1. Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
World Religions
Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism
Islam, Buddhism, Shinto
Sikhism, Bahai, Jainism
Image from

2. Learning Targets
I can explain why religion is important to study as part of world history.
I can discuss religious beliefs in a respectful manner.

3. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
Our goal is understand the religious beliefs of others, but we will not impose our beliefs on others.

4. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
We will be respectful when speaking about the beliefs of others.

5. Ground Rules for Learning about Religion
We will share our knowledge (you may know more than the teacher!)

6. Why Study Religion? Influence of the Ancient World
From the Fertile Crescent
From India
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Jainism
Buddhism
Sikhism

7. Polytheism
Poly = many
Theism = belief in god
Poly + theism = belief that there are many gods

8. Examples Greeks = Zeus, Hera, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes
Romans = Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, Mercury
Vikings = Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Tyr

9. Monotheism Mono = one Theism = Belief in a god
Mono + theism = belief that there is only one god.

10. Why Study Religion? Religion in the World
Christianity: 31.4% (2.2 billion people)
Islam: 23.2% (1.6 billion people)
Hinduism: 15% (1 billion people)
Unaffiliated, including atheist, state secular: 16.4%
Buddhism: 7.1% (0.5 billion people)
Sihk, Baha’i: 0.5%
Judaism: 0.2%
Other: 0.8%
2010 Pew Research Center data (
Retrieved 11/29/16.

11. Why Study Religion? Religion in the USA
Christianity: 70.6%
Unaffiliated, including atheist or agnostic: 22.8%
Judaism: 1.9%
Other (including Sikh, Unitarian, Pagan, First Peoples):1.8%
Islam: 0.9%
Buddhism: 0.7%
Hinduism: 0.7%
Refused to Answer: 0.6%
2014 Pew Research Center data (
Retrieved 11/29/16.

12. Why Study Religion? Lasting Legacy

13. Why Study Religion? Understand Conflict
Click on Picture

14. The Five Major World Religions Video—TedEd
Click on Picture
Source:

15. Table Discussion
What are the reasons why we study religion in history class?
What are some of the important questions in life that religion tries to help answer?