Indigenous religions typically believe in a creator god or gods that made the earth and humans. They view humans as connected to all life and nature. Both good and evil spiritual forces are believed to impact people and events. The goal is to maintain right relationships with creator gods and spirits through practices like dance and rituals. Some indigenous groups believe in an afterlife while others do not. They have seasonal celebrations and observe death through various rituals depending on their culture.

1. Religion
Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe
Nature of God/Creator
View of Human Nature
View of Good and Evil
View of “Salvation”
View of After Life
Practices and Rituals
Celebrations and Festivals
Week 1
Indigenous Peoples
Most indigenous peoples have creation stories where they
believe the Creator or Great Father in the Sky made the earth,
the animals and all humans, e.g., the union of Sky Father and
Earth Mother. Fisher, 2014, p. 36
Indigenous religions are typically polytheistic and pantheistic,
involving a belief that the divine is manifested throughout the
physical realm, often involving a supreme god, e.g., Great
Spirit. They believe the dark gods of the spirit world are the
ones to be afraid of or to placate. Indigenous peoples believe in
the importance of maintaining a right relationship with the
creator god and the numerous gods governing natural
phenomena and forces. Fisher, 2014, p. 40
Indigenous peoples consider themselves connected to all forms
of life due to their pantheistic world view. They acknowledge a
Circle of Right Relationships, requiring them to respectively
cultivate and maintain order among all forms of life and the
natural order. Humans are seen as capable of good or bad and
under the influence of curses, vows, incantations, or evil spirits.
In this sense, they may be animistic. Many have a special
shaman or witch doctor who is supposed to help them connect to
the spirit world. Fisher, 2014, pp. 34-36, 39 – 52.
Indigenous peoples recognize that both benevolent and
malevolent forces exist in the spiritual realm. These forces can

2. have an impact upon individuals, circumstance and events in the
physical world.
Good and evil are seen as forces that compete for dominance in
a person and in the world. Sometimes there is an ethnocentric
idea that ‘our’ group is the good one and all outsiders are ‘bad’.
This idea can lead to wars and conflicts. Fisher, 2014, pp. 41,
44 – 46, 51 - 52
The idea of the path or the way or a lifeway is their main idea
of salvation. It is the path to the good. This idea is closely
aligned with a responsibility for nature and this world,
connected with the idea of the Circle of Right Relationships and
the holistic connection among all things in the natural world.
Oneness with nature is for some seen as a goal of life. Others
see ‘salvation’ as surviving and not being defeated by the dark
spirits, thus having a long life. Fisher, 2014, pp. 39 - 48
Many indigenous peoples acknowledge a spiritual existence in
the afterlife, evidenced by rituals and practices surrounding
ancestor veneration. Some groups have a notion of an afterlife,
but others do not. For example, some Native American groups
believe in a “Happy Hunting Ground’ or that one goes to be
with the ancestors and/or the Great Spirit. Many indigenous
peoples are terrified of death and use their rituals to ward it off.
Fisher, 2014, pp.40 – 41, 53 - 55
Varies by country or group. Some have animal sacrifices or
smoke various substances in a ritualistic manner. Practices and
rituals may include a Sweat Lodge ceremony or a Vision Quest
among some Native Americans. Dance is often used to express
stories and tales of the tribe or group or the gods. Body
decoration, paint, garments and drums are often used in the
ritual dances. To placate the spirits, they may also cut
themselves or in some cases engage in cannibalism or
headhunting. An example: the Sawi people of New Guinea make
peace with an enemy by swapping infants between the tribes.
As long as the children live there will be peace between the two
tribes. One family per tribe agrees to take in the other child and
give up their own. Fisher, 2014, pp. 55 - 60

3. Varies by country or group. Some have celebrations tied to the
seasons of the year. Others have celebrations of victory in war
or at weddings. The birth of children is often a time of great
celebration. Death is universally observed in various ways
depending on the culture and local beliefs. The finding of good
prey when hunting would be a cause for celebration as well.
Some Indigenous peoples celebrate a first fruits or harvest
festival. Fisher, 2014, pp. 55 – 59.
Week 1
Sources
Fisher, M.P. (2014) Living Religions Pearson: Upper Saddle
River, NJ
text -www.godonthe.net/evidence/atribute.htm
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text - www.britannica.com/.../indigenous-religion
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Week 2
Hinduism and Jainism
(H)The Supreme God=Brahman.
(J) Scholars trace the beginning of Jainism to the 6th century
B.C.E. in northern India, one of several shramanic movements
there that arose in response to Vedism. Insiders to the tradition,
however, consider it to be eternal.
(H)Paramatma=The supreme soul, Brahma (Creator),
Vishnu/Krishna (Protect), Shiya/Mahesh (Destroyer).
(J) No creator

