"[Religion is] a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden--beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community."

The Need for Religions Religion or a spiritual tradition is: • a way of explaining the mysteries of life o how the world was created o why it was created o why there is life and death o what happens when people die o why there is suffering • a way of describing a dimension beyond the physical world -- the spiritual world a way of explaining how to lead a good life on Earth and in an afterlife

KINDS OF RELIGION 1. Christianity: 2.5 billion 2. Islam: 1.8 billion 3. Hinduism: 900 million 4. Chinese traditional religion (includes Taoism): 394 million 5. Buddhism: 400 million 6. Sikhism: 28 million 7. Judaism: 15 million 8. Baha'i: 8 million Shintoism: 4 million There are said to be over 4,000 classifications of Religions in the world

NEGATIVE EFFECTS of RELIGION Cause of discrimination , Cause of conflicts & wars , Tool for exploiting the masses