1. Religion in History Animism Polytheism Monotheism
Meaning for the Individual
Social Cohesion
Social Transformation
© Karen Devine 2008

2. Animism
People have always practiced a religion, therefore anthropologists conclude that humans are innately religious.
An ancient religious notion is ANIMISM which means a belief that all living things have a soul.

3. Animism
Animists worship nature for its important role in human existence now and in the future.
Eg: Native Americans would ask forgiveness from the buffalo before it was killed as a sign of respect.
In an animist’s world everything is interrelated.

4. Polytheism
Ancient peoples were also POLYTHEISTS or believers in many gods.
For polytheists, their gods are vastly different to the God of monotheists.

5. Polytheism
Polytheists often see that each god is unique, possessing their own personality and playing their own role in human lives.
The gods are worshipped and can have pure or evil intentions.
Hinduism is an example of a modern day polytheistic faith.

6. Monotheism MONOTHEISM is modern in comparison with polytheism.
Monotheism is a belief in one God.
The major monotheistic faiths are:
Judaism – Yahweh G_d
Christianity - God
Islam - Allah

7. Monotheism
Monotheists believe in a transcendent being beyond the present existence.
Rituals and stories are used to explain “the other” in monotheistic faiths.

8. Monotheism
Monotheist’s belief in their God, leads one to conclude that all other gods must be false.
Monotheists see that their God is:
Omnipresent – ever present
Omnipotent – all powerful
Omniscient – all knowing

9. Religion provides meaning for individuals
Religion provides meaning for individuals and allows them to find a place in the world.
Religion has also helped people become resilient.

10. Religion provides meaning for individuals
Religion allows people to:
find direction
feel support
celebrate life
discover values
make sense of the world
In history religion has had personal, social and cultural elements.

11. Religion provides social cohesion
Religion can be a unitive feature for society.
In ancient religions, tribal chiefs or medicine men played the role of “mediator” in resolving disputes between people.
In times of rapid changes, religious culture is often a key unitive force.

12. Religion can also destroy
However, with monotheistic religions, faith has been so unitive that one religion has often waged war on another.
Such combative cohesion can occur trans-nationally or within a nation as a civil war.
As much as religion unites, it can also divide.

13. Religion can socially transform
Many of the world’s nations have been transformed by religion. eg: Israel.
Religion can demonstrate a view of a better future for all nations.
It often plays roles of:
supporting established structures
challenging established structures.
This dual role indicates that religion is not the servant of society.