This document discusses various aspects of religion including its key characteristics, functions in society, differences between religion and magic, and theories on the origins of religion. It also provides overviews of several major world religions including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and discusses the ideology and role of religion in modern society.

1. RELIGION
Prof. M. Lakshmipathi Raju

2. ∗ Belief in Supernatural being
Characteristics:
∗ Sacred, Holy
∗ Fear, Happiness
∗ Rituals
∗ Moral Implication
Religion

3. ∗ Rituals – Religious Behaviour
∗ Beliefs- Faith
∗ Organization – Mechanism
Three Aspects:

4. ∗ Discipline
∗ Integration
∗ Cohesive Function
∗ Social wellbeing
∗ Means of control
∗ Moral Standards
Functions:

5. ∗ Belief in Supernatural power
∗ To control this power
∗ To manipulate supernatural power
∗ Exorcist performs rituals
∗ Black magic, white power
Black Magic
∗ Uses magic power
∗ For evil purpose
White Magic
∗ Use magic for well-being
Magic

6. Religion Magic
Superior power by prayer – to coerce superior power
Public Secret
Respected Fear
Practices. Prayers With Charms
Difference between Religion and Magic

7. Magic
∗ Pseudo science (false science)
∗ Wrong assumption
∗ Deals with super natural
Science
∗ Cause, effect relationship
∗ Empirical facts
∗ Deals with natural
∗ Observation, experiment
Magic and Science

8. ∗ Emerged from idea and soul
∗ All objects inhabited by spirits
∗ All activities caused by spirits
∗ Soul after death transmigrated
∗ These spirits worshipped
Theories of origin of Religion

9. ∗ To control nature
∗ Powers to control nature superior
∗ Evolution in sequence
∗ Magic stage, religious stage, scientific stages
Naturalism by Max Muller
∗ Nature surprising
∗ This surprise led to worship
Magic by JG Frazer

10. ∗ Belief – descended from them
∗ Totem– objects
∗ Collective representations
∗ Totem – treated as sacred
∗ Collective consciousness
∗ Ceremonies, rituals bind people
Totemism by Emile Durkheim

11. Fetishism
∗ Revered object – has power
∗ Worship of fetishes
∗ A leaf or stone
∗ Among pre literate people
Superstition
∗ Irrational belief – omen, sorcery, etc.,
∗ Followed by many
∗ Becomes religious practice

12. Christianity
∗ Christ as Prophet
∗ Monotheistic
∗ Faith in Jesus, service, love Neighbours
∗ Ten commandment's
Hinduism
∗ Dates back, thousands of year
∗ Polytheistic, several gods
∗ Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha
∗ Moksha [salvation]
∗ Four ashrams of life
Prominent Religions

13. Islam
∗ 7th
century – Prophet Mohammad
∗ Monotheistic, one god
∗ Surrender to will of god- Allah
∗ Quran – revelation of god
Buddhism
∗ 4th
century BC
∗ Four noble truths
∗ Suffering, cause of suffering, (desire)
∗ Nirvana – remove cause of suffering
∗ Eight fold path

14. ∗ 24 Thirthankaras
∗ Rishabadev- first
∗ 24th
– Mahavir
∗ Jain delivered from JIN (conquer)
∗ Three gems – right path, right knowledge right conduct
∗ Jain believe in soul, karma, cycle of birth
Sikhism
∗ Guru Nanak teachings
∗ Guru Govind Singh
Jainism

15. ∗ Beliefs, rituals
∗ Supernatural - god, heaven, hell
∗ Mode of worship – holy texts, philosophy
∗ Victory of good over evil
Ideology of Religion

16. ∗ Values of nationality
∗ Secularism
∗ Religion –undergone change
∗ Cause of strife
∗ Communal violence
∗ International terrorism
∗ Notorious activities
Modern society