English Language Training lesson3.ppt

English Language Training Chery International Lesson Three Significance of religion in Western Culture What is Religion? Peoples attempt to understand the world People attempt to understand how they should behave People try to understand randomness and death Even today religion Addresses questions that science does not Religion has also been used as a way to control people Effect of Religion Religion has brought peace and meaning to millions of peoples lives. It has inspired people to perform great acts of good. But It has divided people Caused many wars And has been the driving force behind many inhuman acts. History of Western Religions Many early religions worshipped natural forces and had many Gods. For example the Greek and Roman Gods. Each God represented an aspect of life which was important to the people at the time. This tradition continues in a limited way in Christianity with the idea of saints. Worship of Female God Other religions worshipped “Mother Earth”. Especially worshipping fertile woman as the givers of life and by extension the earth as giver of life This worship of a female figure continued in Greek and Roman tradition in the worship of Diana. When Christianity spread a central female figure was needed so the figure of the virgin Mary or Madonna became central. Idea of One God The idea of one God has been around for 1000s of years before Jesus. It was included in the Iranian religion Zoroastrianism which influenced other religions and still exists today. But the Jewish tradition had most influence in spreading this idea. Abrahamic Religions These Are Judaism Christianity Islam Beliefs One God who is a divine creator Belief in profits. Belief in life after death. Key Events in History of Abrahamic Religions Moses Leads the Israelites out of Egypt and Founds Israel 1100BC Israel becomes part of the Roman Empire 63 BC Jesus is born ~0 AD killed ~32AD Jesuss followers remove many Jewish customs from the religion. Paul is converted and sp