Religion and Humans
The expression of religion in human history
Archaeologist have uncovered that the earliest humans had religious beliefs. The early gods were usually female. There was a belief in the afterlife and people were ceremonially buried with tools, weapons and jewellery.
Animism
Souls of humans and animals enter the environment after their death and are located at that spot. Traditional tribal religions were often animistic. Elements such as wind, rain, sun and so on had feelings, so religious practices were necessary to keep the elements happy and cooperative
Examples of animistic cultures are Native Americans, Australian Aboriginals
Polytheism
The worship of more than one god. For the ancient Greeks the pantheon lived at a placed called Mount Olympus, they looked like humans but had magical powers and were immortal because they consumed ambrosia (the nectar of the gods). Zeus was the king and Here the queen and Zeus’s wife. Hades was the god of wealth and the lower world. The Roman’s had the same gods but knew them by other names. The Egyptians also had many gods, some were half animal and some were actual people like the pharaohs who were worshipped as gods. The sun god Ra was the father of all other gods.
Monotheism
Belief in one god only- God.
Examples of monotheistic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Questions
1) Why do you think the early religions worshipped a goddess?
2) Discuss the change in religious beliefs. Think about the idea of immanent and transcendent and the link to the environment.
Significance of religion in human history
What is the significance of religion for people? Split into groups and discuss why religion is significant for people: topics should include
- meaning and purpose of life- ancient religions to humans existed to worship and nourish the gods, as God’s creation and our goal is to rest with him, religion teaches everything needed to live harmoniously, prosper and progress through rites of passage, religion gives us concepts of love, and a way of life, forgiveness and salvation.
- social cohesion- ethics, rituals and customs, social organisation, sacred times and holidays, holy places, symbols, sacred scriptures
- social transformation- laws and ethics built on beliefs, also groups like the Wesley mission and Salvation army have helped the underprivileged and religious leaders have crossed over to politics in bringing about drastic change like Mahatma Ghandi.
The global distribution of the five major religious traditions.
Globally
Nationally
§ Buddhism is found in large numbers in Asia particularly South-East Asia in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
§ Christianity is found in large numbers in Europe, North and South America, central and southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand
§ Hinduism is found in large numbers in India, Nepal, Mauritius, although the majority of the world’s Hindus live in India
§ Islam is found in large numbers in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
§ Judaism is found in many countries including Israel, USA, western Europe, Palestine and Britain.
Questions
1) List the five major religions according to size a) world, b) Australia
2) Is Australia disproportionably similar to the world? Why?
The rise of the new religious expression and spiritualities
Break into groups- why have people started seeking new religious expression
Answers could include-
- the rise of materialism
- scientific progress
- western religion has too much doctrine, - disenchantment with
‘traditional’ religious practice and guidance
- Searching for personal fulfilment- using ways of telling the future, holistic health, not wanting to have faith but having more concrete ideas and predictions
- seeking new ethical guidelines (peace loving) separate from the condemnation of a transcendent God- a happy person will in turn will be able to create a more harmonious world around them. There is no evil or good and that all people are god. Usually have a greater concern for environmental issues.
- want a new way of viewing themselves in society, recognition of gay couples and feminist ideas.
- want a religion that teaches one to lower stress, interest in yoga, meditation and personal growth books- (self help)
- less concentration on salvation and a greater concentration on universal consciousness, ecology concerns and the environment, - growth of ecological
awareness
- or find occult arts, paganism and spiritualism exciting and different.
Look at the diagram on the next page. Discuss each
Source Questions
1) What predicted trend was proved wrong by the 2001 census?
2) What three new-age religions are mentioned in census results? What does the census tell us about them?
3) What reasons does the article give for the change in new-age religion adherents?
4) What does the article say about the post-modern society in regards to religion?
Agnosticism and Atheism
These two groups are often grouped, confused or seen as interchangeable. This is because neither group actively believes in a god. Generally atheists don’t believe in a god, and agnostics are unsure.
To complicate it further sometimes the terms ‘strong atheist’ and ‘weak atheist’ are applied. A strong atheist is however generally called an atheist and a weak atheist is called an agnostic. However there is at times a blending of the groups. See diagram below.
I don’t know if there is a God
It’s impossible to know if there is a God
There is no God
Agnostic or weak atheist
Could be both groups
Atheist or strong atheist
One possible difference (although not always the case) is that atheist can be more hostile or assertive in their criticisms of organised religion. Because there is no sacred text for either atheists or agnostics is hard to assert what most or all atheist or agnostics believe.
Some Atheists, when asked what their religion is, will simply answer, "Atheist." Others will say that they have no religion, they are an Atheist.
Atheism can involve the positive assertion that there is no deity; or it can be the absence of a belief that there is a deity. Atheism can also promote the belief that all Gods and Goddesses (as well as angels, demons, ghosts, etc.) are fabrications of human minds.
There is a difference however, between disbelief in all gods and no belief in God. Some atheists may know of many gods and reject belief in the existence of all of them. All theists are atheists in the sense that they deny the existence of all other gods except theirs, but they don't consider themselves atheists. For example some Christians consider Buddhists to be atheists.
Ask yourself “am I an atheist by either of these definitions”
Some theists believe that atheism is dangerous for society because if there is no God there is no reason to be moral. Since atheists don’t believe in God they also don’t believe in heaven or hell. Agonistics may have the same view or they may simply take a very casual approach to the idea of God and heaven and hell and might say “if God wants me to know then, God will get in touch with me”.
Of course, there are many modern theists who commit crimes, deceive and hurt other people. It seems obvious from the factual evidence of more than two millennia that belief in God and morality are not synonymous.
Can you have morals without religion?
According to the 2000 worldwide Gallup polling survey 8% of the world’s population do not think there is any spirit, personal God, or life force. Another 17% were not sure.
Agnosticism is the position of believing that knowledge of the existence or non-existence of God is impossible. It is often seen as a middle ground between theism and atheism. Agnosticism puts forward that human knowledge is limited to the natural world. It is impossible or the human mind is incapable of understanding the supernatural. The agnostic professes doubt of or disbelief in some sort of God or supernatural power.
Are theists more accepting of believers of other faiths than atheists or agnostics?
Reasons that atheists and agnostics may put forward for not believing in God or gods might include:
1) There is no evidence of God. If something can’t be proven through evidence or scientific experiment than it must be superstitious.
2) A variety of religions exist in the world and they all claim to be the true religion or that their God is the true and only God or gods.
3) People only want to believe in a God or gods to provide them comfort, safety, a sense of justice and to answer the big questions like “what is the purpose of life” or “where did we come from”.
4) There is evidence that could suggest that there is not a loving in-control God. Natural disasters and natural paradoxes like the most fertile soil is often volcanic or in a flood plain with a greater chance of exposure to natural disasters.
5) The behaviour of believers against those outside their faith or even at times within their faith. Wars and terrorists acts in the name of religion.
Questions:
1) What are the main differences between atheists and agnostics?
2) Elaborate on three reasons why atheists and agnostics do not believe in God, write 1 paragraph for each reason.