The religious dimension in human history.

A series of slides from the Studies of Religion Cambridge Text on Religion and non-religion: The religious dimension in human history.

1. Cambridge University Press © Hartney, Noble
2016
CHAPTER 16
Religion and non-religion:
The religious dimension in human
history: Its significance and expression

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2016
RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN HUMAN HISTORY
Human religions can be categorised as one of
three main varieties:
•animism
•polytheism
•monotheism.

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2016
HISTORY OF RELIGIONS
•Religion has long
been part of human
expression.
•Spirits/gods/rituals
are part of life and
culture.

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2016
ANIMISM
•The belief that nature reveals the divine
•All of the environment is animated by spirits
•Spiritual dimension to all of life
•Spirits in nature and natural events
•Sometimes seen as ‘primitive’
•Essential to all religious expression

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2016
POLYTHEISM
•Polytheism is a religious practice
based upon the worship of many
gods.
•Many ancient religions are polytheistic
such as the religions of the ancient
Greeks and Romans.
•Hinduism and Buddhism are examples
of polytheistic religions from the major
religions covered in the syllabus.

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2016
MONOTHEISM
•Monotheism is the worship
of one god
•Semitic religious traditions
•Judaism, Christianity, Islam
•Could the early versions
of these traditions be
regarded as henotheisms?

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2016
•Historically, religion has given individuals and
societies meaning and purpose.
•Religion has also produced examples of:
–social cohesion
–social transformation.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RELIGION

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2016
•Intellectual – answering
questions about the
meaning of life
•Emotional – offering
comfort and reassurance
•Ethical – providing an
ethical code to live by
MEANING AND PURPOSE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

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2016
Religion:
•is often a conservative
force in society
•binds the community
together
•provides a unifying force
and norms.
SOCIAL COHESION

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2016
Conversely, religion is often a force for reform and
change. Examples of this are:
•the struggles for civil
rights by Martin Luther
King Jr. and Gandhi
•abolition of slavery
•the Australian reconciliation process.
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

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2016
WANING OF INFLUENCE
•In recent times, religion has lost some of the
influence it once had on society.
•It nonetheless remains a significant part of
culture and society.
•It still has a powerful impact upon society and
the lives of individuals.