing of the world is in our hands.

The symbol of Judaism

The Star of David is a symbol of Judaism as a religion, and of the Jewish people as a whole. And it
also thought to be the shield (or at least the emblem on it) of King David. Star of David, Hebrew Magen
David (“Shield of David”), Magen also spelled Mogen, Jewish symbol composed of two overlaid equilateral
triangles that form a six-pointed star. The yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear in Nazioccupied
Europe invested the Star of David with a symbolism indicating martyrdom and heroism.

in Jewish symbol
Jewish Observances and Rituals

• Circumcision (covenant of Abraham)

• Adulthood: Bat-mitzvah, bar mitzvah.
• Menstrual purification (Mikvah--purification bath) Marriage.
• Death and Mourning: Belief in bodily resurrection requires burial; cremation and embalming prohibited.
• Dietary laws (Kosher foods): • Daily prayer: Morning, afternoon, and evening.

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 Jewish people believe in Torah, which was the whole of the laws given to the Israelites at Sinai.
They believe in following God’s laws which govern their daily life. Abraham a Hebrew man is considered
the father of the Jewish faith that there is one God. Sarah, the wife of Abraham who was old and childless,
was told by God that their children would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky. At that time, many people
worshipped God in the Middle East. Isaac, son of Abraham had a son, Jacob It took many years for the
Israelites to finally get to what they thought was the promised land-Canaan. The Israelites once again
found themselves enslaved, this time by Babylonians. Most of the Jews scattered all over the region
eventually moved from the region to avoid persecution which continuous to this day. Beginning in the
1880’s Jews began returning to their homeland in growing numbers because they believe that in order for
their culture to survive, they have to live in their own country.
Today nearly fourteen million Jewish people live all over the world. Approximately, half of them
live in the United States, one quarter live in Israel, and a quarter are still scattered around the world.
Anyone born to a Jewish mother is considered a Jew.

The Jewish view of God

1. God exists.
2. There is only one God.
3. There are no other gods.
4. God can't be subdivided into different persons (unlike the Christian view of God).
5. Jews should worship only the one God.
6. God is Transcendent.
7. God doesn't have a body.
8. God created the universe without help.

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 QUIZ 3
A. Direction: Write the letter of your answer that best describe each sentence.
1. They believe that there’s only one God who has a. Orthodox established a covenant – or special
agreement with them. b. Shabbat
2. The world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back c. Jewish nearly 4,000 years.
d. Holocaust
3. The first five books of Tanakh – outlines laws
for Jews to follow. It’s sometimes referred to as the
e. Judaism Pentateuch.
f. Tanakh
4. A collection of teachings and commentaries
on Jewish law was created. It also contains the
Mishnah and another text known as the Gemara
g. Talmud

h. Torah (which examines the Mishnah)

5. Is recognized as a day of rest and prayer for Jews.

It typically begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until nightfall on Saturday.

B. Let’s try what you have learned from the topic. Read and understand each item carefully. Identify
the following:

1. They believe that God continues to work in the world, affecting everything that people
do.
2. Monotheistic religion developed among the ancient Hebrews.
3. They usually lead the services and a cantor leads the laity in singing.
4. This is important because they help define the difference between good and bad.
5. They believed that all of the practices in the Torah which is practical to obey must be
obeyed without question.
6. Is the central in all sacred or normative texts of Judaism.
7. It is the Jewish Holy Books (which include the Torah) ancient collection of writings that
are sacred to the Jews.
8. A collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law was created.
9. Is a Greek origin (synagein, “to bring together”) and means “a place of assembly.” and in
modern times the word temple is common among some Reform and Conservative congregations.
10. It is the most important holy book of Judaism

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 II. CHRISTIANITY

Hello learners! This module is intended to keep you informed and abreast of one of the world’s
famous religions, Christianity. Know its founder and brief history, core teachings, beliefs and practices,
varieties and some issues and concerns. Enjoy and learn as you explore the world of Christianity!
In this module, you are expected to: Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices, and related issues of Christianity.

