Download religious dimension in human history

Identify the following expressions of the religious dimension in
human history: Animism, Polytheism and Monotheism.
Animism
Complete the following summary points using the words in the box below.
respect , communities, today , wandering, inhabits , rituals , origins , world , soul, natural,
govern, intervenes , creation, physical, shamans, feature, Australian, scholars













Animism, in its simplest form is the idea that all living things have a _________.
Animism is the term coined by Edward Tylor as a proposed theory of the ____________ of
religion
Animism is the belief that all _________________objects are endowed with a spirit or soul,
known as "animae"
This soul is understood to exist independently of the natural object it _______________
These spirits were believed to _______________the day-to-day activities of the natural world
Since all natural objects had souls, every part of ___________________had to treat every other
part of creation with __________________
In some animistic societies, it is believed that the soul can survive ________________ death
After physical death, some ______________________________believed that the soul became a
wandering ghost that actively ________________________in the day-to-day lives of people who
are still alive
Other communities believed that the soul moved onto a more fertile_________________, where
vegetation and game were plentiful
Animistic cultures had priests, known as ____________________who performed
_______________________ to appease these _______________________________souls
Animism is still a key ___________________ of some communities today
For example, animistic thought still features in the ______________________Aboriginal, the
Melanesian, Polynesian, the Micronesian and the Native American Indian cultures of
_________________
Tylor's theory, though it was influential during the nineteenth century, has been largely rejected
by __________________today
Polytheism
Complete the following summary points using the words in the box below.
Aztec , Multiple, Hindu, personal , position, embody , developed, deities, immortal ,
omnipotent, powers, ancient, entities




Polytheism is the belief in and worship of _______________________gods or deities
Examples of polytheistic religious practice can be found in the Greco-Roman cultures, as well as
in the_____________, Norse, ________________, Egyptian and Sumerian traditions
Though this theory has been disputed, it is generally believed, that polytheism
__________________________ from animism
One typical characteristic of polytheistic religious systems is that its _______________________
resemble human beings in the sense that they have their own personalities, hold grudges
against other gods, and have a _________________history







Another common feature of polytheistic religious systems is that polytheistic divinities are
rarely omniscient, ______________________and omnipresent
Polytheistic deities are usually assigned jurisdictional____________________, which are directly
linked with their particular skill or talent
Gods of the polytheistic religious system are generally___________________, and hence are
often referred to as the " Immortals"
Polytheistic religious systems are usually highly stratified, which each god being given their
own _____________________within this hierarchy
Most ___________________ religions were polytheistic, and even today some tribal cultures and
religions have remained polytheistic
Hard polytheists conceive of their gods as being distinct and separate ______________
Soft polytheism is the belief that all the different gods ___________________ a particular facet of
a unitary, singular god or reality
Monotheism
Complete the following summary points using the words in the box below.
One, cultures ,Christianity, Deism , works, traditions, pantheism , developed, moral ,
disputed, omnipotent, intervenes , creation, rejects, equates, intrinsically










Monotheism is the belief that there is only ________ god
The term monotheism is best used to describe the religious system adopted by the three
major monotheistic traditions, _________________, Islam and Judaism
Traces of monotheistic thought can also be found in the ____________of Greek
antiquity, in _______________ such as ancient Egypt and in _____________________
such as Zoroastrianism
It is generally believed that monotheism _______________________from polytheism,
though this theory has been ____________________
The god of monotheistic religious systems is usually depicted as
an____________________ , omniscient and omnipresent being
Generally, this divine being is credited with the _____________________of the universe,
and is responsible for giving humankind its ______________code
_____________and ____________________ are two varying forms of monotheism
Deism affirms the notion that there is only one god , but _________________the idea
that god actively ______________________in human history
Pantheism _______________god with the universe
Therefore, pantheists believe that every part of creation is _________________________ a
result of god's activities on earth
Answer the following short answer response and submit for marking:
Using examples, explain the meaning of the terms animism, polytheism and monotheism. (5
marks) - 150 words
http://studiesofreligion.org.au/members/resource/12_religion_%20nonreligion/index.html
Sample Responses
Using examples, explain the meaning of the terms animism, polytheism and monotheism. (5
marks) - 150 words
Animism is the doctrine that all natural things have souls. For example, many prehistoric huntergatherer communities believed that all natural objects from animals to hailstorms, to rivers and
mountains had a soul. This soul was believed to control the activities of both animate and inanimate
objects. These spirits or souls were revered because of their control over the natural world.
Polytheism is the belief and worship of multiple divinities. For example, the texts of classical antiquity
such as the Iliad and the Odyssey is a record of the power struggles which took place, the hierarchical
nature of the Greek cosmic world, and the personalities and idiosyncrasies of the Greek gods. Unlike
the God of the Judaic-Christian tradition, the polytheistic gods of the Norse, Egyptian, Graeco-Roman
and Chinese cultures were rarely all powerful and all knowing. Rather they had their own particular
skills and talents, and their own genealogy and personalities.
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one god, and one god only. Hence, Islam, Judaism and
Christianity can be described as monotheistic religions. This singular god is usually depicted as being
omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. This high god is usually credited with creating the world,
and for giving humankind a moral code to follow.
http://studiesofreligion.org.au/members/resource/12_religion_%20nonreligion/index.html
Evaluate the place of the religious dimension in human history to provide:
Meaning and purpose for the individual







