12
Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief
Systems
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
EFFECTS OF RELIGION
ALLISON J. MANANTAN
SHS Teacher II
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12
Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief
Systems
Quarter 1 – Module 3:
Positive And Negative Effects Of
Religion
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Table of Contents
LESSON 3: Positive And Negative Effects Of Religion
Introduction ………………………………………………………. 4
Pre-Test ………………………………………………………. 4
Discussion ………………………………………………………. 4-9
Summary ………………………………………………………. 9
Developmental Activity ………………………………………………………. 9
Assessment ………………………………………………………. 9-10
Additional Activity ………………………………………………………. 10-11
Answer Key ………………………………………………………. 12
References ………………………………………………………. 12
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Lesson
Positive And Negative Effects
3 Of Religion
Objectives: After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Identify the positive and negative effects of religions;
2. Provide evidence that religion brought about an event in history;
3. Justify that religion can have positive or negative effects on society.
Introduction
Religion has become a very important aspect in the development of the civilization
and culture. In fact, the most ancient societies based their worldviews on religion, and
it has been proven to be beneficial to the attainment and maintenance of the social
stability and cohesiveness. However, as time went by, religion has also become the basis
of conflicts between societies, even within societies. While religion promoted solidarity
among societies, it has also been the reason behind the outbreak of particular wars in
the history. In this lesson, we will discuss the positive and negative effects of religion,
as well as examples of historical events cause primarily by religion.
Pre-Test
Directions: Arrange the jumbled letters. Write your answer on the space provided before
each number.
_____________1. DSIMICNRAIIONT ____________6. S C C E S U S
_____________2. CNFOLICT ____________7. I G F H T
_____________3. UITNY ____________8. H R M A O Y N
_____________4. RLOE ____________9. P S I V E I T O
_____________5. ALVUSE ____________10. F E E F C T S
Discussion
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION
There is no doubt that religion has an important role in the society. In fact, it has
become a closely intertwined with other institutions such as political and economic
systems that religious beliefs sometimes become the basis of political legitimacy. This is
the very reason why the principle of separation of state and religion was established in
many countries.
However, religion has served purposes beneficial to society in general. In one way
or another, it inspires values that cultivate peace, compassion and kindness. Religion
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upholds traditions of shaping human spirituality and embracing the goodness in each
individual.
RELIGION PROMOTES SOCIAL HARMONY
Religion believes in supernatural beings and powers. It practices a set of rituals
and ceremonious rites of passage and rites of intensification. It also regards religious
leaders such as priests, priestesses and shamans in high esteem. These characteristics
help advance social harmony by assimilating and stabilizing cultures and nations.
Religion provides divine authority to ethical and moral principles which also help
promote unity among people. Common participation in rituals together with basic
uniformity of belief helps promote social cohesiveness.
Belief in the supernatural beings and the supposed divine power they can wield
to reward and punish people have been a major concept in religion since ancient times.
It helps lessen the feeling of helplessness among people who believe that they are not
alone in this world. That they need not rely on their capabilities alone, and that
everybody else is on the same boat, so to speak. Whenever people are afflicted by crisis,
they tend to think that a greater force or high being is there to help them, a belief people
tend to share with others.
Equally important is the belief of religious leaders whose function was to mediate
between the deities and the people. In ancient Philippine society for example, spiritual
leaders were called babaylans or catalones, whose functions were to intercede between
the deities and people; to continue the rituals; to play as healers; and to act as cultural
leaders of the community. Most of the spiritual leaders were women; and if men wanted
to become one, they have to give up their sexuality to perform the prestigious role of
being a babaylan.
