What is Religion? Religion and Language lie at the foundation of culture. Interaction among people. Through conversion and migration, major religions of the world have ________ across cultural barriers and language boundaries. Conversion today:

Cultural Landscape of Religion Cultural landscape is marked by religion. Examples: alcohol Religion is also proclaimed in modes of _______. ________ – system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally “perceived ultimate priorities.” Expressed in terms of “_______” – justify and explain how they and others “should” behave based on religious beliefs.

Manifestation of Religion Religion is the worship of the souls of ancestors who are thought to inhabit ________ objects. Living people with special abilities; _______. Rituals – prayer, birth and death, marriage. _______ – typically expressed at regular intervals in a routine manner. Secularism – religion has become less significant in the lives of most people. Religion is one of the most complex aspects of the human condition.

Where did Major Religions originate? Three categories – based on their approaches to the concept of divinity. ___________ – worship a single deity, a God or Allah. ___________ – worship more than one deity, even thousands. __________ – centered on the belief that inanimate objects possess spirits and should therefore be revered.

Diffusion of Religions History = monotheistic or polytheistic 3500 years ago – monotheistic religion developed in SW Asia called Zoroastrianism. Eventual diffusion spread monotheistic ideas throughout much of the world and marked a major theological shift from the long dominance of polytheistic and animist beliefs in most places.

Diffusion of Religions By 500 BCE four major _________ of religion and philosophy were developed in the world. Greek = N. shores of _______________ Sea S.Asia along the Indus River Valley = Hindusim. E.Mediterranean = Judaism Huang He River Valley in China = Chinese philosophies These early-established religions and philosophies profoundly impacted other religions. Two religions with the greatest number of adherents in the world today, _________ and ________, were both influenced by Judaism and Greek philosophy.

World Map of Religions India – Hindu (except in the NW) Islam and Sikhism attract millions of adherents in India – 150 million _________ live in India. In a number of areas many people have moved away from organized religion entirely. France appears on the map as a Roman Catholic country, yet a significant number of French people profess adherence to no particular faith.

World Map of Religions Map illustrates how far Christian religions have diffused, the extent of the diffusion of Islam, the connection between Hinduism and one of the world’s major population concentrations, and the continued importance Buddhism plays in parts of Asia. Each one of the wide-spread religions shares one characteristic in common. Universalizing Religion – seek converts b/c they view themselves as offering belief systems of universal appropriateness and appeal. Ethnic Religion – adherents are born into the faith and converts are not actively sought.