VOCABULARY LIST
For easy understanding of this module, you must be familiar with the terms or words that you
will encounter as you go along this learning journey. Take a look at the words with the given definitions.
Come on and let us start!

Word Definition
- the belief in a God or in a group of Gods.
Religion - an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules to worship a god or a
group of gods.
- the religion that is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Christianity - the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture,
and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic and Protestant Bodies.
- a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or
Doctrine system of belief.
- a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true
Sacred - holy, dedicated to God, worthy of religious veneration, not to be violated
- the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead
Trinity
according to Christian dogma.
- the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the New
Bible Testament.
- the book of sacred writings accepted by Christians as coming from God.
- Testament - the first part of the Christian Bible containing the books of the
Old Testament
Jewish canon of Scripture.
- the second part of the Christian Bible comprising the canonical Gospels and
New Testament
Epistles and the book of Acts and book of Revelation.
- a brief authoritative formula of religious belief.
Creeds
- an idea or set of beliefs that guides the actions of a person or group.
- the teachings of the Christian religion.
Gospel
- the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.
- the rising of Christ from the dead.
Resurrection
- the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment.
- a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members
Sect
all share similar beliefs.

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 - of, relating to, or being a Christian church having a hierarchy of priests and
bishops under the pope, a liturgy centered in the Mass, veneration of the Virgin
Roman Catholic
Mary and saints, clerical celibacy, and a body of dogma including
transubstantiation and papal infallibility.
- of the Eastern Catholic churches that accord primacy to the patriarch of
Eastern Orthodox
Constantinople and adhere to the Byzantine rite.
Protestantism- - a member of one of the Christian churches deriving from the Reformation.
- ecumenical principles and practices especially as shown among religious
Ecumenism
groups (such as Christian denominations).
Scripture - the books of the Bible. - a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative.
Advent - the coming of Christ at the Incarnation.
Monotheistic - the belief that there is only one God.

One of the world’s biggest religions with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide, Christianity is
based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in Israel some 2,000 years ago. Do you want to know
more about Christianity? Well let’s find out.

What is Christianity?

Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth. Its adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, who’s coming as the messiah
was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament in Christianity, and chronicled in the New
Testament.

It is a religion that was meant to be universal. Jesus Christ’s evangelical command, “Go and teach
all nations” to His disciples shows that He intended His teachings not just for the Jews, but for all the world
(Brown 1991,8-10). Christianity is a religion that developed from Judaism; some of its first followers were
originally Jews. What distinguishes Christians from Jews is that the former accepts Jesus Christ as the
Messiah, or the Savior, while the latter considers Jesus as just another prophet of God, and the real
Messiah is yet to come.

The essential Christian beliefs are recorded in creeds, and there are different versions of such
creeds. The common element, however, is the acknowledgement of the Holy Trinity – belief in God the
Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It was the Father who created the world, and Jesus often
speaks about Him in the Gospels. Jesus is the only Son of God, sent to save the world from sin. The Holy
Spirit appeared in the Baptism of Jesus and was also sent down to the disciples to guide them in spreading
Christianity. The Spirit is believed to guide all believers. While the God of Christianity is agreed to as having
one entity, there are greater majority of Christians who believe that this God is a Trinitarian one: Father,
Son and Spirit (Molloy 2005, 361,363).

The whole of Christian conviction could be summarized in Jesus’ two great commandments: “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor
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as you love yourself” (Matthew 22: 37- 40). The life of the Christian is centered on these two things: praise
and thanksgiving for God, and acts of love to humankind (Brown 1991,15).
Christians also believe in the life after death. After death, the soul of a person will be judged
according to his/her deeds in his/her life in the world and will either go to Heaven, to dwell with God, or
to Hell and be separated permanently from Him. There is also a belief in Purgatory, where there is
temporary punishment for those who do not yet deserve to go to either Heaven or Hell. But there are also
some Christian groups who believe in the establishment of the Kingdom of God with the creation of the
new heaven and the new earth where they would dwell. At the end of time, there is agreement that all
souls will be reunited with their bodies, just as Jesus resurrected from the dead, and there will be final
judgement (Molloy 2005, 364).

