WORLD STUDIES

The Basics of Religion

What is religion?

Religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people.

Religion is human beings' relation to the things that they regard as holy, sacred, spiritual, or divine.

Humans often get their sense of purpose and moral values from religion.

Religious beliefs are found in virtually every society throughout human history.

Some governments fuse their laws with religious beliefs.

What questions does religion answer?

Origins (where did we come from?)Ex. God made the world in 7 days

Purpose/meaning (why are we here?)Destiny (where are we going? what happens

when we die?)Heaven vs. hell/ purgatory/ reincarnation/ nothing?

Who are we? (the nature of human nature)Who/what is god?

Physical/ spirit/ animal/ nature?

Sacred to Hindus

Sacred to Jews

Sacred to Muslims

Sacred to Buddhists

What is sacred to You?

Mono and Polytheism

Monotheism- Any religion that is centered on the belief in one god (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).

Polytheism- A religion based around two or more gods (Hinduism, Animism, Ancient Greek or Roman).

Monotheism

Polytheism

Ethnic and Universal Religion

Ethnic religion: the religion of a particular people or culture (e.g., Judaism, Shinto, and Hinduism) (tend to be localized and do not actively seek converts)

Universal religion: a religion which sees its message as true for all people (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) (have spread throughout the world and tend to be very large in population, have actively sought converts from many cultures)

World Religions

The Evolution of Religion

Primal: prehistoric (more than 10,000 years ago) and "living" oral/tribal traditions

Archaic: religions of ancient civilizations no longer in existence (6000 - 2000 years ago)

Classic: the great "living" religions originating between 2500 and 500 years ago

Modern: contemporary variations of classic religions (developed since the 16th century) as well as truly new, independent religions

Religions of the World

Questions For You

What is the difference between monotheism and polytheism?

What questions does religion answer?

Which is the most practiced religion in the world?