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Published byChristina Stanley Modified over 9 years ago
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Introductory Overview
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The belief in divine being(s) and practices (rituals) and moral codes (ethics) that result from that belief. BELIEFS give religion its mind RITUALS give religion its shape ETHICS give religion its heart What is Religion?
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Integral part of culture-developed as cultures developed Humans have an innate desire to understand our world, how we got here, why we are here, and what happens after death Early signs of religion Ceremonial burials Animism - Belief that everything in nature has a spirit Shinto- Traditional Japanese Animism Daoism- Chinese philosophy with Animistic elements Shaman - Religious leader who communicates with the spirit world Origin of Religion
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Theory: Developed to explain natural phenomena Early gods were the forces of nature (the sun IS a god, the sea IS a god) Later gods represented or controlled the forces of nature (god OF the sun, god OF the sea) Common throughout the world (Greeks, Romans, Celts, Chinese, etc) Indian Polytheism later developed into Hinduism Polytheism
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Mesopotamian gods
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Egyptian gods
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Greek gods
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Chinese gods
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Hindu gods
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Zoroastrianism : c. 1500- 1200 BCE in Iran Iranian religion was Polytheistic and related to early Hinduism Prophet Zoroaster taught worship of One God called “Ahura Mazda” (Lord of Wisdom and Light) Birth of Monotheism
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Ancient Judaism : c. 1500-1200 BCE in Canaan Middle East and Egypt were Polytheistic Prophet Abraham taught Monotheism Later, Prophet Moses taught laws for Judaism (Torah) Birth of Monotheism
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Around 500 BCE, new religions developed in India, China, and elsewhere from preexisting beliefs and philosophies Daoism & Confucianism in China Jainism & Buddhism in India Old Idea, New Religion
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World Religions spread and take hold Spread of Christianity and then Islam Spread of Buddhism to East Asia Judaism redefined after Temple destroyed Indian religions identify as Hindu in contrast to Islam Between 200-1500 CE
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Syncretism - the combining of different beliefs Sikhism = blend of Hindu & Muslim ideas Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism blended in China Syncretism
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