Apart from centering their lives on Jesus, Christians, especially Catholics are also devoted to Mary,
the Mother of God. Catholics, Orthodox and some Protestants feel close to Mary, and consider her their
mother. Mary has also been viewed as the helper of those who suffer. Even Martin Luther retained
veneration for Mary in the salvation story of his reformed Protestantism (O’ Collins and Farrugia 2003,
370- 371).

Who founded Christianity?

Christianity originated with the ministry of Jesus in the 1st century Roman province of Judea.
According to the Gospels, Jesus was a Jewish teacher and healer who proclaimed the imminent kingdom
of God and was crucified c. AD 30–33.

While the main tenets of Christianity originated with Jesus Christ, it was His 12 disciples, and
eventually apostles who institutionalized and established the bureaucratic structures of the religion. We
see in the Book of Acts, the book after the Gospels, the accounts of His disciples after His ascension to
heaven. Fifty days after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of God, came down upon the
followers of Jesus, in the form of fire and wind, to inspire them to spread their leader’s teachings (Molloy
2005, 350-351). This is celebrated as the feast of the Pentecost, and it is considered to be the birth of the
Christian Church (Brown 1991,34).

The early Christian Church in Jerusalem was composed of many Jews. Both Judaism and
Christianity were strong religions for about 40 years after Jesus’ death, but with the destruction of the
Second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., they disappeared. The non-Jewish early Christians were spread
through the Roman Empire through the missionary, Paul (Molloy 2005, 352).

Jesus of Nazareth

Much of what we know about Jesus Christ could be found in the Gospels. Even though he knew
the Hebrew Scripture well, he was not a scholar, nor a writer (Molloy 2005, 349).

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 According to the accounts in the Gospels, he was born of a virgin named Mary, who was supposed
to wed Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter. Joseph was a descendant of King David, and due to the Roman
emperor’s decree of census, he and Mary had to go to Bethlehem, David’s homeland. In that land, Jesus
was born in a manger, because there was no lodging available to them. Jesus’ birth is celebrated annually
on December 25 as Christmas.

We know little of His childhood, except perhaps when He was found by His parents speaking with
the teachers in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was 12 years old then. The next account of Jesus in the Gospel
was during His baptism and His temptation in the desert for 40 days, which happened when he was “about
30”. From there, He began His public ministry, teaching the people of Israel.

Since He was raised as a Jew, Jesus obeyed the Laws and learned the Hebrew scriptures.
Nonetheless, He still thought independently, questioning the people on strict adherence to the teaching
at the cost of injustice and lack of love. Perhaps His greatest emphasis was on universal, unconditional
love. He taught that we must forgive people endlessly (Matthew 18:22). He even asked for forgiveness for
those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). He asks us to love everyone, even our enemies (Luke 6:27) (Molloy
2005 348).

Jesus was condemned to death due to His unorthodox teachings, through the initiative of the
chief priests and Pharisees He was criticizing. His passion and death is commemorated during the Holy
Week, which culminates at Easter, where he supposedly rose from the dead.

Basic Teachings

Jesus used parables – short stories with hidden messages – in his teachings.

Some of the main themes that Jesus taught, which Christians later embraced, include:

• Love God.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Forgive others who have wronged you.
• Love your enemies.
• Ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
• Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others.
• Repentance of sins is essential.
• Don’t be hypocritical.
• Don’t judge others.
• The Kingdom of God is near. It’s not the rich and powerful – but the weak and poor–who will
inherit this kingdom.

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 In one of Jesus’s most famous speeches, which became known as the Sermon on the Mount, he
summarized many of his moral instructions for his followers.

How did Christianity begin?

Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus died, as a small group of Jewish people
in Judea, but quickly spread throughout the Roman empire. Despite early persecution of Christians, it later
became the state religion. In the Middle Ages it spread into Northern Europe and Russia

Timeline of Significant Events in the History of Christianity

Time Event
c. 4 B.C.E.-c. 29 C.E. Life of Jesus
c. 4-64 C.E. Life of Paul
313 C.E. Issuance of the Edict of Toleration by Constantine making Christianity legal
354-430 C.E. Life of Augustin
476 C.E. Collapse of the Roman Empire of the West
c. 480- c. 547 C.E. Life of Benedict
638 C.E. Muslim Conquest of Jerusalem
1054 C.E. Split between Eastern and Western Christianity
1099 Conquest of Jerusalem during the First Crusade
1347-1351 Black Death
1453 Conquest of Constantinople by Muslim forces
1483-1546 Life of Martin Luther
1492 Expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain
1509-1564 Life of John Calvin
1517 Beginning of the Protestant Reformation
1534 Founding of the Church of England by King Henry VIII
1565 Christianity enters the Philippines
1805-1844 Life of Joseph Smith
19XX Founding of Iglesia ni Cristo
1948 Founding of the World Council of Churches
1962-1965 Modernization of Catholicism by the Second Vatican Council

Practices

Although there have been different forms of Christianity, much of their rituals are shared. The
most important among them are believed to be signs of God’s grace, called sacraments.

People who want to be converted to Christianity will have to undergo baptism. The person is
cleansed with water, to signify repentance and cleansing. Catholics and Orthodox baptize babies, while
some Protestants baptize only those who are willing (Molloy 2005, 403-4).

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 During the Last Supper, Jesus broke the bread and shared the wine to represent His Body and
Blood, and the Apostles were sharing His sufferings. This is commemorated through the sacrament of the
Eucharist, where Christians gather in the church, and share the Body and Blood of Christ. Some churches
use literal bread and wine, while others interpret it symbolically (Molloy 2005 404-405).
These two are the most important sacraments in Christian practice. Others include confirmation
which is a blessing of initiation after baptism; reconciliation, where someone confesses his/her sins and
gets absolution; matrimony, where two people commit themselves with each other for life with God as
the center; ordination, where someone commits himself to priesthood; and anointing of the sick, which
is usually taken by a sick person (Molloy 2005, 405-406).

Varieties or types of Christianity

For about 300 years since the death of Peter and Paul, the Romans persecuted Christians.
“Christianity was declared illegal, and many Christians died for their faith.” But when Constantine became
the first Christian emperor of the Empire (East and West), Christianity was more and more accepted, until
it became the religion of the Roman Empire at 380 CE (Brown 1991,36). Constantine ruled as an emperor
of both Western and Eastern until his death in 337 CE. He transferred the capital from Rome to Byzantine,
which he renamed Constantinople (Higgins 2007,76).

Eastern Orthodox

With the capital in Constantinople, the Eastern Roman Empire flourished, but at the cost of the
political and military power of the Western Empire (Higgins 2007,76). When the Latin-speaking Western
Roman Empire fell in the 5th century BCE, Western Christianity developed independently. The Greek-
speaking Eastern empire developed its own form of Christianity until 1453. This Eastern Church is called
Orthodox Church because they settled on traditional beliefs throughout its reign (Molloy 2005, 374).

Protestant Reformation

With the successful spread and development of the Western Roman Church, they earned financial
and political support from the people. At one point, during the construction of Saint Peter’s Basilica in
Rome, the papacy was asking for contributions, in return for “indulgence,” which shortens the time that
a soul would spend in purgatory. Martin Luther, a German priest, “opposed the idea that anything spiritual
can be sold” (Molloy 2005, 386-388). As such, he posted on the door of the Castle church of Wittenberg
his proposed changed and reforms, in the form of 95 theses. Luther was asked to retract his statements,
but he refused to do so. He “affirmed the supreme authority of the scripture and rejected both the papal
authority and the binding force of decisions rendered by ecumenical councils” (Higgins 2007, 88).

Luther pushed for “the right of every individual to radically question and reinterpret Christian
belief and practice, “which was called the Protestant Principle (Molloy 2005, 388). There are many kinds
of Protestants and here are some of them.

