Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences PDF

# PHINMA EDUCATION SPX 006: Culminating Activities in Humanities and Social Sciences ## Module 1: Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Is there anybody here who did yet experience going to church? How does it feel seeing...

# PHINMA EDUCATION SPX 006: Culminating Activities in Humanities and Social Sciences ## Module 1: Introduction to Humanities and Social Sciences **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Is there anybody here who did yet experience going to church? How does it feel seeing people on their Sunday or Sabbath dress and looks so crisp and clean? Let us discuss religion and spirituality, and analyze how they differ from each other.** **Religion** is the set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas, and practices that define the relations between human beings and sacred or divinity. A given religion is defined by specific elements of a community of believers: dogmas, scared books, rites, worship, sacrament, moral prescription, interdicts, and organization. Many religions have developed starting from a revelation based on the exemplary history of a nation, of a prophet or a wise man who taught and ideal of life. A religon may be defined with its three great characteristics: 1. Beliefs and religious practices. 2. The religious feeling, i.e., faith. 3. Unity in a community of those who share the same faith: the Church. It is what differentiates religion from magic. **Spirituality** refers to a religious process of re-formation which “aims to recover the original shape of man, oriented at “the Image of God,” as exemplified by the founders and sacred texts of the religions of the world. In modern times, the emphasis is on subjective experience of a sacred dimension and the “deepest values and meanings by which people live,” often in a context separate from organized religious institutions. Modern spirituality typically incudes a belief in a supernatural (beyond the known and observable) realm, personal growth, a quest for an ultimate/sacred meaning, religious experience, or an encounter with one’s own “inner dimension.” Both religion and spirituality are concepts of faith. This faith is defined as believing in someone that one cannot see and still observe reverence or respect, a Supreme Being that can see us all the time wherever we are and this make us behave just like we are falling in line out of respect, fear and reverence. Religion is the pursuit of transformation guided by a sacred worldview. Philosophy of religion is a reflection of humans’ lived experience of God. Spirituality is one's integrative view of life. It involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life. **Theology** is the study of God, His commandments and life. It is the science that deals with the study of religion, spirituality and faith. A worldview is a way of ordering the realities of one's world. It is the study of human’s way to God. Religion is God's way to humans. **What is the difference between religion and spirituality?** Religion is often about who's in and who's out, creating a worldview steeped in **us against them.** Spirituality rejects this dualism and speaks of **us and them**. Religion is often about loyalty to God and His commandments, institutions, clergy, and rules. Spirituality is about loyalty to justice and compassion. Religion talks about God. Spirituality helps to make us godly. The two need not be at odds. Religion at its best is spirituality in community. ## Module 2: World Religions **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** Based on the dictionary, **religion** - means submit, or the belief in and worship of a superior being controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. A pursuit of interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. It has something to do with faith, belief, creed and worship. Belief systems are structures of norms that are interrelated and that vary mainly in the degree in which they are systemic. The following looks at the major world religions…Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. There is a brief description of each, their view of God, and what a person can gain from that religion. ### Origin of World Religions #### Hinduism and its beliefs Most Hindus worship one being of ultimate oneness (**Brahman**) through infinite representations of gods and goddesses. These various manifestations of gods and goddesses become incarnate within idols, temples, gurus, rivers, animals, etc. A Hindu’s goal is to become free from the law of **karma** - to be free from continuous reincarnations. **Reincarnation** means living again in another form such as animals or plants. They also believe in **Karma**, it means reaping what one sows. There are three possible ways to end this cycle of life: (1) Be devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses; (2) Grow in knowledge through meditation; (3) Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies and rites. #### Judaism and its beliefs A long story of Abraham and his descendants. God promised him that his children will be blessed among all people. He was too old but had sons, the first one became the fathers of the Arabs and Muslim world and the other one was the grandfather of the 12 tribes of Israel where one of the sons Judah adhere to the teaching of Monotheistic religion and eventually became Judaism, Jesus Christ can be traced from this line where family belong to an ancient people and upholding the teaching of a great God. The tribes of Israel were the people of Exodus story in the Bible getting out of Egypt, they were liberated by mighty hands of God through Moses, they uphold the Ten Commandments of God and they observed the 7th day Sabbath. The 7th day Sabbath was changed to Sunday as a decree in the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine in AD 321. Most religions today can only be divided