2. WHAT IS RELIGION? THAT IS THE QUESTION

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

4. 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) INGREDIENTS

5. THE ABSOLUTE What is the religion’s idea of the Absolute. Is the Absolute a deity or an idea/concept?

6. THE WORLD What is the worldview of the religion? How do they view life?

7. HUMANS What are the problems for humanity? What are the solutions for humanity?

8. BASIC TENETS/MAJOR FEATURES What are the basic tenets or major features of the religion?

9. MAJOR FIGURES Who are some of the important figures in the religion? What impact did they have on the world?

10. RITUALS, SYMBOLS & HOLIDAYS What is the art of the religion like? What are some of the festivals/holidays?

11. PRESENTATION Include 4 of the following:  Special Places  Festivals and Holidays  Sacred Rites and Rites of Passage  Sacred Objects  Famous or Important People

12. SOURCES Slides 4, 5, & 6– 250,000 Designer Clip Art, Global Star Software Slide 6 – 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% 20pix.jpg Slide 7– http://www.healing-touch.co.uk/manjushr.gifhttp://www.healing-touch.co.uk/manjushr.gif http://persweb.direct.ca/gknight/images/shiva.jpg Slide 8 – 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 9 – http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.islamicarchite cture.org/ia/images/islamic- art.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/ia/art/&h=24 5&w=385&sz=30&tbnid=HNsKzDoPFngJ:&tbnh=75&tbnw=117&sta rt=10&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dislamic%2Bart%26hl%3Den%26lr%3 D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kamat.com/k alranga/art/ephemeral/11585.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kamat.co m/kalranga/art/ephemeral/11585.htm&h=524&w=300&sz=40&tb nid=Ib76OS6asawJ:&tbnh=127&tbnw=73&start=3&prev=/images% 3Fq%3Dindia%2Bart%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF- 8%26sa%3DG