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 Martin Luther translated the Christian Bible into German, to allow the liturgical practices to be
more open to the people who do not understand Latin. “Over the years, Lutheranism has retained Luther’s
original enthusiasm for the Bible, a trust in God, and excellent church music” (Molloy 2005, 389)
The Protestants seek to find what is essential to the Christian experience. It places great emphasis
on the individual’s own ability to establish a personal relationship with God summarized terms of return
to simple Christianity, the centrality of Jesus, the guidance of the Bible, the importance of faith, direct
relationship with God, and the value of individual judgement.

Roman Catholics

As a response to several Protestants, the Roman Catholic Church started what we call the Catholic
Reformation or Counter Reformation, which began with the Council of Trent in 1545. They had to reform
some of their own rigid doctrines to respond to the reforms of the Protestants. They affirmed Luther’s
conviction that the scripture has binding authority, but the interpretations is entrusted to the Church
officials, and not to individuals. Salvation is decided to require faith, hope, and love, as well as good deeds
(Higgins 2007, 93). As a result of the Protestant Reformation, Catholicism defends the following beliefs
and practices: the importance of good works, the value of tradition, a guided interpretation of the Bible,
hierarchical authority, veneration of Mary and the saints, and the seven Sacrament.

QUIZ 4

Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of
Christianity through the statements below. Determine if they are True or False. Write T or F on the
blank.

1. Christianity is a religion which originated with the ministry of Jesus and was spread
through his disciples and apostles after His death.
2. One of the practices to be taken into consideration to become a Christian is to undergo
baptism which is one of the important sacraments in Christianity.
3. Christianity is a pluralistic form of religion because of its belief in the Trinity.
4. The basic teachings of Jesus as the founder of Christianity can be summarized into two
things: Praise and thanksgiving to God and Acts of love to humankind.
5. Having three major varieties or types of Christianity is one of the issues that this religion
encounters.
6. Christianity is a religion that is meant to be universal because Jesus intended His
teachings not just for the Jews but for all the world as His command to the disciples “Go
and teach all nations”.
7. The Eastern Orthodox is a variety of Christianity which settled on traditional beliefs.
8. The sacrament of the Eucharist is only practiced among the Roman Catholics.
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 9. The practices and beliefs among the types or varieties in Christianity varies but they are
one in centering their lives to Jesus and His teachings to love God and his mankind.
10. Christianity enters the Philippines in 1965 as reflected in the timeline of significant
events in the history of Christianity.
ACTIVITY 2

Write a short essay about your religion and tell the beliefs and practices that you value in life as core
teachings of your religion. (20 points)

Rubrics for the essay.

Points Criteria
20 points Well-organized, ideas presented clearly.
10 points Organized, ideas presented.
5 points Not well-organized, limited ideas.

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 III. ISLAM

Established around seventh century C.E., Islam is the youngest among the world’s major religions.
With more than 1.5 billion adherents comprising almost one-fourth of the entire world population, Islam
is the second largest group and one of the fasting growing religions in the world. Majority of Muslims, the
followers of Islam, live in Asia and Africa. There are 49 countries in the world that are Muslim-majority or
comprise 50% of the population. The 1.2 billion Muslims in these countries equivalent to 74% of the entire
Muslim population worldwide. More than 60% of the world’s Muslims can be found in Asia, including
Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Iran. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim
majority country with almost 87% of the population practicing the Islam religion. In Africa, sizeable Muslim
communities are found in Egypt and Nigeria.