based on their worship day…Sabbath (Saturday) for Judaism; Friday for Islam and Sunday for most Christian churches. All believe that God not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew or Gentiles can have an individual and personal relationship. They believe that God continues to work in the world, affecting everything that people do. Judaism and its beliefs branched into other religion. #### Christianity Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is how the Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life. In his life on Earth, Jesus did not identify himself as a prophet pointing to God or as a teacher of enlightenment. Rather, Jesus claimed to be God in human form. He performed miracles, forgave people of their sin, and said that anyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He made statements like, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Christians regard the Bible as God’s written message to humankind. In addition to being an historical record of Jesus’ life and miracles, the Bible reveals God’s personality, his love and truth, and how one can have a relationship with him. Whatever circumstances a Christian is dealing with in their life, the Bible teaches that they can confidently turn to a wise and powerful God who genuinely loves them. They believe that God answers prayer and that life takes on meaning as they live to honor him. They were waiting for the return of Jesus Christ to save the righteous dead and the living righteous to be taken to heaven. ### Positive and Negative Effects of Religions | Positive Effects | Negative Effects | |---|---| | Religion provides inner srength. | Religion is turning people against each other. | | Promote ethics in political life. | Religions seek power. | | Brings people together in a community, it allows people to share a common goal of the religion and will make them feel united. | Religion is filling people with fear by SOFO ARCHON. The fear of hell is continuously in one’s mind, filling them with worry and anxiety, and this does not allow them to live spontaneously. As a result, most so-called religious people become neurotic and, in some cases, even schizophrenic. | | Religion teachings emphasize the need for serving our fellow man. | To identify with a religious ideology, and call it the only truth and way, leads to tremendously negative consequences - hatred, racism, and all kinds of violence. Just think of how many wars have been carried out throughout history in the name of God and religion. | | Charitable giving. People are good at trying to be casually kind to those who are in need. | Religions are man-made institutions, just like for-profit corporations are. And like any corporation, to survive and grow a religion must find a way to build power and wealth and compete for market share. | | Many religions teach the value of sharing in order to receive plentiful of blessings. | | | Religion provides inner strength. Religious faith has often been a source of courageous action and can be a source of courage to fight oppression. | | ## Module 3: The Six Religions **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Comparison of the Six Religions** Now, please read carefully the content notes below on the Comparison of the Six Religions. To remember the key points, please write it down in your notes or highlight the important details using your pen or highlighter. | POINTS OF COMPARISON | CHRISTIANITY | JUDAISM | |---|---|---| | Key Scriptures | The Holy Bible | Torah | | Life after death | Eternity in Heaven or Hell, in some cases temporal Purgatory. | World to come. | | Belief of God | One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. | Only one God and is the one True Creator. God has always existed; none exited before him and will exist forever. He transcends life and death. | | Human Nature | Man has inherited "original sin" from Adam. Mankind then is inherently evil and needs forgiveness of sin. By knowing right and wrong. Christians choose their actions. Humans are a fallen, broken race in need of salvation and repair by God. | You must choose good from bad. You are responsible for your actions. | | Followers | Christians | Jews | | Views on other religions |Christianity is the true faith. | Judaism is the chosen faith. | | Philosophy | Worship of God who created life, the universe, and is eternal. Salvation from sin, through the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. | To live a proper and holy life. To appreciate life in every way. To do good deeds. To live ethically. To make choice based on free will. | | Means of Salvation | Through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. | Through belief in God, good deeds, and complete faith. | | POINTS OF COMPARISON | TAOISM | SHINTOISM | |---|---|---| | Founder | Lao Tzu | Prehistoric Animists of Japan | | Key Scriptures | Tao Te Ching, Book of Chuang Tzu. | Kojiki and Nihongi | | Doctrines | Wu-Wei, Law of Reversion, Following nature | Belief in kami, divinity of emperors | | Belief of God | Tao as the Origin of all Beings, unnameable and eternal | Kami (animist and nature spirits) | |POINTS OF COMPARISON | BUDDHISM | CONFUCIANISM | |---|---|---| | Key Scriptures | Tripitaka - a vast canon composed of 3 sections: the Discourses, the Discipline and the Commentaries, and some early scriptures, such as the Gandhara texts. | Analects of Confucius and Mencius; Ching; Doctrine of Mean, etc. | | Life after death | Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle of birth, death and re-birth, which can only be broken by attaining nirvana. Attaining nirvana is the only way to escape suffering permanently. | Ancestors and heritage is important, but not worshiped. | | Belief of God | The idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator is rejected by Buddhists. The Buddha himself refuted the theistic argument that the universe was created by a self-conscious. personal