Human experience is characterised by a search for answers to the big questions of life, which are known
as the key religious questions
The most significant of these questions relate to the origin (where did we come from?), purpose (why are
we here?) and destiny (what happens to us when we die?) of humankind
The answers provided through religion understanding give meaning and coherence to life
One significant role of religion is to provide life with meaning, and hence a sense of overall consistency
and direction in a world that is constantly changing
During times of crises for example, religion is particularly uplifting because it provides life with a sense
of purpose , and a framework upon which to understand life
The ritualistic dimension of religion provides individuals with one of the most basic needs of humankind,
a sense of belonging within a community
Religion can also serve to reinforce the cultural identity of a group, which is particularly important when
the group consists of small ethnic minorities or people who have been socially marginalised by
mainstream society
Social cohesion



Religion has an important role in affirming traditional beliefs and practices
Religion provides communities with a sense of continuity as it serves to link the rapidly changing,
complex modern society with a more traditional and stable past
The downside of religion as a force of social cohesion is that religion can also used to reinforce and
legitimise values and institutions, which may be unjust eg. Slavery
Social transformation





Paradoxically, whilst religion is a force of social cohesion it can also serve as a force of social
transformation
Religion can be used as a tool for criticising the structures, customs and beliefs of its own societies
The importance of working towards a just and peaceful society is integral to the message of all major
religious traditions
Historically, religious groups have played a significant role in advocating and campaigning for social
justice and equality
Today religious groups can be seen at the forefront of campaigns, which seek to address issues such as
poverty, environmental degradation, global conflict, economic inequality, indigenous rights and
unemployment
Using examples, discuss how the religious dimension in human history has contributed to social
transformation. (5 marks) - 150 words
History is evidence of the fact that religion can be used as a vehicle for social transformation. In the past, religious
groups have been active on issues such as ecological sustainability, indigenous rights, gender equality and
economic inequality. The religious dimension of human history has had a long history of counter-cultural
criticism of the inequalities created by the status quo. For example, traditionally religious groups have advocated
the reform of the economic structures of society, in order to decrease the rates of poverty in society. It should be
remembered however, that whilst religion is a vehicle of social transformation, religion is also often used as to
reaffirm and legitimize the very structures that it also criticises. Thus, the paradox is, that the transformative role
of religion in society is to some extents, tempered by the fact that it also reinforces the traditional institutions of
society such as slavery and racial inequality.
http://studiesofreligion.org.au/members/resource/12_religion_%20nonreligion/index.html
Investigate statistical data of the current global distribution of the 5
major religious traditions
Buddhism













Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in approximately 500 BCE
Buddhism began as an offshoot of its mother religion, Hinduism
Buddhism began in the Ganges Plain
King Asoka sent out missionaries to spread the word of the Buddha in the 5 th century BCE
which resulted in the spread of Buddhism to Central Asia, Burma and Sri Lanka
From the 3 rd to the 5 th century CE Mahayana Buddhism became firmly rooted in China
In the 4 th century CE Mahayana Buddhism spread to Korea
In the 5 th century CE Mahayana Buddhism spread to Japan
In the 8 th century CE Buddhism spread to Tibet
By 1500 CE Buddhism had spread to Mongolia
Today Mahayana Buddhism is mainly located in Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, Vietnam and in
some parts of India and Russia
Today Theravada Buddhism is mainly located in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and
Thailand
Buddhism is steadily growing from a small base in Western countries
The 10 largest national populations of Buddhism are: (in descending order) China, Japan,
Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, India, South Korea and Taiwan
Christianity












