1. History of Religion Part 2 Mr. Young Sociology
Unit 3 Religion
History of Religion Part 2
Mr. Young
Sociology

2. I CAN: Explain the basic structure of Religion
Analyze the 4 major categories of Religion
Evaluate the 4 major religious organizations

3. Definition of Religion
A Unified system of beliefs and practices concerned with sacred things

4. What Religion sets apart
Sacred
Profane
Things set apart from daily life
Nonsacred, everyday aspects of life

5. 1) Religious Experience
A sudden awareness of the supernatural or a feeling of coming into contact with God
Example: born again- in Christianity when a person has undergone a life-transforming religious experience and feel as if they are a new person

6. 2) Belief Ideas that people believe to be true
Includes values (how people ought to live) and cosmology (a unified picture of the world)

7. 3) Faith
One of the most important aspects of religion is faith- unquestioning belief that does not require proof or scientific evidence
Sacred- refers to those aspects of life that are extraordinary or supernatural
Profane- the everyday, secular “worldly” aspects of life

8. 4) Rituals
Rituals- regularly repeated and carefully prescribed forms of behaviors that symbolize a cherished value or belief
This can include The Lord’s Supper, Muslims bowing toward Mecca

9. Rituals videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgYEuJ5u1K0
Monty Python Monk Video

10. Symbols Symbols- helps to provide identity with a particular religion
Usually sacred emblems that evoke feelings of awe and reverence

13. Symbols Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFhJVy7TLio
Multiple Meanings of Symbols Part 1
Multiple Meanings of Symbols Part 2

14. Community All of the others lead to this
Feel a close bond with one another because their faith and beliefs are usually the same
Usually refer to one another as brother or sister, fosters a sense of family
Usually very powerful and can help people that need structure

15. Doctrine
A particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of religion or government
Simply put teachings that a certain religion is founded upon

16. 4 major categories Religion is based on 4 major categories
Simple supernaturalism
Animism
Theism
Nontheistic Religion

17. 1) Simple Supernaturalism
The belief that supernatural forces affect people’s lives either positively or negatively
This type of religion does not acknowledge specific gods or supernatural spirits but focuses instead on impersonal forces that may exist in people or natural objects

18. 2) Animism
Belief that plants, animals, or other elements of the natural world are endowed with spirits or life forces that have an impact on events in society
Example: Native American hunting rituals
Everyday life is not necessarily separated from the elements of the natural world

19. Theism
Belief in a god or gods
Christianity, Islam, Greeks, Egyptians

20. A) Monotheism
a belief in a single, supreme being or god who is responsible for significant events such as the creation of the world
Worlds major religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, believe this way

21. B) Polytheism a belief in more than one god
Hinduism, Shinto, and many African religions

22. 4) Nontheistic Religion
Religion based on a belief in divine spiritual forces such as sacred principles of thought and conduct, rather than a god or gods
Similar to Buddhism

23. Types of Religious Organizations
Four major types of religious organizations
Cult
Sect
Church (Denomination)
Ecclesia

25. Videos on Cults http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXYb3zItEdU
3D dialogue on Cults
What is a cult video (2 min)

26. 1) Cult
A new, loosely organized religious group, with few followers, with practices and teachings outside the dominant cultural and religious traditions of a society
All major religions began as a cult
Jim Jones and Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate and Hale-Bopp Comet

27. Characteristics of a Cult
Charismatic Leader- someone who exerts extraordinary appeal to a group of followers
Members antagonize the majority because they believe they have found the truth
Demands intense commitment, usually a sense of close community among the followers

28. Top 10 Cults
(6 min)

29. 2) Sect
Relatively small religious group that has broken away from another religious organization to renew what it views as the original version of the faith
Typically appeal to those who might be characterized as lower class
Loosely organized and fairly smaller

30. Sect Cont. Stress evangelism- the active recruitment of new members
If sects grow they can tend to gradually make peace with society, move up in socio-economic status, and can become a church

31. A) Denomination Midway between church and sect
A large organized religion characterized by accommodation to society but frequently lacking in ability or intention to dominate society
Approximately 38,000 Christian denominations in the world

32. 3) Church
A large, bureaucratically organized religious organization that tends to seek accommodations with the larger society in order to maintain some degree of control over it
Church membership largely based on birth
Religious services highly ritualized
Examples: Lutheran and Episcopal church

34. 4) Ecclesia
A religious organization that is so integrated into the dominant culture that it claims as its membership all members of a society
Also known as state religion
Examples: Church of England, Lutheran Church in Sweden and Denmark, Roman Catholic Church in Italy and Spain, and Islam in Iraq and Iran