1. Unit OneThe Religious Response Living Religions

2. The Nature of Reality Are humans religious? What is the Ultimate Reality or the Sacred? Where do we get the word religion from? Copyright © 1995-2011. Pearson Education. Used by permission.

3. Dimensions of Religions Ninian Smart notes seven dimensions of religion. Ritual (repeated and predictable worship-ful actions) Narrative and mythic (the first order discourse) Copyright © 1995-2011. Pearson Education. Used by permission.

4. Dimensions of Religions Experiential and emotional (religious experience, feelings of guilt, dread, awe, devotion, etc.) Social and institutional (group dimensions involving shared beliefs, identity, membership) Copyright © 1995-2011. Pearson Education. Used by permission.

5. Dimensions of Religions Ethical and legal (rules concerning human behavior) Doctrinal and philosophical (systematic belief structure and intellectual framework) Copyright © 1995-2011. Pearson Education. Used by permission.

6. Dimensions of Religions Material things (things and places representing or manifesting the sacred) Copyright © 1995-2011. Pearson Education. Used by permission.

7. Why Are There Religions? In Many cultures and times Religion: the basic foundation of life Why are there religions? How have various thinkers sought to explain the origin and continuation of religion throughout human history? How do the different examples of explanations of religion help us understand and refine our own approach to the study of religion?

8. Materialistic perspective: humans inventedreligion Religion exists in our imaginations Religion is bad for people Humans created religion Ludwig Feuerbach Humans have turned desires and fears into gods Sigmund Freud Religion is like childhood neurosis Karl Marx An opiate of the masses