1. Introduction To Religion
Mr. Curzan – Roots of Civ.

2. WARM-UP
“What is the purpose and function of religion in society?”

3. What Is Religion?
Religion = an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods
Includes ethics: rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad 
Religion is a central part of culture…
Culture = the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time

4. Why does the sun disappear?
Origins Of Religion
Tens of thousands of years ago, humans lived in isolated groups
They depended on their environments to live (i.e., hunting & gathering)
Spiritual beliefs existed as a way to explain the natural world and its wonders…
Where do we come from?
Who created this?
Why does the sun disappear?
What happens when
we die?

5. Before we Continue, Think “Avatar”
Prehistoric people had indigenous (or native) cultures and lifestyles that were unique to their location in the world
Africa, Asia, Americas, Ancient Europe
Some of these cultures still exist today in remote parts of the world…
The theme of the movie Avatar highlighted the indigenous way of life
In the movie Avatar, the Na'vi are natives of the planet Pandora. They live in harmony with nature and worship a mother goddess called Eywa.

6. All over the world, early groups of humans
shared some basic spiritual beliefs...

7. Hunting Rituals
Hunting rituals expressed a reverence and respect for creatures that were killed for survival…

8. Animism
Early people prayed to the forces of nature. They believed the world was full of spirits and forces that might reside in animals, objects, or dreams…

10. Early Gods & Goddesses
Eventually people created gods and goddesses to represent these forces. The most important god was the Earth Mother.
People were polytheistic (the belief in many gods)

11. Shamanism
Belief centered on an individual called a shaman who acted as a spiritual leader of a community. They offered prayers for things people needed, and used magic to cure the sick, control events, etc.

12. Monuments
People began building monuments to the deceased (dead) and for ritual purposes

13. Civilization & Religion
Agriculture allowed large communities to develop and stay in the same location
As civilization developed, religion became more complex to meet society’s needs

14. Egyptian Gods
Norse Gods
Greek Gods

15. Religious Tradition Begins
Writing allowed people to pass down their spiritual beliefs more easily
Revolutionary thinkers began to shape some of the major world religions during this time

16. Shifts In Religious Thinking…
Religion begins to put an emphasis on explaining human existence
Religion starts to express the human relationship to the divine (gods or spirits)
Ritual and sacrifice become less important in religious behavior
Monotheism begins (the idea of having only one god)
Religions begin to teach that humans are special and are elevated above the other creatures

17. Characteristics Of Religion:
Belief in a deity (god or divine being) or in a power beyond the individual
A doctrine (accepted teaching) of salvation
A code of conduct
The use of sacred stories
Religious rituals (acts and ceremonies)

18. Three Philosophical Views Of A Deity
Atheists don’t believe that a deity exists
Theists believe in a deity or deities
Agnostics say that the existence of a deity cannot be proved or disproved

19. Major World Religions Today
Hinduism – 800 million
Followers are called “Hindu”
Buddhism – 350 million
Followers are called “Buddhist”
Judaism – 14 Million
Followers are called “Jewish”
Christianity – 2 Billion
Followers are called “Christian”
Islam – 1 Billion
Followers are called “Muslim”

20. Diversity Of Religions
There are about 20 largely practiced religions in the world today…
Each of them have different branches: sects or denominations
A sect is a group of people with slightly different religious beliefs from those of a larger group to which they belong…
For example:
Christians can be Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.
They are all branches of Christianity

21. A very simplified map of the major world religions and where they are in the world…