RELIGION – set of beliefs in an ultimate reality and a set of practices used to express those beliefs. Key component of culture

CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION THAT UNITE FOLLOWERS: Special celebration Worship styles Sacred texts Symbols sites

TERMS: ANIMISM – belief that spirits inhabit natural objects and forces of nature ATHEISM – disbelief in the existence of any god MONOTHEISM – belief in one god POLYTHEISM – belief in more than one god SECULARISM – belief that life’s questions can be answered apart from religious belief SECT – subdivision within a religion that has its own distinctive beliefs and /or practices

WHY STUDY RELIGION: Shapes how people interact with one another Shapes how people dress Shapes how people eat

DIFFUSION OF RELIGION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CAUSED BY Migration Missionary work Trade War

PERCENTAGE OF WORLD POPULATION Islam – 22% Christianity – 33% Sikhism – 0.4% Buddhism – 6% Hinduism – 13% Judaism – 0.2% Confucianism – 6% Nonreligious or atheist – 15% Other religion – 7%