2. What is Religion? That is the question

3. How do you define it? There are many ways to define it –Normative Describes what religious adherents ought to do. (love) –Functional Describes how religion operates in society or human lives. (totem) –Descriptive Describes how religious adherents behave.

4. A Working Definition Religion is a human phenomenon in which humans seek to understand the nature of the “Ultimate Reality”, act on this understanding and develop the potential for human transformation through this understanding.

5. Ingredients Background The Absolute The World Humans –Problems for Humans –Solution for Humans Basic Tenets/Major Features Major Figures Rituals and Symbols –Holidays –Aesthetic (art, music, architecture)

6. The Absolute What is the religion’s idea of the Absolute. Is the Absolute a deity or an idea/concept?

7. The World What is the worldview of the religion? How do they view life?

8. Humans What are the problems for humanity? What are the solutions for humanity?

9. Basic Tenets/Major Features What are the basic tenets or major features of the religion?

10. Major Figures Who are some of the important figures in the religion? What impact did they have on the world?

11. Rituals, Symbols & Holidays What is the art of the religion like? What are some of the festivals/holidays?

12. Sources Slides 5, 6 & 7 – 250,000 Designer Clip Art, Global Star Software Slide 7 – http://www.model furniture.com/products/wallart/sandpaintings/images/as9001.jpg http://www.model furniture.com/products/wallart/sandpaintings/images/as9001.jpg http://subway.com/applications/spotlite/docs/nov03/pics/Taboo%20pi x.jpg Slide 8 – http://www.healing-touch.co.uk/manjushr.gifhttp://www.healing-touch.co.uk/manjushr.gif http://persweb.direct.ca/gknight/images/shiva.jpg Slide 9 – http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/laotzu.jpg http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/laotzu.jpg http://www.therealpresence.org/images/teresa2.jpg http://www.buddhismus.at/bilder/dalai_lama_gross4.jpg

13. Sources Slide 10 – http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.islamicarchitectu re.org/ia/images/islamic- art.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/ia/art/&h=245& w=385&sz=30&tbnid=HNsKzDoPFngJ:&tbnh=75&tbnw=117&start= 10&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dislamic%2Bart%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D% 26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kamat.com/kalra nga/art/ephemeral/11585.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kamat.com/kalra nga/art/ephemeral/11585.htm&h=524&w=300&sz=40&tbnid=Ib76OS 6asawJ:&tbnh=127&tbnw=73&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dindia %2Bart%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG http://estabrook.lexingtonma.org/Library/Dec/Kwanzaa.jpeg