Monotheism belief in one god
Most religions today believe this way
Polytheism belief in many gods

An explanation of the origins and purpose of humans and their role on earth
A belief in the existence of a higher power, spirits, or gods
Rituals, festivals, rites of passage, and cultural landscapes

Hunter-gatherers
Lived in isolated groups.
Developed spiritual beliefs as a means of understanding the natural world and its phenomena.

Agriculture - large settled communities
Writing - recording of spiritual beliefs, passed down
Indigenous beliefs began to fade; modern world religions developed.

Common Beliefs of Early Humans
Hunting rituals - expressed reverence and respect for creatures killed for survival
Animism - spirits inhabit all people, creatures, and things and play a part in the world
Shamanism - centered on one individual who is spiritual leader of community
All are still found in parts of the modern world.

Relocation (diffusion through migration)
Expansion (diffusion through a snowballing effect) o o hierarchical (diffusion through key leaders) contagious (widespread diffusion)
Missionaries - Individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion

Universalizing religions
– Christianity
2 billion adherents
– Islam
1.3 billion adherents
– Buddhism
365 million adherents
Ethnic religions
– Hinduism
97% of India’s population
– Other ethnic religions
Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Judaism and
Animism

India’s major religion no known founder main beliefs:
– polytheism
– caste systemhereditary social system, enforced by law, based on occupation, economic status, race, ethnicity, etc.
– karmaaction and subsequent reaction
– reincarnationliterally "to be made flesh again“ when Enlightenment is reached.
Vedas
Hinduism’s oldest holy texts

Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha
Indian born in warrior caste attained enlightenment & given the title of Buddha founder of Buddhism religion that broke away from Hinduism main beliefs:
– polytheism
– reincarnation
– the Four Noble Truthssuffering
– Eightfold Pathinstrument of discovery
– Middle Waypractice of non-extremism
– nirvana -state of perfect peace
Sutras holy texts in Buddhism

Chinese philosopher ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius main beliefs:
– social and civic responsibility
– Five Relationships- juniors to seniors, parents to children, etc.
Analects text that contains the words and acts of Confucius

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/confucius.html

Lao-Zi (604-531? BCE)
(also Lao Tse) teachings: Tao Te Ching dao ( tao ) = “the way” or
“the path”
Live in harmony with nature
Values: simplicity, compassion, humility

distinctive ethnic religion of Japan forces of nature are divine (Sun, Moon, rivers, trees, mountains, and more) official state religion of Japan 1860s-WWII more than 80,000 shrines in Japan

Jewish Religion founded by Abraham main beliefs:
– monotheism ( world’s 1st
)
– Jews are God’s chosen people
Ten Commandments
– a list of religious and moral guidelines
– foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Abraham
Middle Eastern prophet founder of Judaism
Jerusalem
Judaism’s, Christianity, and
Islam’s holy city
Torah
Judaism’s holy book written by Moses

founder of Christianity executed by the Jewish leadership for creating the split between Christianity and
Judaism religion that broke away from Judaism main beliefs:
– Ten Commandments
– monotheism
– Jesus is the son of God
– resurrection of the dead
Bible
Christianity’s holy book made up of 2 parts:
– Old Testament (Jewish text)
– New Testament (lives and teachings of Jesus and his followers)
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jerusalem

Arab warrior and prophet founder of Islam religion that began in modern-day Saudi
Arabia followers of Islam are called Muslims main beliefs:
– monotheism
– Muhammad is God’s greatest and last prophet
– believe that Jesus was a prophet, not as the son of God)
– Five Pillars
Qur’an
Islam’s holy book contains the teachings of Muhammad
Mecca
Muhammad’s birthplace
Islam’s holiest city
Ka’bah- temple of Abraham

Religion in the U.S.