Polytheistic Religions What are the purposes of religions?

Polytheistic Religions

What are the purposes of religions?

POLYTHEISMWhat does it mean?

Polytheism exists throughout the

world

•Japan?

•Africa?

•India?

Can you name the polytheistic religion

for each region/country?

Polytheism exists

throughout the world

•Japan?Shinto

•Africa?Animism

•India?Hinduism

Can you name the polytheistic religion

for each region/country?

Shinto (think Japan)

• Shinto = “way of the gods”

• Fragmented country

• What does this mean?

• Clans worshipped own nature gods

• Varied customs/beliefs evolved into earliest religion

Main Principles

• Respect forces of nature

• Worship ancestors

• KAMI divine spirits that lived in nature

• Remind anyone of a blockbuster movie recently?

Animism - Africa

• Local/tribal religion

• Spirits regulate daily life

• Spirits present in…• Animals

• Plants

• Nature

• Souls of ancestors

Hinduism

Main Ideas

• Based in India• 15% of the world!

• Reincarnation

• Enlightenment

• Based on the caste system• Social ranking system

• Born into rank

• Created by the Aryans

• Holy book = the Vedas

Largest Hindu Temple in Delhi, IndiaWhat do you notice about the temple?

Main ideas continued…

• Believe in nonviolence

• Meditation

• Goal is to achieve moksha • Perfect understanding of all

things

• Hundreds of Gods:• Big 3

• Brahma (creator)

• Vishnu (preserver)

• Shiva (destroyer)

Hinduism is dominated by the caste system

What is the purpose of social hierarchies?

Different Social Rankings in the Caste

SystemBrahmins: Scholars/Priests class –

Educated elite and performed religious rituals

Kshatriyas: King/Warrior class

Vaisyas: Trader class

Sudras: Farmer/Artisan class

Untouchables: “Dalits”, outside of the social pyramid

Effects of the Caste SystemYour caste determined who you could eat with, the work they did,

whom they could marry

• Are there hierarchies at Shaker? What are they? How do they influence your life?

• Are there hierarchies in society? What are they? How do they influence peoples’ lives?

Shaker and Society

• Grade

• Level (AP, H, R, B)

• Social cliques

• Athletics

• Clothing

• Adult rankings?

• Profession

• Income

• Age

• Sex

• Race

Social MobilityHow do you change your position in

society?

Q: What is the goal of a Hindu?

A: Reach enlightenment and end reincarnation.

Q: How do you move up the caste system?

A: Acquire good karma – this influences one’s caste, health, wealth, etc.

Q: How do you reach enlightenment?

A: Acquiring good karma, moving up the caste system through rebirths and then achieving moksha

Spread of Hinduism – How would it spread?