The classification of religions

TODAY WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT…
The classification of religions
The content of religions in general
The religious communities
Aims and activities
Priesthoods’ constituents
Complex religions
Diverse forms
Traditional places of worship
Their decorations
Essential elements in the design (Christianity)
Primary events, holidays, festivals
The pilgrimage: places to go
Non-believers

THE CLASSIFICATION OF RELIGIONS
Primal religions
Pre-Christian
Modern tribal
Universal religions
Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Buddhism

THE CONTENT OF RELIGIONS IN GENERAL
Beliefs
Religious practice

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Aims and activities
Getting together to practise/attend worship
Making prayers and praying
Singing hymns
Seeking blessing, healing, salvation
Making confessions
Offering sacrifices to God/ to a god
Gathering in the congregations
Customs, rituals and rites observations
Listening to sermons read by preachers

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES (2)
Priesthoods’ constituents
Church services are led by:
nuns (convents)
monks
(monasteries)

COMPLEX RELIGIONS

TRADITIONAL PLACES OF WORSHIP

PRIMARY EVENTS, HOLIDAYS, FESTIVALS
Advent and Christmas
Lent and Easter
Ramadan

THE PILGRIMAGE: PLACES TO GO
Bethlehem
Jerusalem
Mecca
Mount Sinai

NON-BELIEVERS
Secularism – a system of social organization which keeps out all forms of religion
Atheists
Sciences and human abilities only