4. (J) Every sentient being has a soul mired in material karmic
particles that block its spiritual path. Action, particularly action
with attachment, attracts karma to the soul throughout
successive reincarnations. Karma must be burned off in order to
reach liberation.
(H) Evil=PAP having to return (84 million times) to get it right
or turn into another being and go through the same treatment
you dished out to someone or something else.
(J) The Jain view of God enables Jainism to explain the evil and
suffering that exists in the world without the intellectual
difficulties faced by religions that have an omnipotent, wholly
good, creator God at their heart.
Where religions such as Christianity find the problem of evil
one of their toughest tests, Jains use the existence of evil as a
reason for denying the existence of an omnipotent, wholly good,
Creator.
(H)Getting it right in life the first time so you won’t have to
come back.
(J) Following liberation one's jiva ascends to the apex of the
universe to join other siddhas.
(H)Atma going into the Paramatra.
(J) One can ascend to a heavenly realm due to good karmas
accrued, but must return to a human incarnation in order to
achieve final liberation
(H)Yoga, Puja, Fire Sacrifice, Pilgrimages, Fast Prayers

5. (J) Twelve limited vows, naked , white robs, ahimsa, pulling
hair out
(H)Deepawali, Holi, Durga Puja, Raksha Bandhan
Wk 2 sources
www.patheos.com
Class Text Book
Week 3
Buddhism
Buddhism originated in northern India in the 5th century B.C.E.
The tradition traces its origin to Siddhartha Gautama (or
Gotama), who is typically referred to as the Buddha (literally
the "Awakened" or "Enlightened One"). Siddhartha observed the
suffering in the world and set out to find an antidote.
No God or Gods
The wheel of life. Anatman
Kusala and Akusala budist ethics for good and evil
Salvation in early Buddhism was nirvana, the extinguishing of
the all karma that constitutes the self. Nirvana is not a place or
a state, but the end of rebirth.
Reincarnation and Karma, Freeing oneself from desire to assend
to Nirvana. After death you have to go through Bardos for 40
days to decide if you have rebirth or go to nirvana
Meditation, Devotional Practices, and Mahayana
Vesak, Vaisakha
Wk 3 sources

6. www.patheos.com
Week 4
Daoism and
Confucianism
(D) The influence of the Shamans in ancient China waned from
the beginning of the first millennium BCE. During this period
the great Lao Zi is supposed to have lived, and written the Dao
De Jing (Tao Te-Ching), the most important book of Daoist
wisdom
(C) Confucianism became the official ideology of China in 2nd
century B.C. The founder of Confucianism is Confucius (551–
479 B.C.).
(D)There no God but a higher being is Shangdi that’s takes on a
male form
(C) Confucius never claimed deity
(D) when human nature is aligned with the rest of nature, order
and harmony are the result. From this perspective, the purpose
of self-cultivation is to return to a mode of existence that is
natural, but has been obscured by social conditioning.
(C) Two main principles of Confucius:
Humans are good. Humans learn best from example. The great
need in every society is a model human being. Confucius called

7. this model person junzi. A structured society under a strong
dependable leader is best. Worldview of Confucianism is
Absolute. No specific teaching on the absolute.
(D) The Universe is neither good nor evil; it is beyond good and
evil—it just is. Trying to conquer nature or improve it is futile.
Daoism disagrees with Hinduism's and Buddhism's view that the
world is an illusion.
(D)Daoists often focus on harmony with the Dao in this life not
what happens in the next life.Some Daoists deny an afterlife or
are agnostic about it.Those who follow more religious aspects
of Daoism sometimes believe that the soul of a person can go to
a heaven or a hell.
(D)Exorcism, Funeral Rites, Cosmic Renewal Rites, Ying and
Yang
(C) Lacks sacraments and liturgy.
Spirit of unborn child protects mother.Mothers get one month of
rest after birth. At Death
Relatives cry out loud.Body is washed and put in a coffin.
Mourners bring incense and money.A Buddhist or Daoist priest
performs a burial ritual.
(C) The main holiday celebrated in Confucianism is the birthday
of Confucius, which is September 28. There is a festival held
each year to pay homage to the founder of Confucianism.
Although many people view Confucianism as a religion, it is

8. rather a system of societal and ethical philosophy
Wk 4 sources
(D) http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=145
(C) http://theologicalstudies.org/resource-library/world-
religions/426-confucianism
(D)In class
(D)http://www.patheos.com/Library/Beliefs/Human-Nature-and-
the-Purpose-of-Existence
(C) http://theologicalstudies.org/resource-library/world-
religions/425-daoism
(D)http://theologicalstudies.org/resource-library/world-
religions/425-daoism
Week 5
Shinto
During its early period, Shinto had no name, fixed doctrine,
moral precepts, or sacred writings.
Worship centers on kami– spirits that abide in natural objects
such as mountains, rocks, storms, heavenly bodies, etc.
In the 6th century AD, the name "Shinto" was created to
distinguish this religion from Buddhism and
ConfucianismShinto became overshadowed by Buddhism.
Buddhist priests became the custodians of Shinto shrines.
Until the 18th century, Buddhism dominated Shinto. In the 18th
century, Shinto was revived as the national religion of Japan.
Shinto is specifically and only a religion of Japan. Shinto means

