RLG100Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Homo Sapiens, Bon Festival, Taoism
Document Summary
Fundamental concepts to religion: powerful gods, sacred places, a life of some kind after death, the presence in the physical world of spirits that interact with humans in various ways. Sky= home of the greatest deities (sun, stars, storms led early humans to believe that heavenly bodies were animated in the sky) Underworld= home of evil (cobras, serpents because they were associated with dark places they were seen as evil) Sacred = the place closest to sky is sacred. Attribute animals spirits to members of family with a collective guardian spirit. Belief that deceased ancestors can play a role in the living members of their families is widespread example; halloween, obon, day of the dead. Living were willing to sacrifice important resources to help the dead in the afterlife. Religion answers questions we have asked since humans existed. 10 waves of religion: shamanism: a person who acts as a intermediary between humans and spirit world.
