WORLD RELIGIONS

WHAT IS RELIGION

• Helps explain the physical world

• Spiritual dimension—Based on faith

• Difficult to define

COMMON IDEAS

• Supreme Power—Usually created the world and beyond description

COMMON IDEAS

Soul—Inner spark which is separate from the body--Immortal

COMMON IDEAS

Worship—Honoring God or Gods

COMMON IDEAS

Prayer and Meditation—Giving praise or thanks or asking help

COMMON IDEAS

Important life events—Birth, Adulthood, Marriage, Death

COMMON IDEAS

Monks and Nuns—Stricter rules of behavior

COMMON IDEAS

Festivals—Remind believers of their faith at certain times of the year

COMMON IDEAS

Sacred Places—Have spiritual quality--pilgrimage

FUNCTION

• Trying to make sense of human experience

• Force which held communities together

• Code of behavior

• Reduce Fear

• Use stories, symbols and art to gain deeper understanding

IMPACT OF RELIGION

Religion and the state—Often were organized along religious lines

POWER

Leaders have sometimes used their power for personal gains

REFORMERS

Many individuals have tried to change things for the better

WAR

Many rulers have encouraged their people to go to war appealing to their religious views

PERSECUTION

Usually exists in smaller religious groups in a society--scapegoats

SEPARATISM

Some religious groups prefer to live separately to keep traditions intact

WOMEN

Traditionally had a very low status

EDUCATION

• Almost all promote learning to study the Holy books• Often conflict with science

ART

• Inspire religious faith—helped teach illiterate people key beliefs

• Way to teach illiterate people

MUSIC AND DANCING

• Express feelings and emotions

• Meditation

• Tell stories

ARCHITECTURE

• Special building to worship

• Focal Point of towns and villages