RELIGION

*LEIG“TO BIND”

LATIN: RELIGIO“CAREFUL PERFORMANCE OF RITUAL OBLIGATION”

GREEK: EUSEBIALATIN: PIETAS

“FULFILLING SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS, EXPECTATIONS, AND RITUAL PROCEDURES”

SANSKRIT: DHARMA

“THE COSMIC SYSTEM OF DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS THAT AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS

OF SAMSARA (THE CYCE OF REBIRTHS)”

ARABIC: DIN“AN ACTUAL DEBT THAT MUST BE

SETTLED ON A SPECIFIC DATE”

WHAT DO WE DO WITH “RELIGION?”

HOW DO WE STUDY CULTURES/SOCIETIES WITHOUT

“RELIGION?”

THE HISTORY OF “RELIGION” IN EUROPE

The Reformation and Wars of Religion

Le massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy by François Dubois, (1572-84).

The New World

NATURAL RELIGION• IS RELIGION INNATE OR UNIVERSAL?

• HOW DOES NATURAL RELIGION RELATE TO REVELATION?

• IS NATURAL RELIGION TRUE RELIGION?

Jean Bodin (1530-1596)

THE NATURAL RELIGION IS THE

OLDEST RELIGION

Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury(1583-1648)

UNIVERSAL ESSENTIALS OF RELIGION:

1. BELIEF IN GOD2. WORHISP OF GOD3. VITURE & PIETY4. CRIMES MUST BE

REPENTED5. JUDGEMENT IN THE

AFTERLIFE

The Deists

St. Lawrence Jewry, Guildhall Yard in Central London. Christopher Wren, architect.

THE DEISTSUSE YOUR REASON TO

DISCOVER NATURAL RELIGION

David Hume (1711-1776)

THERE IS NO NATURAL RELIGION.

RELIGION IS A HUMAN FACT.

RELIGION ARISES FROM SENSE EXPERIENCES.

POLYTHEISM COMES FIRST.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR “RELIGION” IN THE UNITED STATES?