Religion Religion in Historyin History

AnimismAnimismPolytheismPolytheism

MonotheismMonotheismMeaning for the Meaning for the

IndividualIndividual Social CohesionSocial Cohesion

Social Social TransformationTransformation

© Karen Devine 2008

AnimismAnimism People have People have

always practiced a always practiced a religion, therefore religion, therefore anthropologists anthropologists conclude that conclude that humans are humans are innately religious.innately religious.

An ancient An ancient religious notion is religious notion is ANIMISMANIMISM which which means a belief that means a belief that all living things all living things have a soul.have a soul.

AnimismAnimism Animists Animists worship worship

nature for its important nature for its important role in human existence role in human existence now and in the future.now and in the future.

Eg: Native Americans Eg: Native Americans would ask forgiveness would ask forgiveness from the buffalo before from the buffalo before it was killed as a sign it was killed as a sign of respect.of respect.

In an animist’s world In an animist’s world everything is everything is interrelated.interrelated.

PolytheismPolytheism Ancient Ancient

peoples were peoples were also also POLYTHEISTPOLYTHEISTSS or believers or believers in many gods. in many gods.

For polytheists, For polytheists, their gods are their gods are vastly different vastly different to the God of to the God of monotheists.monotheists.

PolytheismPolytheism

Polytheists often see that Polytheists often see that each god is unique, each god is unique, possessing their own possessing their own personality and playing personality and playing their own role in human their own role in human lives.lives.

The gods are worshipped The gods are worshipped and can have pure or evil and can have pure or evil intentions.intentions.

Hinduism is an example Hinduism is an example of a modern day of a modern day polytheistic faith.polytheistic faith.

MonotheismMonotheism

MONOTHEISMMONOTHEISM is is modern in comparison modern in comparison with polytheism.with polytheism.

Monotheism is a belief Monotheism is a belief in one god.in one god.

The major The major monotheistic faiths monotheistic faiths are:are:

a)a) JudaismJudaismb)b) ChristianityChristianityc)c) IslamIslam

MonotheismMonotheism Monotheists Monotheists

believe in a believe in a transcendent transcendent being beyond being beyond the present the present existence.existence.

Rituals and Rituals and stories are stories are used to used to explain “the explain “the other” in other” in monotheistic monotheistic faiths.faiths.

MonotheismMonotheism

Monotheist’s belief in Monotheist’s belief in their God leads one to their God leads one to conclude that all other conclude that all other gods must be false.gods must be false.

Monotheists see that Monotheists see that their god is:their god is:

a)a) Omnipresent – ever Omnipresent – ever presentpresent

b)b) Omnipotent – all Omnipotent – all powerfulpowerful

c)c) Omniscient – all knowing Omniscient – all knowing

Religion provides meaning Religion provides meaning for individualsfor individuals

Religion provides Religion provides meaning for meaning for individuals and individuals and allows them to allows them to find a place in find a place in the world.the world.

Religion has also Religion has also helped people helped people become become resilient.resilient.

Religion provides meaning Religion provides meaning for individualsfor individuals

Religion allows people Religion allows people to:to:

a)a) find directionfind directionb)b) feel supportfeel supportc)c) celebrate lifecelebrate lifed)d) discover valuesdiscover valuese)e) make sense of the make sense of the

worldworld In history religion has In history religion has

had personal, social had personal, social and cultural elements.and cultural elements.

Religion provides social Religion provides social cohesioncohesion

Religion can be a Religion can be a unitive feature for unitive feature for society.society.

In ancient religions, In ancient religions, tribal chiefs or tribal chiefs or medicine men played medicine men played the role of “mediator” the role of “mediator” in resolving disputes in resolving disputes between people. between people.

In times of rapid In times of rapid changes, religious changes, religious culture is often a key culture is often a key unitive force.unitive force.

Religion can also destroyReligion can also destroy However, with However, with

monotheistic religions, monotheistic religions, faith has been so faith has been so unitive that one unitive that one religion has often religion has often waged war on another.waged war on another.

Such combative Such combative cohesion can occur cohesion can occur trans-nationally or trans-nationally or within a nation as a within a nation as a civil war.civil war.

As much as religion As much as religion unites, it can also unites, it can also divide.divide.

Religion can socially Religion can socially transformtransform

Many of the world’s nations have been Many of the world’s nations have been transformed by religion. eg: Israel.transformed by religion. eg: Israel.

Religion can demonstrate a view of a Religion can demonstrate a view of a better future for all nations.better future for all nations.

It often plays roles of:It often plays roles of:a)a) supporting established structuressupporting established structuresb)b) challenging established structures.challenging established structures. This dual role indicates that religion is This dual role indicates that religion is

not the not the servant of society.servant of society.