9. "the way of the gods." Shinto goes back to ancient times. It has
no specific founder.
The sovereignty of the emperor rested in the view that he was a
descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, the founder
of Japan. Related beliefs included:
The Japanese were superior to other peoples because of their
descent from the gods.
The emperor was destined to rule over the entire world.
Shinto is concerned with the Japanese peoples rather than
humanity.
Humans are servants of family, state, and ancestors. To fail to
do what is best for these groups is considered disgraceful.
Problem for humans The problem is alienation.
Estrangement from kami.
Estrangement from family, ancestors, community, or emperor
through failure.
Solution
for humans The solution for humans is reconciliation.
At death, body is cremated.
The departed joins his or her ancestors.
Departed ancestors know what family is doing.
Departed can receive gifts from family members
Pilgrimages are important
Prayers of thanksgiving
Rites include:
Offerings of valuables, such as swords and armor.

10. Purification from crime and defilement.
Bushido Code – stressed loyalty of the warrior to his lord.
Should the warrior fail in his mission, he was required to
commit hara-kiri—ritual suicide.
Wk 5 sources
http://theologicalstudies.org/resource-library/world-
religions/427-shinto
Week 6
Judaism
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as the Patriarchs, are both the
physical and spiritual ancestors of Judaism. Abraham made the
Covenant with God and that’s how his name was changed from
Abram in Genesis to Abraham.
The history of Judaism begins with Abraham, who came to
believe in one Supreme Being God or Yahweh the supreme
deity. God has no form but is often referred to as a male in most
text. But God has no direct form.

11. Holy of Holy. Humans are not perfect. No human can be divine.
Humans have a direct line with God. Your soul is mutual and
the belief in freewill. Obedience to the Torah. All people have a
share in the world to come.
In Judaism we do not see it as there being a conflict between
good and evil. Some ancient religions believed that there are
two forces in the universe, one good and one evil, and that they
are constantly warring with each other.
Jews believe that God expects you to do the best you have with
what you have— including upbringing, innate abilities, and the
situations you find yourself in—and you have the power to
perfect yourself. Even on this relative scale, though, no one
wastes their entire potential, or fully utilizes every opportunity.
So, to whatever extent one does what they can, they enjoy its
effects in the World to Come.
Over the centuries a few possible descriptions of the afterlife
have been incorporated into Jewish thought. However there is
no definitively Jewish explanation for what happens after we
die.
Sabbath, Circumcision, marriage
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot
Wk 6 sources
In Class
In class. Course book page 249
In Class

12. http://www.beingjewish.com/faqs/conflict.html
http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/12-37.html
http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/Afterlife-In-
Judaism-Jewish-Beliefs.htm
In class
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/holidays
Week 7
Christianity
Christianity originated in the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth, who was born circa 4 B.C.E. in Roman-occupied
Palestine, a Jewish province of the Roman Empire.
Both the New and Old Testament declare there is only one God.
Not just one God for this universe, or many gods united in one
purpose, but one God. Both Judaism and Christianity are clearly
monotheistic. Two views of the origin of all things prevail
among men. One is that they were created by God, who is self-
existent, eternal and mysterious, a union of infinite life and
mind.
God created human beings in the divine image, enabling humans
to have some understanding of God and of God's vast and
complex design. The purpose of life is to love and serve God in
order to help bring about God's glorious plan for creation.
Christianity teaches that God hates sin and will punish the
transgressor. It is in the nature of humans to sin, so all people
risk separation from God, the source of all life and love. Cut off

13. from God, we suffer anxiety and despair in an insignificant and
unhappy life. We become hateful toward others and ourselves,
inflicting pain on each other and on the rest of creation.
Christians also believe that human existence does not end at
physical death. There is a world to come, and the consequences
of sin will follow humans there.
As the judge of all, God will assess each individual's
relationship to Christ; people risk a sentence of eternal
punishment and spiritual death, forever separated from God. A
great deal of Christian art and writing has vividly depicted the
grotesque torture and suffering of those damned to hell.
Baptism, Marriages, Eucharist
Christmas, Passover, Easter
Wk 7 sources
http://english.sdaglobal.org/evangelism/bibans/59orig1.htm
http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/what-does-christianity-say-
about-the-nature-of-god/
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity/Beliefs/Human-
Nature-and-the-Purpose-of-Existence
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity/Origins/Beginning
s
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity/Beliefs/Afterlife-
and-Salvation
http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity/Beliefs/Afterlife-
and-Salvation

14. Week 8
Islam
Wk 8 sources
Week 9
Sikhism

15. Wk 9 sources
Week 10
New Religious Movements

16. Wk 10 sources