Question: What is religion and how did

religious belief develop over the course of

history?

Introductory Overview

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?

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

http://yang-sheng.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/shamanic-cosmic-orbit-1.jpg

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

Mesopotamian gods

Egyptian gods

Greek gods

Chinese gods

Hindu gods

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

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

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

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

Syncretism- the combining of different

beliefs Sikhism = blend of Hindu & Muslim ideas Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism blended in

China

Syncretism