Humanities 8

This week in Humanities was an overview of world religions. We looked at four questions:

1. What is religion?

2. Why study it?

3. How are religions similar?

4 How are religions different?

Religions: A force of change

What is religion? 

It is generally defined as the service and adoration of a god or gods as expressed in the form of worship. Religions influence the values and behaviour of individual people and society as a whole.

Religions usually attempt to answer the “big” questions, such as: Why do we exist; What is true and real; How did the universe begin; How does life end; Is there immortality; What is right and wrong; Why do things happen the way they do.

So why study it?

Because it is a part of all cultures and history, a study of it helps us to:

- understand differences between nations and cultures;

- see similarities in views of the world;

- appreciate our own beliefs by seeing them alongside those of others;

- relate one religion to another;

- keep from being superior by expanding our points of view and understanding.

How Religions are Similar

• Most have a belief in a power greater than humankind, which is the source of life
• Most have a holy place to which people make pilgrimages, i.e., Mecca, Vatican
• Most have holy writings, i.e., Bible, Qur’an
• Most have a few important people, i.e. prophets, missionaries, who are revered
• Most have a set of symbols, i.e., crosses, stars, etc.
• Most have a place of worship, i.e., church, temple, etc.
• Most have a belief in a “golden rule,” i.e., do unto others, goodwill towards man etc.

How Religions are Different

• Most differ in their idea of sin or evil
• Most differ in their idea of salvation
• Most differ in their idea of priesthood
• Most differ in their idea of a personal god

There are hundreds of different religions in the world, but some of the major world religions include: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

Using some of the information students learned, they were to make up their own religion and present it in a brochure. The following information should be included in their project:

1. Name of religion and a symbol 
2. How and why your religion began
3. The five basic beliefs of your religion
4. The structure of your religion (who leads it? who are the helpers?)
5. Illustrations and information about your religions place of worship
6. A paragraph on why the world needs your religion
7. Written presentation (colour, spelling, punctuation, layout and design)

 Total marks: 35 (5 marks per category)