1. What is
religion?

2. Human involvement with the sacred
2. Expressed in thought, action, social forms
(theoretical, practical, social)
3. Constitutes a system of symbols with deep
meaning
4. Path of ultimate transformation/to meaning

3. Why study
world
religions?

4. Because they are there…
Because it is useful…
Because it promotes understanding…
Because it teaches us about ourselves…

5. Caveats
Need for academic objectivity
Need for awareness of own perspective
Limitations of time; generalisations

6. Definitions
Numinous = the sacred as initially experienced
Polytheism = belief in multiple gods
Monotheism = belief in only one god, usually
both transcendent and personally present
Nondualism/monism = belief in unity of all
reality, with sacred taking various forms