God. | Depending on the religion held, usually Buddhist. Confucianism is not strictly a religion but rather advises a schema of social order. | | Human Nature | Ignorance, as all sentient beings. In the Buddhist texts, it is seen that when Gautama, after his awakening, was asked whether he | Humans should respect those who are superior to them. | ## Module 4: Counseling **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Understanding the Discipline of Counseling** Now, please read carefully the content notes below on Understanding the Discipline of Counseling. In the process of learning, please use PERSONAL NOTE column to write your own understanding of the content. You may use specific examples as your answers. **Understanding the Discipline of Counseling** Counseling is the process that occurs when a client and counselor set aside time in order to explore difficulties which may include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client. It is the act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possibly from a different view-point. This can enable the client to focus on feelings, experiences or behavior, with a goal to facilitating positive change. A professional counselor is a highly trained individual who can use a different range of counseling approaches with their clients. First and foremost, the counselor is aware that no two people are alike. No two people understand the same language in the same way; their understanding will always be linked to their personal experience of the world. Therefore, during the counseling process, it is important that the counselor does not try to fit clients into his/her idea of what they should be and how they should act. The role of the counselor is to enable the client to explore many aspects of their life and feelings by talking openly and freely. Talking in such a way it is rarely possible with family or friends, who are likely to be emotionally involved and have opinions and biases that may be detrimental to the success of the counseling. It is important that the counselor is not emotionally involved with the client and does not become so during counseling sessions. The counselor neither judges, nor offers advice. The counselor gives the client an opportunity to express difficult feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt and fear in a confidential environment. The counselor may encourage the client to examine parts of their lives that they may have found difficult or impossible to face before. There may be some exploration of early childhood experiences in order to throw some light on why an individual reacts or responds in certain ways in given situations. This is often followed by considering ways in which the client may change such behaviors. Effective counseling reduces confusion, allowing the client to make effective decisions leading to positive changes in their attitude and/or behavior. Effective counseling is not advice-giving and is not acting on someone else's behalf (these are more the roles of a life coach). The aim of counseling is to enable the client to make their own choices, reach their own decisions and to act upon them accordingly. | DISCIPLINE OF COUNSELING | PERSONAL NOTES | |---|---| | **Confidentiality** is a relationship of trust. Professional counselors will usually explain their policy on confidentiality, they may, however, be required by law to disclose information if they believe that there is a risk to life. | Paramounts to successful counseling. Coming confidential privided information | | **Not** **Giving advice**. Expecting or encouraging a client to behave in a way in which the counselor may have | It's not about telling what would've done in the situation. | | Counseling Skills | | |---|---| | Communication skills are obviously of utmost importance to counselors, we have lots of further pages covering these skills including: active listening, clarification, reflection and effective questioning skills. | | | The counselor will attempt to build a certain amount of rapport with their client, but not to an extent that would allow them to become emotionally involved. Counselors need to be empathetic, seeing things from the client’s point of view, rather than sympathetic (feeling sorry for their clients). Empathy can help the counselor to ask appropriate questions and lead the client to positive. | | | A disciplinary counseling session is a meeting between a supervisor and employee. It may focus on a specific work place incident, or may be the result of a performance appraisal. A particular aspect of the employee’s performance or conduct may have been identified by the supervisor as requiring attention, or the employee’s overall performance or conduct may require adjustment. The counseling process may be initiated and executed by the supervisor and is not considered | A meeting about performing, whether it is good or bad. | ## Module 5: Social Work **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Understanding the Discipline of Social Work** Now, please read carefully the content notes below on Understanding the Discipline of Social Work. In the process of learning, please use your notebook and pen to jot down important key points or highlight keywords that might help you in remembering easier and in answering the activities later. **Understanding the Discipline of Social Work** **What is Social Work?** Social work is an academic and a practice-based professional discipline that seeks to facilitate the welfare of communities, individuals, families, and groups. Underpinned by theories of social science and guided by the principles of social justice, rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversity, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance well-being. Social work tries to promote social change and grassroots/empowerment of people and aids in socioeconomic development, social cohesion, and liberation from abuse and oppression. A practicing professional with a degree in social work is called a social worker. **The Core Competencies of a Social Worker** Social workers are required to exhibit five core competencies, namely: 1. Practice with professionalism 2. Practice in an ethical manner. 