Introductory Overview. The belief in divine being(s) and practices (rituals) and moral codes...
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Transcript of Introductory Overview. The belief in divine being(s) and practices (rituals) and moral codes...
Question: What is religion and how did
religious belief develop over the course of
history?
Introductory Overview
The belief in divine being(s) and practices
(rituals) and moral codes (ethics) that result from that belief. BELIEFS give religion its mind RITUALS give religion its shape ETHICS give religion its heart
What is Religion?
Integral part of culture-developed as cultures developed Humans have an innate desire to understand our world,
how we got here, why we are here, and what happens after death
Early signs of religion Ceremonial burials
Animism- Belief that everything in nature has a spirit Shinto- Traditional Japanese Animism Daoism- Chinese philosophy with Animistic elements
Shaman- Religious leader who communicates with the spirit world
Origin of Religion
Theory: Developed to explain natural
phenomena Early gods were the forces of nature
(the sun IS a god, the sea IS a god) Later gods represented or controlled the
forces of nature (god OF the sun, god OF the sea)
Common throughout the world (Greeks, Romans, Celts, Chinese, etc) Indian Polytheism later developed into
Hinduism
Polytheism
Mesopotamian gods
Egyptian gods
Greek gods
Chinese gods
Hindu gods
Zoroastrianism: c.
1500-1200 BCE in Iran Iranian religion was
Polytheistic and related to early Hinduism
Prophet Zoroaster taught worship of One God called “Ahura Mazda” (Lord of Wisdom and Light)
Birth of Monotheism
Ancient Judaism: c.
1500-1200 BCE in Canaan Middle East and
Egypt were Polytheistic
Prophet Abraham taught Monotheism
Later, Prophet Moses taught laws for Judaism (Torah)
Birth of Monotheism
Around 500 BCE, new religions developed in India, China, and elsewhere from preexisting beliefs and philosophies
Daoism & Confucianism in China Jainism & Buddhism in India
Old Idea, New Religion
World Religions spread and take hold Spread of Christianity and then Islam Spread of Buddhism to East Asia Judaism redefined after Temple destroyed Indian religions identify as Hindu in contrast to
Islam
Between 200-1500 CE
Syncretism- the combining of different
beliefs Sikhism = blend of Hindu & Muslim ideas Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism blended in
China
Syncretism