SYMBOLS

The star and crescent has become the acknowledged representation of the
Islamic faith. The symbol can be seen in the national flags of states that came about
following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. Around the 1970s,
it was adopted by movements that advocated Arab nationalism. Traditionally, the
crescent moon or the hilal has early connections with royalty. It is also closely linked
to the lunar calendar that orders the religious life of the Muslims (Bowker 1997)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Islam began with the Arabian desert people around early seventh century C.E. These people had
developed their own set of beliefs prior to the formal establishment of Islam and had been influenced by
other religions for a long period of time, including Byzantine Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
Judea, the home of Christianity, was not too far away from Arabia, and the great cities of Damascus,
Antioch, and Alexandria were neighbors to Mecca and Medina (Hopfe 1983). Byzantine rulers, however,
antagonized Arab Christians that provided an impetus for their acceptance of a new Arab religion that
started with the establishment of Islam). Pilgrims then built an enclosure around the stone and called it
Kaaba. Various images and relics gradually filled the Kaaba, including a painting of Jesus and Mary. Pilgrims
travelled to Mecca to worship at the shrine. The “Black Stone,” which according to Muslim tradition dates
back to the time of Adam and Eve, eventually became a very important object for the Meccans at the time
when various clans struggled to control the Kaaba. Mecca, situated on the central western coast of Arabia
is positioned on the major north-south caravan route (Hopfe 1983).

The term “Islam” originated from an Arabic word meaning “submit.” In other words, Islam means
to “surrender or submit oneself for obedience to God” or to “enter into a condition of peace and security
with God through allegiance and surrender to him” (Armstrong 2000; Bowker 1997). On the other hand,
the word “Muslim” is the Arabic word for a person who submits. A Muslim, therefore, is a “person who
surrenders or submits himself to obey God” (Brown 1975). In Arabic, the word “Allah” is a compound of
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al (the definite article, the) and ilah (god or deity). Joined together, the words signify “god” (Renard 1993).
Henceforth, he is called Allah or “the one who is God.” Muhammad was preaching that there can only be
one God.
The Muslims consider Muhammad as a messenger and the last prophet sent by God to humankind
who was visited by the angel Gabriel.

SACRED SCRIPTURES

The Q'uran

The sacred writing of the Muslims is called Quran (or Koran in

English) that literally means “recitation” or “reading.” The Quran is the
revelation from God of his speech (kalam) and is the foundation of the
Islam religion (Bowker 1997). It is the .
Twenty years after the death of Muhammad, the Quran had
officially come to the form that was disseminated throughout the
centers of the Islamic world.
In comparison, the Quran has almost the same length as the New Testament, the Christian biblical
canon (Parrinder 1971).
A person who is able to memorize the Quran in its entirety is called hafiz (“guardian”). The female
counterpart is called hafiza. Whatever denomination Muslims may belong to, they always have the same
Quran written in Arabic similar to the early days of Islam’s founding. No two copies of the Quran anywhere
in the world differ in any way (Aziz 1993).

The Hadith
The hadith is the collection of the deeds and sayings of Muhammad and his followers (“traditional
reports or sayings”) and is the second source of shari’a law (Horrie & Chippindale 2003). Unlike the Quran
that was officially compiled under the auspices of a central authority (as initiated by the first caliph Abu
Bakr), the hadiths were collected generations after the death of Muhammad. The hadiths are recognized
today as second in authority after the Koran (Parrinder 1971).
The word sahih in these titles indicates that the authors of these books sifted the authentic
reports about Muhammad from other unsubstantiated narratives (Aziz 1993). The various rituals and
obligations embedded in the so-called “Five Pillars of Islam” as well as majority of criminal laws originate
from the hadiths (Horrie & Chippindale 2003).

BELIEFS/DOCTRINES

Islam began as a way of life (din) for its followers which God intended for his creation from the
very beginning (Bowker 1997). In time, God had to send several prophets, including Musa (Moses) and
‘Isa (Jesus), to summon people back to the din as a result of human rebellion and transgression. Ultimately,
all prophets were rejected, persecuted, or killed except for Muhammad.

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 While some religions may have room for subjective or personal discernment regarding matters of
conduct, Islamic beliefs are more dominantly social in character. Islamic religious laws cover the daily life
of all Muslims—from education, dress, marriage, sexual relations, justice, punishments, economics, diet,
and even rules of hospitality.
For all Muslims, there is only one compassionate, everlasting, and omnipotent God, being the lord
of everything in existence, including humans. All this knowledge had been revealed by God to Muhammad
and written down in the Quran.
Since all people originate from God and return to him after death, there can never be contending
religions that may divide people from one another. As such, Islam advocates for the establishment of one
single community or ummah (Armstrong 2000; Bowker 1997). During Muhammad’s time, the ummah was
a community bigger than the tribe, demanding a loyalty which came before loyalty to kinsfolk (Fletcher
2003). In the end, a Muslim must not fight a fellow Muslim.