During the life of Jesus of Nazareth, (founder of Christianity) and in the immediate aftermath of
his death the Jesus movement was largely restricted to the Roman province of Palestine and to
the immediate surrounding areas
Paul of Tarsus ( Saint Paul), who is typically regarded as the second founder of Christianity,
assisted Christianity to move out of its Judaic-Palestinian confines by formalising the religion,
and providing Christianity with an infrastructure
Christianity grew as an underground movement that faced intermittent persecution in the
Roman Empire up to the 4 th century CE
Under the patronage of Emperor Constantine, Christianity became a state religion in the 4 th
century
As a result of this, Christianity began to thrive and grow rapidly in the Roman Empire
The Great Schism of 1054 formalised a division between Western Christianity and Eastern
Orthodoxy
Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe during the Middle Ages as a result of
missionaries who were sent out to convert local European tribes who were seen as barbaric
The Reformation of the 16 th century, split Western Christianity into the Catholic Church and
the Protestant Churches
The age of European colonisation from the 15 th century onwards saw the spread of
Christianity to Asia, Africa and North America
Christianity is the largest religion in the world today
The 10 largest national populations of Christianity are: (in descending order) USA, Brazil,
Mexico, Philippines, China, Russia, India, Nigeria, Germany and Zaire/Congo
There is a clear trend in the recent development of Christianity which points to its steady
decline in the Western world and its rapid growth in Asia, Africa and Latin America
Hinduism







Hinduism began in the Punjab region 4000 years ago
The vast majority of the Hindu's in the world are found in India and surrounding areas
The 10 largest national populations of Hinduism are: (in descending order) India, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia, USA, South Africa and Burma
(Myanmar)
Hinduism is largely restricted to the Indian sub-continent
Hindus are generally located in the Indian subcontinent because Hinduism is largely dependant
upon the Indian cultural environment for its existence
Another reason as to why Hinduism is largely restricted to the Indian subcontinent is that
Hinduism lacks the doctrine of self propagation, unlike the other major religious traditions
Furthermore, the diverse nature of Hinduism works against the possibility of its spreading
easily with a single recognisable doctrine
Islam











Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE in Madinah
Within a century or two of its establishment, Islam had spread to Palestine, Syria, Persia,
Damascus, Persia, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain which it dominated
until the Middle Ages
The Crusades which occurred between the 11 th and 13 th centuries facilitated the spread of
Islam into Europe
By the 10 th century CE, Islam had moved into Western Africa, China and India
By the 14 th century CE, Islam was firmly cemented in Indonesia and Malaysia
During the 19 th century, as a result of the efforts of missionaries, more people were converted
to Islam on the African continent
Many Muslims were resettled to Western countries such as the US and the UK in the post
World War II period
Islam is the fastest growing religion of the five major world religions today
Islam is the second largest religion in the world today
Islam is remaining strong in its traditional areas such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and is
also growing steadily in Western countries
The 10 largest national populations of Muslims are: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia,
Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco
Judaism








Jewish history is marked by a series of persecutions and exiles
From the time it began to the Middle Ages, as a result of centuries of persecution the Jewish
people came to be scattered across Europe and the Middle East
Many Jews migrated to the US in the 20 th century
During World War II, Hitler's Nazi Party sought to destroy the Jewish population of Europe
As a result of this attempted genocide, known as the holocaust, approximately 6 million
European Jews died
In 1948 the United Nations sponsored the reformation of the Jewish state of Israel in Palestinian
territories
It is often difficult to obtain precise figures about the numbers of Jews living in any given area
This is because Jews fear religious persecution and hence are reluctant to divulge their religious
identity
http://studiesofreligion.org.au/members/resource/12_religion_%20nonreligion/index.html
Identify and account for the location of major Jewish communities in the world today. (5
marks) - 150 words
The 3 major global regions where significant numbers of Jews are located are: the Americas,
Europe, and the Middle East. The US and Israel are the two largest centres of Jews in the
world. Many Jews are also located in Europe , in the countries of France , Britain and
Germany.
Many Jews are located in Europe as a result of the early Jewish history of persecutions by
groups such as the Romans, the Babylonians, and the Assyrians who sent the Jews into exile.
The 10 largest national populations of Jews in the world are: (in ascending numerical order):
USA, Israel, France, Argentina, Palestine, Canada, Brazil, Britain, Russia and Germany.
There are a significant number of Jews in the US because during the 20th century the US
permitted a large number of Jews to migrate there, and granted them American citizenship.
The reason behind the large number of Jews in Israel is that Judaism started in the ancient land
of Israel, which was known in the past, as the Promised Land of Canaan. Following the
genocide of Jews by Hitler's Nazi Party in World War II the United Nations assisted to set up a
Jewish homeland in this ancient land of Canaan in 1948. The establishment of a Jewish home
state greatly assisted to increase the global population of Jews.
http://studiesofreligion.org.au/members/resource/12_religion_%20nonreligion/index.html