1. An introductory overview
Religious Systems
An introductory overview

2. Homo Sapiens and Their World
To date, 98% of all life to have ever existed has died out
Homo sapiens have existed for c. 100,000 years
Life expectancy was years
Part of them dying at child birth
Disease and infection killed many
The harsh environment killed more
Brutal attacks from animals were common
A driving fear of death led to obvious questions
Where were the earthquakes coming from?
When will the lions come next?
Why is all this happening?

3. The Advent of Religion Thousands of man-made gods have come and gone
Just like 98% of life has gone extinct, so have thousands of religions
The first religions were made to make sense of natural phenomena
Created to give meaning to human suffering
To define human progress
They did this to understand what they could not
Like a child in the dark, they gave meaning to their fears

4. Basic Forms of Religious Systems
Animism
The most primitive of all religions
Defines the material and spiritual world through spirits
Humans can interact with spirits and vice versa
Animistic Paganism (or just Paganism)
Spirits are developed into distinct gods
Gods have personalities and personal stories
Can interact with humans and vice versa
Polytheism
The worship of multiple deities, usually in the form of some Pantheon
This can include well-defined Pagan religions
Monotheism
The worship of a single, all-powerful deity
This can include polytheistic pantheons with a supreme deity

5. What Religions Do (Historically)
Good
Explains the world for its followers and gives them a sense of purpose
Includes a set of moral codes for its followers to live by
Provide a means to interact with deities
Bad
Divides followers between “us” and “them”
Justifies the segregation of society between
Those who can commune with divinity
Those who must follow those divine commands

6. Cultural Attributes
An introductory overview

7. Where culture comes from
Culture is learned behavior
Taught from birth by a particular group of people
Cultural traits can be collective or individual
Layers of cultural traits
Culture can be difficult to see
Stereotyping and cultural judgement
Is prejudice(d)
A simplistic, often false understanding
Courtesy
Personal
Interpersonal
National
Universal
Respect
Cuisine
Communication