What is Religion?

people’s relationship to the unseen world of spirits, gods, ancestors and demons

a system of myths about the unseen world and rituals designed for commuting with or propitiating the spirits

developed system of organised rituals, temples, priests and scriptures

large following

code of conduct/moral order

Why study religion?

interest

understand the world

understand politics

source of conflict

understanding other people, cultures

understanding so peace can come

How do you study religion?

historical

literary

anthropological

archeological

sociological

pyschological

Types of Religion

Basic religion - religions of contemporary people whose religious ideas are not preserved in written form or may not have highly organised institutions and the religions of past people’s which we may know little

Orientating in: India/China/Japan/Middle East