Department of Education It is necessary to identify the interconnections of Religion, Culture and Geography in order to

Region VII – Central Visayas recognize one’s limitations in the social affairs of people in the society. Most of the times the
Division of Lapu-Lapu City interconnections are not very apparent or tangible. Certain aspects may be learned
Lo-ok National High School – Senior High School consciously while others are learned subconsciously. Hence, the building of awareness may
not be an easy task, but once accomplished, it definitely helps in building and preserving the
intricacies of the society.
Grade Level: Grade 11
Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief
GEOGRAPHY
Module: 2
Semester: Second
Geography is of Greek origin: “geo” which means “the earth” and “graphia” which means
“writing. Eratosthenes is known as the Father of Geography. The shaping landscapes influence
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
naturally to the religious traditions that develop in certain places. It therefore influences the
1. Analyze the inter-connectedness of geography, culture and religions;
various figures, traditions, ceremonies and rituals relevant to the belief systems adopted in
2. Enumerate the connections among geography, culture and religions;
many countries all over the world. Ceremonies, ideas and belief systems which are practice
3. Create a piece of art based on the theme selected and;
in different countries relating to rain, storms, thunder, lightning, harvest, fertility, health
4. Express one’s feelings through writing about the lesson presented.
among others have been associated with geographical needs and pattern.

RELIGION

Religion is of Latin origin: “religare” which means “to bind together again” and thus
enumerates a system of beliefs and practices. Religions is eminently social that affects the
distribution of the major religious groups in the world showing its distinct geographical
Introduction patterns, influences and the spread of it. In practice, different religions and belief systems in
the world set beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe and the
In making this module, I have YOU in my mind. YOU being an inquisitive and diligent human existence. Most often, there are devotional and ritual observances followed and often
learner that this society needs. As you journey towards understanding more on the concepts, contains a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
principles and values of religion and the belief systems, I hope that you will appreciate even
more your utmost and personal relationship with your chosen religion. By doing that, you will CULTURE
also equally understand and respect someone else religion and belief systems.
Culture is of Latin origin: “colere” which means to tend to the earth to grow and nurture”. It
Just a reminder: encompasses religion, music, arts, social habits, language, cuisine, norms of conduct and
Explore and do not limit your thirst for learning so you can also expand your horizons in belief systems. Thus, it shapes the way of life. By orientation, culture appears to have
understanding the dynamics of world religions and belief systems. become key in the interconnected world which is made up of numerous ethnically diverse
Enjoy the readings and learning activities prepared for you. societies, religions and belief systems. These are essential elements which make up culture.
Enlighten yourself with the new knowledge that you can learn after completing the module. The core of culture is formed by values which may be influenced by religion. These values
may become our preferences of certain state of affairs to others.
Therefore, when discussing terms and and concepts in understanding religions, culture Activity No. 1
and geography constantly appear as important concepts. Religion, culture and geography
always exist in a close relation. 1. From the statements below, select one that most accurately describes the impact of
religion to culture.
A. Religion continues to influence the arts and architecture but not the sciences
B. Religious affiliation of world leaders affects the government system
C. Religion is affected by culture continuously that it results cultural change
D. Most religious belief systems bring peace to a country

2. Polytheism or the belief of more than two Gods have been evident in the past. Historians
believe that it may be largely affected by which of the following?
A. Geography C. Culture
B. Economic Life D. Concept of survival

3. Prayer and fasting has been a tangible part of many faiths. Which faith is best known for
the day of fasting?
A. Islam C. Buddhism
B. Judaism D. Tewahedo Christianity

Religion is, thus, expressed and clothed in the guise of culture-specifically as an 4. This refers to the belief in man deities.
expression of human culture. In an effort to comprehend religion, then one must study A. Monotheism C. Tritheism
the complexity of human culture. By studying it, the reciprocal interconnection may be B. Polytheism D. Atheism
known that religion is determined by culture through its influence.
5. What can be determined from the bar graph?
Further, religion is seen to have been developing through time which may be brought A. Islam followers are declining in numbers
by the changing landscape and environment, community relations and social B. The smallest religion is the ethnic/ folk
networks among others- one of the core in studying geography. With geography, the religion
transmission of religion and culture as well as its convergence so that it may become C. Christians remain to be the world’s largest
adaptive and dominant in a place have specifically become the focus of understanding religious group
the interwoven relationship among the three concepts of religion, culture and D. World religions are interconnected
geography.