3. Use critical thinking and professional judgement when faced with a problem. 4. Embrace diversity, and 5. Advance human rights and socioeconomic justice. **Social Work** Social workers most often work in the following settings: * Hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes. * Community mental health agencies and substance misuse clinics. * State and local governments including child welfare agencies and departments of health and human services * Schools and other youth-serving organizations. **What Social Workers Do?** Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and support families in need of assistance. Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Clinical social workers also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. ## Module 6: Information and Communication Technology **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Understanding the Discipline of Communication, Information and Communication Technology** Now, please read carefully the content notes below on Understanding the Discipline of Communication, Information and Communication Technology. In the process of learning, please use PERSONAL NOTE column to write your own understanding of the content. You may use specific examples as your answers. **Understanding the Discipline of Communication, Information and Communication Technology** Discipline of Communication focuses on how people use messages to generate meaning within and across various context, cultures, channels, and media. Communication studies or communication sciences is aan academic discipline that deals with the processes of human communication. There are three types of communication. VERBAL COMMUNICATION wherein you must listen to a person to simply understand the message. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION where information is being read to inform you of the message, and finally the NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION where you must observe the person to get the message. | ways of spreading information | | |---|---| | Discipline of communication encompasses a range of topics, from face-to-face conversation to mass media outlets such as television broadcasting. And Communication Studies also examine how messages are interpreted through the political, cultural, economic, semiotic, hermeneutic, and social dimensions of their contexts. Communication Studies integrate aspects of both social sciences and the humanities. As a social science, the discipline often overlaps with sociology, psychology, anthropology, biology, political science, economics, and public policy, among others. From a humanities perspective, communication is concerned with rhetoric and persuasion. | | The functions of communication in an organization are to inform, to persuade, and to motivate. Employees need to have effective organizational communication in order to achieve excellent job performance. The information function refers to giving or receiving information from the environment to adapt and adjust to it. The receiving or giving of information underlines all communication functions, either directly or indirectly. The influence or persuasive function refers to influencing or inducing people to change their behaviour in the desirable direction. Lastly, the motivation function refers to the process of stimulating an individual to take action that will accomplish a desired goal. | DISCIPLINE OF COMMUNICATION AND ICT | PERSONAL NOTES | |---|---| | Journalism is the production and the distribution of reports on recent events. The word journalism applies to the occupation (professional or not), the methods of gathering information, and the organizing literary styles. Journalistic media include: print, television, radio, Internet, and, in the past, newsreels. | Collection, organization, creation, and spreading of new info. | ## Module 6: Career Opportunities in Communication **Name:** **Section:** **Schedule:** **Class number:** **Date:** **Career Opportunities in Communication include the following:** * Advertising Manager, associate Editor, Audio Engineer, Audio Technician, Audio Visual Technician, Book Publisher, Sports Commentator, Broadcast News Analyst, Broadcasting Journalist, Cartoon Animation, Copywriting and so many more. **Roles, Duties and Responsibilities of Journalist** A Journalist's main role is to serve the citizen, all citizens of a democratic country and to serve as an independent monitor of power in government and to offer a voice to the voiceless citizens. The core purpose of a journalist is to research, document, write and present the news in an honest, ethical and unbiased way. It still calls for hard work, ethics, quality writing and at its heart is the DESIRE TO TELL THE TRUTH. **ICT or information and communications technology (or technologies) is the infrastructure and components that enable modern computing. The term is generally accepted to mean all devices, networking components, applications and systems that allow people and organizations to interact in the digital world. It also an extended term for information technology (IT) which stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.** **Skill-Building Activity** A. Using the simple scenario below, how will you define the responsibility of a good communicator? What could be the problem between Sonya and her coworkers? How can it be addressed? You may go back to your content notes to elaborate your answer. Sonya is a new nurse's aide . Sonya's coworkers are Filipina. The Filipinas are fluent in English but choose to talk in Tagalog which Sonya does not understand. Sonya feels this is rude and this practice makes her feel like an outsider.