RELIGION PROVIDES SOCIAL CHANGE
Since religion is a source of a moral values, religion provides social change. It can
be very effective in lobbying and campaigning for social issues using its own moral
teachings as the basis of argument. For example, the church in the US has been active
in the campaign for civil liberties as well as the antislavery movement. In the Philippines,
much credit has been given to the Catholic Church for the success of the People Power
Revolution in 1986 when Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin urged the people to join the
protest rally to oust the dictator, former President Ferdinand Marcos. Another example
would be Gandhi’s satyagraha, or passive resistance, which paved the way for India’s
independence from the British in the 20th century. Satyagraha advocates the belief that
nonviolence of the mind can lead to realization of the real nature of an evil situation and
that by refusing to cooperate with evil, truth can be asserted. This concept employed
that Gandhi in the early 20th century became instrumental in the Indian struggle
against the British and became the model for more protest actions in other countries.
In general, religion has the potential to institute social change, especially in the issues
concerning poverty, reproductive health, gender equality, and religious discrimination.
RELIGION REDUCES FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
Religion was developed for man’s need to have a sense of origin and destination; to
discover where they came from and where they are bound to go to when they die.
Religion provides answers from phenomena and questions that science and reasons
cannot explain. Myths about the origin of people abound with stories of groups of people
being created by gods and goddess, perpetuating the notion that people came from
supreme beings and will eventually go back to them in the afterlife. More importantly,
religion has provided assurance as to where spirits will go when people die, reducing
people’s fear of death as something undesirable.
RELIGION GIVES POSITIVE GOALS IN LIFE
People were inspired by the stories of different prophets from their own religious
affiliations, like that of Moses, Siddhartha Gautama and Muhammad. Those people
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showed how ordinary people like them were given important missions in life, and how
they struggle to carry out their respective missions. Moses was ordered to liberate the
Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and lead them back to the promised land; Mohammad
was chosen to challenge the supremacy of ruling class in the dessert by preaching
equality and founding the Islamic religion; while Siddhartha Gautama gave up his
wealth and power to find the solution for sickness, poverty, old age and death. Their
narratives-perpetuated through religion- may give a people a sense of meaning in life;
that they are not placed in this world without a purpose; that each and everyone has a
mission to fulfill and it is up to them to fathom what their missions in life are.
RELIGION GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF BELONGING
Just as a family, ethnicity, or nationality give people a sense of belonging, so does
religion. For some, religion provides people with personal identity as part of a group with
similar worldviews, beliefs, values, practices and life styles. It provides communities
with prospects to recognize and offer what action and service to provide the needs of the
larger community. Belonging to a particular region- whose members share the same
beliefs, practice the same rituals, and worship the same god- gives individuals a sense
of being in the right place and right people.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION
Religion has often been named as the culprit behind divisiveness and conflicts
among people. There is also a belief that religion can be dangerous to society when used
to advance the interest of a group of people at the expense of the other people especially
those with different beliefs. Religious fundamentalism or the demand for a strict
adherence to orthodox theological doctrines is often considered as the reason behind
most religious conflicts. Some of the negative effects of religion which we will discuss in
this lesson are: affirmation of social hierarchy; reason why people fight each other;
promotion of discrimination; obstruction of scientific success and development; and
hindrance to the use of reason.
RELIGION AFFIRMS SOCIAL HIERARCHY
Some religion affirms social hierarchy often favoring men and as a result,
perpetuate the notion of class or gender discrimination and oppression. Another
example of religion reflecting the hierarchy of political structure would be the Confucian
emphasis on the relation between the ruler and the subject, with the former exercising
authority over the latter. The traditional caste system in India would also reflect how
religion reflects political and social structures since it propagated the idea that people
had to be subdivided into certain social class with particular social roles and that the
attainment of moksha would depend on how they perform their duties based on their
designated class.
RELIGION CAUSES DISCRIMINATION
There are some who say that religion, after turning people against themselves,
turn people against each other. This happens when people tolerate religious ideologies
different from the one they follow. Religious fanaticism can lead to feelings of hatred,
which could lead to racism, and eventually violence. Throughout history, religions have
been used by colonizers to justify their forcible occupation of territories. In a way,
religion has made this world a more complicated place to live in.