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

The basic obligations of Muslims are called the Five Pillars of Islam or arkan al-din. While
differences may occur in the interpretation of Islamic law, all Muslims believe and accept the entirety of
these obligations that must be strictly observed to avoid being sent to hell on the “Day of Judgment.” The
Five Pillars give structure and unity to all believers of Islam.
Foremost among all Muslims’ obligations is the declaration of their statement of belief called
shahada (“witness”) that is recited during prayers and rituals. Apart from shahada, the four other duties
that must be performed by all Muslims are collectively called as ibadah (“state of submission”). The ibadah
aims to discipline the adherents and eliminate impostors to the Islamic faith. The ibadah is composed of
praying five times a day, fasting during the time of Ramadan, giving of annual charity, and undertaking a
pilgrimage to Mecca once in a Muslim’s lifetime.

The Creed (Shahada)

The basic creed of Islam that “there is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” is
known as shahada. In Arabic, the shahada is recited as “La ilaha illa Allah; Muhammadon rasul Allah.”
For a Muslim to deny any part of the shahada is tantamount to the crime of reversion to Islam
that is punishable under Quranic law.

Obligatory Prayer (Salat)

Just as the body requires food for its daily sustenance, prayers are done for spiritual development
so that a Muslim’s character and conduct remain sound and healthy (Aziz 1993). Facing in the direction of
Mecca or qiblah, Muslims must offer prayers or salat five times each and every day— before sunrise (as-
subh), noon (az-zuhr), mid-afternoon (al-asr), immediately after sunset (al-maghreb), and before midnight
(al-isha) (Horrie & Chippindale 2003). In a mosque or masjid (“place of prostration”) where Muslims offer
prayers in congregation, men and women pray separately. A structure of masjid can range from a simple
desert prayer ground (musalla) or just any space whereby rules of ritual purity are properly observed.

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 To pray, a Muslim stands on clean ground without shoes or wearing clean ones (Jomier 1999). A
special carpet may be provided to provide the person a clean surface. Nevertheless, aside from salat, a
Muslim can address a prayer to Allah at any given time in any circumstance using any words one chooses
(Aziz 1993).

Poor Tax (Zakat)

Muslims who live above the subsistence level must pay zakat or the poor tax to aid the
underprivileged Muslims. Affluent Muslims must share their wealth to the unfortunate ones. Originally,
27 alms giving was for the benefit of the poor, widows, and orphans through an act of charity. Later on, it
became mandatory amounting to a certain percentage of a Muslim’s total resources. Islam has never
viewed begging as dishonorable (Hopfe 1983).
The Quran states that all worldly wealth is unclean unless utilized in the service of Allah and Islam.
A horrible fortune awaits those people who became wealthy as a result of usurious activities and those
who neglect the welfare of poor Muslims. By fulfilling to pay zakat, well-off Muslims cleanse their material
possessions and can liberally enjoy their fortunes with Allah’s approval (Horrie & Chippindale 2003).
Hence, zakat is viewed as purification of one’s resources (Frager 2002).

Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting or sawm during the entire 30 days of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,
must be performed by all Muslims every year. The Ramadan is believed to be the month when Muhammad
received the first surah of the Quran. The sawm is done by all Muslims to express obedience to Allah and
the readiness to relinquish pleasures in their lives. By undertaking sawm, Muslims observe discipline and
experience the deprivations of the poor (Bowker 1997). During this time, a Muslim must refrain from
eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in any sexual intimacy from dusk until dawn. By resisting the
demands of the body during sawm, the Muslims strengthen their will. Muslims are reminded that they
have the capacity to ignore the longing of the body or material gratification (Frager 2002).
Any Muslim who has reached puberty and is healthy must undertake sawm. Muslims who are
exempted from performing sawm include small children, those who are on a journey, sick persons, and
mothers nursing infants. For those who are temporarily unable to observe sawm, they must perform the
missed fast after Ramadan. long-term illness, they can give charity to poor Muslims instead (Aziz 1993).

Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

All Muslims must attempt to undertake a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca or hajj (“visitation
of Holy Places”) at least once in their lifetime during the twelfth Islamic month. The “Grand Mosque” (Al-
Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca houses the most sacred site of Islam, the Kaaba (“House of Allah”). The Kaaba
is a cube-shaped ancient stone building that dates back to the time of Adam and Eve according to Muslim
tradition. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was originally built for the worship of God by Abraham and his
son Ishmael (Belt 2001). The Kaaba represents the end of a journey because it is the symbolic point of
origin of all creation wherein all things turn around it and from it all things radiate (Renard 1992).
Central to the pilgrimage is a full day spent in the desert on the Arafat plain considered sacred by
the Muslims. The mountain of Arafat was the site of Muhammad’s last sermon (Frager 2002). For many

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people located in regions distant from the Arabian Peninsula, the hajj serves as the pinnacle of years of
yearning to be with God (Parrinder 1971)

The Most Important Festivals Celebrated by Muslims Worldwide

Month Festivities/Significance
 The Islamic year starts in the day of the hijra, Muhammad’s
Month 1: Muharram journey from Mecca to Medina in 622 C.E.
(“The Sacred Month”)  Ashura: The assassination of the Imam Husayn at Karbala’ in
680 C.E. is commemorated on the 10th by Shi’ite Muslims
Month 3: Rabi al-Awai  Birth of the Prophet: Muhammad’s birthday is celebrated on
(“The Spring”) the 12th
 Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours throughout
Month 9: Ramadan the month.
(“The Month of Great Heat”)  Laylat al-Qadr: The commemoration of the first revelation to
the prophet is often celebrated on the 27th.
Month 10: Shawwal  ‘Id al-Fitr: The Festival of Breaking the Fast at the beginning
(“The Month of Hunting”) of Shawwal concludes the fasting season
 Month of pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca.
 Yawn Arafat: On the 9th, fasting pilgrims perform the wuquf,
Month 12: Dhu al-Hijja standing before God on Mount Arafat.
(“The Month of Hajj”)  ‘Id al-Adha: The Festival of Sacrifice on the 10th recalls the
sacrificial ram God gave to Abraham in place of his son, and
coincides with the end of Hajj.

Friday is the special day of worship for the Muslims as commanded by Muhammad. In mosques,
Muslims are required to pray with his fellows and prayers are led by an imam. An imam is a member of
the community selected to lead the congregation due to the devoutness and religiosity he manifests to
the people (Hopfe 1983).

Islamic Law
The concept of law and justice in Islam, or the shari’a (“the road to the watering place”), is based
upon the Quranic verses as revealed by God to Muhammad.
The shari’a is a path of conduct that must be followed by all Muslims. It concerns almost the
totality of a Muslim’s life – from home life, business interests, marital relations, inheritance, and various
duties to the state and community (Brown 1975).

Islamic Jurisprudence
Islamic jurisprudence or the science of Islamic law is called fiqh. All aspects of Muslim way of life
and actions are covered through fiqh. Human behavior may be classified into five categories: forbidden
(haram), discouraged (makruh), neutral (mubah), recommended (mandub), and obligatory (fard).

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 Forbidden actions are both sinful and criminal under pain of punishment. Accordingly, it is
forbidden for all Muslims to eat animals that have died from natural causes or those animals that were
not ritually slaughtered. Pork is considered as the most unclean of all meats and must not be eaten no
matter how the pig meat was produced. Other haram behaviors include drinking blood, eating dried
blood, and taking liquors.

The Five Pillars is an example of an obligatory category. These practices, such as almsgiving, daily
prayers, and ritual fasting, are compulsory to all Muslims. Failure to observe these obligations is sinful and
punishable as crime.

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