Transcript World Religions

World Religions
What is Religion?
• "Religion consists in a set of things which the
average man thinks he believes and wishes he
was certain of." ~ Mark Twain
• "Relation of human beings to God or the gods or
to whatever they consider sacred or, in some
cases, merely supernatural." ~ Britannica
Concise Encyclopedia (online, 2006)
Why is learning about religion
important?
• It is something that nearly all humans share in
common.
• It has helped shape history, the present, and will
impact our future
- The Jewish faith and people have been attacked
throughout history
- The Islamic faith is under attack around the world
How does the basis of religion impact
all people both religious and secular?
• In all corners of the world and in all eras of
history, people have wondered about the
meaning of life, how to make the best of it, what
happens afterwards, and if there is anyone or
anything "out there."
How many
different world
religions exist
today?
over 40 faiths
It includes sects and
denominations (like
Baptists and Zen) along
with major religions
(like Christianity or
Buddhism).
Why does the topic of religion deserve
respect?
• Under the Canadian Charter or Rights and
Freedoms, every person is guaranteed religious
freedom
• Personal beliefs deserve respect
• Religion has helped to shape the world
• Religions have the power to create a better world
by influencing its members
How can religion be used negatively?
• Used to justify negative actions such as:
- War
- Persecution of other religions
- Colonization of land
- The enslavement of human beings
How can religion be used against
people?
• The persecution of Muslims has been
justified with religion
- Many have argued that Islam preaches violence
and terrorism, but this is untrue
- France, Belgium and the Netherlands have
specific bans on face-covering dress, such as the
Islamic niqab or burqa.
- The US is attempting to block Muslims from
entering US