Religion can also be a source of discrimination, or the prejudicial treatment of
different categories of people or things, especially on the basis of race, religion, age, or
sex. In Islam, the practice of wearing the hijab is considered by many critics as a form
of suppression against Muslim women. Women have to cover their body, from head to
toe, so as not to attract the attention of men—perpetuating the notion that women are
temptation that men should avoid. There are also religions which discriminate against
other religion in the basis of claiming to be the “right religion” and that only their
followers will be saved in the afterlife. Still, there are religions that discriminate against
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people from the lower class who they consider to be sinful and dirty. Just like the outcast
or pariah in India.
RELIGION TRIGGERS CONFLICTS AND FIGHTS
Religion also has some aspects which make it susceptible to be a source of
conflict and war. History witnessed numerous life sacrificed and lost in the name of
religion. Wars have been fought in the name of religion, and this phenomenon continues
up to the present time. In Palestine, the Jews are in conflict with the Muslims; in
Kashmir, it is the Muslims against the Hindu; in Sudan, it is the Muslims opposite
Christians and animist; in Sri Lanka, it is the Sinhalese Buddhist against the Tamil
Hindus; in Indonesia, it is Muslims contra Timorese Christians. These are only some of
the so many wars being fought in the name of religion, which means that so many
resources are being wasted and millions of lives are being lost.
RELIGION AS AN ECONOMIC TOOL FOR EXPLOITING THE MASSES
According to the German philosopher Karl Marx, “religion is the opium if the
masses”. This is in relation to his critical approach to religion in which he proposed that
the bourgeoisie keeps the proletariat in control through religion. According to Marx, it
maintains social in equality by propagating a worldview that justifies oppression. He
believed that religion can be effectively used by the ruling class to maintain a social
order that is more favorable to them. Whether one is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim,
religious teachings justifying one’s acceptance of oppression as a normal part of life on
earth and as a means to get an everlasting reward in the afterlife can be seen as a
bourgeois tactic to maintain the status quo where they reap more resources and power
in society. Thus, in Karl Marx’s conflict theory, the abolition of religion is also needed to
liberate the masses to their oppressive state.
RELIGION IMPEDES SCIENTIFIC SUCCESS AND DEVELOPMENT
Throughout history, religion has proven to impede scientific development. For
example, it has often been said that the Catholic Church used to teach that the world
is flat and warned people against going to faraway places if they do not wish to fall off
the edge of the earth. Another example would be the claim that the earth is the center
of the solar system, also known as the Ptolemaic theory. Aristarchus, and later on,
Nicolas Copernicus, proved that the sun is the center of the solar system and all other
planets move around it, hence, advancing the heliocentric model.
Aside from these, some of the moral teachings of other religions are deemed by
secular communities to be detrimental to development. For example, some religions
express their disapproval against reproductive health programs that aim to empower
couples in responsible family planning through education and access to legal and
medically safe birth control, claiming that such programs defies their religious doctrine
and are, therefore, immoral.
Religion-based mortuary practices can also be detrimental to public health and
sanitation. For example, during the cholera outbreak in the Philippines in the
nineteenth century, the Catholic practice of having the dead body of cholera victims to
be brought first to the church for a mass was seen as one reason why the cholera
epidemic continued to spread rapidly. Liberal-minded individuals during that time
believed it would be much safer and hygienic to immediately bury the dead instead of
letting a lot of people be exposed to the dead body by observing religious practices. The
same dilemma can also be seen in the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa. The Muslim
practice of washing the dead’s body by relatives on the same gender is seen as the
contributory to rapid spread of the Ebola Virus which can be transmitted through direct
contact with the victim.
RELIGION OBSTRUCTS THE USE OF REASON
Many questions the suitability of religious doctrines to the needs of present and
future generations. In order to put this dogma to practice, religion should, therefore,
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evolve and learn to adapt to the ever changing world. Ancient religious beliefs and
practices which has proven to be inhuman should be replaced with sensible ones. Take
the case of trepanning, or the ancient practice of boring holes in the human skull, a
surgical procedure performed on epileptics and the mental ill, with the belief that
through the hole the evil spirit will leave the person. During those days, they regard it
as an attempt at exorcism, but at present the procedure is just unthinkable.