6. By practice, every religious traditions and ____________ convey the deepest and most
profound truths and obligations of life.
A. Rituals C. Myths
B. Ceremonies D. Offerings
7. Which of the following defines an atheist? ___________________________________________________________________________
A. A person who is angry at his God ___________________________________________________________________________
B. A person who believes in multiple Gods ___________________________________________________________________________
C. A person who does not believe in a God or Gods ___________________________________________________________________________
D. A person who is indifferent to the existence of God or Gods ___________________________________________________________________________

8. Most of the the oldest religions in the world were founded in the Middle East. From the 2. The agricultural motifs of the Eastern Mediterranean were associated with the similarities
list, discard which does not belong to the group. of the figure of the ancient gods like the figures of Jewish Elijah, Christian St. George, and
A. Christianity C. Judaism Muslim al-Khiḍr.
B. Islam D. Buddhism
___________________________________________________________________________
9. The geographical proximity of these two civilizations may have contributed to having the ___________________________________________________________________________
most similar religious beliefs. What are these? ___________________________________________________________________________
A. Greek and Persian C. Roman and Greek ___________________________________________________________________________
B. Chinese and Roman D. Persian and Chinese ___________________________________________________________________________

10. What is one of the functions of religion within a particular culture or society?
A. To generate money and prestige from certain members of the society Activity No. 3
B. To provide assurance of forgiveness and unite a community
C. To try and answer questions about morality and faith Instructions: Read and understand questions given. Choose the best option by putting a circle
D. To educate people and care for the sick of the letter.
1. What term is used to denote to the set of learned behaviors and beliefs that shapes a
group of people?
Activity No. 2 A. Lineage B. Culture
B. Heredity D. Evolution
Instruction: Read and analyze the situations below. Express your thoughts by
writing the interconnectivity of religion, culture and geography based on the 2. Culture Geography
situation presented. Which of the following explains the illustration?
A. Culture is the sum of an individual’s way of life
Criteria: 10pts- Content 10pts- Structure B. Geography is an important aspect in understanding culture
C. Culture can be modified by the geography of a certain place
1. Humans throughout time have needed to see, touch and smell the sacred and thus D. Culture modifies the geography of a place and geography modifies culture as well
associating our senses to be portals to the spirit. Rituals and other religion-oriented activities
have been practiced as tangible symbols of the intangible realm. 3. As a __________________, we carry our ancestors traditions and beliefs, speak the
language of our forefathers, practice fai8th and the distinct way of life in the community
and most probably transmit these to the next generations.
A. social being B. cultural being 9. In understanding religion as it was in the first century Rome is a clear example of how
B. political being D. spiritual being religion has impacted power and meaning in relation to:
A. The natural world
4. From the statements below, select one that most accurately describes the impact of B. The gods and goddesses
religion to culture. C. The human sacred destiny
A. Religion continues to influence the arts and architecture but not the sciences D. The tenets of the modern western religions
B. Religious affiliation of world leaders affects the government system
C. Religion is affected by culture continuously that it results to cultural change 10. By practice, every religious traditions and ____________ convey the deepest and most
D. Most religious belief systems bring peace to a country profound truths and obligations of life.
A. Rituals C. Myths
5. Most countries in Europe are frequently visited by tourist because of its arts and B. Ceremonies D. Offerings
architectures which are predominantly religious representations. What can be derived
from this?
A. Religion played a significant part in the Europeans way of life.
B. Cultural diversity is evident in most countries in Europe.
C. Culture and religion are important aspects of life.
D. It is best to learn culture and religion.

6. Why should we learn about religion in the past?

7. Colonialism is not new to the world. However, it varies in terms of purpose and nature as
such shown by the Westerners. What can be derived from the statement?
A. Western colonizers have come closest to achieving domination
B. Western colonizers have imposed religious and cultural beliefs
C. Western colonizers have encouraged trading systems and barter
D. Western colonizers have disrupted the established way of life

8. What is religion?
A. Whatever the community believes in
B. A way for people to understand its history.
C. The sense of being tied by obligations to God
D. The sense bounded by sacred obligations believed to govern a person’s destiny.