Introduction

    Religion drives people; it fuels belief in many countries and places around the world.  What exactly is religion?  Is it a heritage, a culture or a personal belief?  Across this website you will read about major (and some not so major) religions around the world.  We as a group believe that religion, our own and that of others, is important, but more important is understanding others’ religions.  When we understand how others think and feel we can get a better perspective on where people are coming from.  We hope that with understanding we can make the world a better place.

About the Authors Recipes

What is religion?

 Religion is based on beliefs of a specific person or the teachings of a specific people.  Most religions inspire worship together and try to represent an ideal way of life.  Among the major religions that will be presented here are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism, and Taoism.
 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have had tremendous influence on Western culture as well as Middle East culture.  Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Confucianism, and Taoism shaped Asia.

Characteristics of Religion

 What do most religions have in common?  They have:

· Belief in a supreme being
Many religions are “polytheistic” meaning they believe in many gods.  Some are “monotheistic” meaning they believe in only one god.  There are also people who believe that no god exists.  They are called “atheists”, but those who do believe that a god exists, but are skeptical, are called “agnostic”.

· A doctrine of salvation
This is a feeling that we are in danger and need to be saved spiritually, this way you will find happiness in life.

· A code of conduct
A code of conduct teaches followers how to behave and get along with others.

· Sacred stories
Stories are important because they teach the religion, its beginnings and influences around the world, and reasons for events that occur.  Some may be true, or based on science, or just symbolic.

· Specific acts, rituals and ceremonies relating to that religion
This describes how people practice their religion.
· Writings, known as scriptures such as the Bible, Torah, Koran, or Vedas
· Unwritten customs or traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation

How did religion get started?

 There are anthropologists that believe that religion goes as far back as 60,000 years or more, even as far back as the first humanoids, around 2 million years ago.  It came out of a need to explain the world around them, how nature works, thunderstorms, earthquakes, sunrise, childbirth, and even death.  An example would be putting items and tools of a prehistoric person in their grave when that person died.  Or another example would be finding prehistoric drawings of fertility and women or men wishing for a good hunt.