HISTORICAL EVENTS CAUSED BY RELIGION
In some religions in the world, religion has become very influential in almost every
aspect of human activity- from personal routines to diplomatic relations. Furthermore,
in each country there are majority and minority religious groups and sometimes the
power struggle between these two groups escalates into historical development which
often time shock the world. Here some of the historical events that are cause by religion.
SELF-IMMOLATION OF A BUDDHIST MONK IN VIETNAM
Self-immolation, or the killing of oneself as a form of sacrifice, originally referred
to as the act of setting oneself on fire. But now it refers to a much wider range of suicidal
choices such as leaping off a cliff, starvation, or ritual removing of the guts (also known
as the seppuku). It is used as a form of political protest or martyrdom.
WIDOW BURNING AMONG THE HINDUS IN INDIA
Sati, or the practice of self-immolation of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre,
is said to have originated 700 years ago in India. It is believed to have started among
the ruling class or the Rajputs in India, when Rajput burnt themselves to death after
their men were defeated in battles to avoid being taken by the conquerors. Later on, it
has become a manifestation of wifely devotion. It has been outlawed by the British rulers
in 1929 but rare cases still continue to occur. In 2006, a Hindu woman was reported to
have sati in Tuslipar Village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The woman, whose
name was Janakrani, was said to have burnt herself to death on the funeral pyre of her
husband Prem Narayan. According to the villagers, after the cremation, the widow told
them she had to attend to some work, but when they went looking for her they found
her dead on the pyre. Reports said that nobody forced her to commit the act.
THE INQUISITION
Inquisition refers to the Roman Catholic Church groups charged with the
subduing heresy from around 1184, which includes the Episcopal Inquisition (1184-
1230s) and the Papal Inquisition (1230s). The inquisition was a response to a large
popular movements in Europe considered heretical or profane to Christianity,
particularly Catharism (a Christian dualist movement which espoused the idea of two
gods, one being good and other evil) and Waldensians (a Protestant Christian movement
which advocate that apostolic poverty is the way to perfection) in Southern France and
Southern Italy.
The word “inquisition” has somehow become associated with the word “torture”.
This was because after 1252, torture was used to punish the heretics. On May 15, a
papal bull was issued by a Pope Innocent IV, the Ad Exstripanda, which authorized the
use of torture by inquisitors. One common form of torture was the strappado, wherein
the hands were bound behind the back with a rope, and the accused was suspended
this way, dislocating the joints painfully in both arms.
THE GODHRA TRAIN INCEDENT
In February 2002, a train was set on fire in which 59 people including 29 women
and 15 children, were killed. The fire happened inside the Sabarmati Express train near
the Godhra railway station in the Indian staten of Gujarat. Those who died inside the
train were mostly Hindu pilgrims and activist returning from the holy city of Ayodhya
after a religious ceremony at the disputed Babri Masjid site. It took six years for the
commission appointed to investigate the said incident to conclude that the fire was
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committed by a mob of 1000-2000 people. 31 Muslims were convicted by the court for
the incident and conspiracy for the crime.
The Babri Masjid site was source of the Ayodha dispute, which was centered on
access to the site traditionally regarded by the Hindus as the birthplace of the Hindu
deity Rama. Hindus accuse the Muslims of demolishing a previous Hindu temple on the
site to create the Babri Mosque, which was destroyed by radical Hindu activist during a
political rally that turned into a riot on December 6, 1992. The Godhra train incident in
2002 was seen as a Muslim retaliation for the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992.
The discovery in 2003 of Buddhist ruins underlying the Hindu and Muslim layers at
Ayodhya only made matters more complicated.
Although so many atrocities have been committed in the name of religion, we
should bear in mind that more often than not, there are other factors at play. Politics
and economics often play a key role in religious conflicts. Sadly, some political parties
take advantage of religious conflicts to pursue their own interest, and that is winning in
the next elections. In India, for example, political parties have been accused of using
Hindu-Muslim conflict to advance their own interest by ruling in favor of those who will
give them the highest votes.
