1. Intro to Religion
November 9, 2012

2. What is religion? Religions change and evolve over time
Religions are spread through interaction

3. Cultural Landscape
The cultural landscape reflects religious preferences, by houses of worship, cemeteries, shrines, and statues
It is reflected in the sale of alcohol, dress, and personal habits
Ex: Pakistan requires judges to wear a beard

4. Religion
A system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities
It determines how people “should” behave
In some societies, religion determines behaviors during waking hours, and even in sleep (some sleeping positions can be sinful)
Most religions have prayers and rituals

5. Rituals Rituals mark important events in people’s lives Births Death
Coming of age
Marriage
Celebration of holidays
Prayer

6. Secularism Some societies are predominantly secular, or non-religious
Even then, religion seeps into art, history, customs, beliefs, and even the calendar
Whether secular or not, it is important to have a basic understanding of religion
Religion is one of the most complex and controversial aspects of culture

7. Diffusion of Religion

8. Early Religions
Most religions can be classified into one of three broad groups:
Monotheistic
Polytheistic
Animistic

9. History of Religion
Up until 3500 years ago, most religions were polytheistic or animistic
Zoroastrianism was the first monotheistic religion and laid the foundation for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the belief that there is a single all-powerful good god (Zoroastro), and there is also an evil being trying to destroy good

10. Diffusion of Monotheism
Judaism was the second (or first) great monotheistic religion
However, it was not until Christianity and Islam emerged that monotheism spread
By 500 BCE, there were four hearths of religion:
Greece (Greek Philosophy)
India (Hinduism)
Israel (Judaism)
China (Chinese philosophies)

11. World Distribution of Religions
Fig. 6-1: World religions by continent.