Summary
Religion can be described as a double-edged sword: it can have both positive
and negative effects on society. It has played a very important role in the
development of the societies by integrating and stabilizing them; however, it has
also created conflicts.
Some of its positive effects are: it promotes social solidarity; it is a source of
moral values; in nurtures positive goals in life; it gives people a sense of
belonging; and it fostesr social change.
Some of its negative effects include: it affirms social hierarchy; it triggers
conflicts and fights; it promotes discrimination; it impedes scientific success
and development; and it hinders the use of reasons.
Some of the world’s atrocity and conflicts were caused by religion such as the
self-immolation of the Buddhist monk in Vietnam; the practice of the sati or the
widow burning in India; the inquisition of the Catholic Church; and the Godhra
train incident in India.
Developmental Activity
Directions: Explain briefly the following questions.
1. Aside from the aforementioned effects of religion, think of other cases of religious
conflicts and explain how these can be solved.
2. Do you agree that religious groups should have a say in political affairs? Why or
why not?
Assessment
I. Directions: Write P if the statement is a positive effect of religion and N if not.
Write your answer on the space provided before each number.
____________1. Religion provides moral values.
____________2. Religion affirms social hierarchy.
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____________3. Religion causes discrimination.
____________4. Religion is an economic tool for exploiting the masses.
____________5. Religion gives people a sense of belonging.
____________6. Religion provides social change.
____________7. Religion triggers conflicts and fights.
____________8. Religion reduces fear of the unknown.
____________9. Religion promotes social harmony.
____________10. Religion obstructs the use of reason.
____________11. Religion gives positive goal in life.
____________12. Religion impedes scientific success and development.
II. Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if incorrect.
Write your answer on the space provided before each number.
___________ 1. Religion has become a very important aspect in the development of
civilization and culture.
___________ 2. Dating back to the emergence of ancient societies, religion has already
played an important role in the lives of our ancestors.
___________ 3. Religion was not developed for man’s needs to have a sense of origin and
destination.
___________ 4. Siddhartha Gautama played a major role in the development of
Abrahamic religions.
___________ 5. Religion provides divine authority to ethical and moral principles which
also help promote unity among people.
___________ 6. Religious fanaticism will never lead to feelings of hatred, which could lead
to racism, and eventually violence.
___________ 7. Religion also has some aspects which make it susceptible to be a source
of conflict and war.
___________ 8. Religion can be described as a double-edged sword: it can have both
positive and negative effects on society
III. Directions: Listen to John Lennon’s song “imagine” and discuss the possible
consequences if a society has no religion. List at least five possible consequences and
present it in the class. Use the space below for your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Additional Activity
Directions: Cut pictures from magazines/newspapers or search pictures in the internet
which reflect the effects of religion and make a collage on a 1/8 illustration board. Use
the rubric below as a guide.
CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS POINTS
OBTAINED
Organization The concept was clearly and creatively 10
conveyed
Content The pictures were appropriate to the 10
theme
Visual The idea was clearly presented based 10
Presentation on the pictures and words used.
TOTAL: 30 POINTS
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Answer Key
Pre-Test
1. Discrimination [Link]
2. Conflict [Link]
3. Unity [Link]
4. Role [Link]
5. Values [Link]
Assessment
Part I.
1. P
2. N
3. N
4. N
5. P
6. P
7. N
8. P
9. P
10. N
11. P
12. N
Part II.
1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. FALSE
4. FALSE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
8. TRUE
Rubric for Part III (Can be used in Developmental Activity)
Criteria Description Points Points obtained
Content The content was well-thought of; 2
the student listed all the possible
consequences
Organization The paper was well-written with 2
ideas easily conveyed to readers.
Development Points are thoroughly developed 1
TOTAL: 5
References
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems, Jerome A. Ong, Mary Dorothy dL.
Jose, 2016
K to 12 Curriculum Implementation and Learning Management Matrix
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