Religion

Religion is a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and

practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates
humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements.

Sociology of religion
Sociology of religion is the study of the beliefs, practices and organizational forms of religion using the
tools and methods of the discipline of sociology.

THE ELEMENTS OF RELIGION

 BELIEF
Belief is some thing which is connected with your faith .It does not have any concern with
reasons. Example: Believe in God and judgment day.
 RITUAL
All religions in the world have some specific ceremonial days or event which people practices are
called rituals .
Example: Namaz, Eid, Christmas.
Emotions
Rituals produce emotions hope ,fear, respect which are quite important for the followers of the
religion.
 ORGANIZATION
Organization plays important role in the religion without organization a religion can not survive
in the world
 SACRED OBJECTS
Every religion have some sacred objects which they believe most important or given by Divine
example :Holy Book , Tasbeeh or Sleeb.

Types of Religions
Scholars from a variety of disciplines have strived to classify religions. One widely accepted
categorization that helps people understand different belief systems considers what or who people
worship (if anything). Using this method of classification, religions might fall into one of these basic
categories, as shown in the table below.
 Agnosticism

Agnosticism is the view that the truth of metaphysical claims regarding, in particular, the
existence of a god or gods, or even ultimate reality, is unknown and may be impossible to know.
One can be an agnostic as well as an atheist or religious believer.

 Atheism

Atheism describes a state of having no theistic beliefs; that is, no beliefs in gods or
supernatural beings.

 Baha'i

The Baha'i Faith began in Persia in 1844 with the declaration of a new religion,
distinctive from the Shi'a Islam found there. Key beliefs include belief in one God; the unity of
mankind; equality of opportunity for men and women; and elimination of prejudice.

 Buddhism

A way of living based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. The Five Precepts are the
basic rules of living for lay Buddhists – refrain from harming living beings; taking what is not
given; sexual misconduct; harmful speech; and drink or drugs which cloud the mind.

 Christianity

Based on the teaching of Jesus Christ. Christian groups differ in their interpretation of his
teaching, life, death and resurrection, but these matters are at the heart of the way of life of all of
them. 
 Humanism

Humanism is the belief that we can live good lives without religious or superstitious
beliefs. Humanists make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared human values
and aim to make the best of the life we have by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves.
Humanists work with others for the common good. [symbol © British Humanist Association].

 Hinduism

An ancient tradition of related beliefs and practices that developed in the Indian
subcontinent. Core ideals and values shared by most Hindus would include respect for elders;
reverence for teachers; regard for guests and tolerance of all races and religions. What Hindus
believe...

 Islam

Revealed in its final form by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The
essentials of Muslim practice are summarised in the five pillars of Islam – declaration of faith;
ritual prayer; welfare; a month of fasting during Ramadan; and pilgrimage. What Muslims
believe...

 Jainism

An ancient philosophy and ethical teaching that originated in India. The main principle is
ahimsa – the avoidance, where possible, of physical or mental harm to any living being. Jainism
is a religion without a belief in a creator god.

 Judaism

Based around the Jewish people's covenant relationship with God. Jews believe they are
challenged and blessed by God. Love of one's neighbour is the great principle of social life and
the founding inspiration of the Jewish community. What Jews believe...
  Sikhism

The religion founded by Guru Nanak in India in the 15th Century CE. There is one God,
people should serve by leading a life of prayer and obedience. Sikhs believe their soul then passes
through various existences and will become one with God.

 Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is a religion founded in ancient times by the prophet Zarathushtra, who

taught that Ahura Mazda (Lord of Wisdom), the all powerful and perfect creator, grants humans Vohu
Manah – a clear rational mind with which to dispel ignorance

The major religions of the world

(Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, and Judaism) differ in many respects,
including how each religion is organized and the belief system each upholds.

Three major type

Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the three major monotheistic religions, all originated in what is known
today as the Arab World.

 Judaism
 Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenant that God established with
the Children of Israel It encompasses a wide body of texts, practices, theological positions, and forms of
organization.

Holy book of jews

The Torah is part of the larger text known as the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible, and supplemental oral
tradition represented by later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud. With between 14.5 and
17.4 million adherents worldwide, Judaism is the tenth largest religion in the world

The Bible depicts the family of the Hebrew patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (all early

2nd millennium BCE)—as having its chief seat in the northern Mesopotamian town of Harran,
which then belonged to the Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni. From there Abraham, the founder of the
Hebrew people, is said to have migrated to Canaan (comprising roughly the region of modern
Israel and Lebanon), which was a vortex of west Asian, Egyptian, and east
Mediterranean cultures throughout the biblical period and later ages. From Canaan the Hebrew
ancestors of the people of Israel (named after the patriarch Jacob, also called Israel) migrated
to Egypt, where they lived in servitude; a few generations later they returned to occupy part of
Canaan.

 Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of
Nazareth.  Christians generally believe Jesus to be God the Son, the second person of the
Trinity. It is a monotheistic religion, meaning it has only one God.

Deity Or Deities: Jesus; God

Founding Figures: Jesus; Paul the Apostle
Includes: Oriental Orthodoxy; Protestantism...
Texts: Bible; New Testament; Old Testament
  Islam
Islam is the Arabic word for ’submission’, in the sense of surrendering to God’s will. It is
the religion of about 1.6 billion people around the globe as of 2010, according to the Pew
Research Center, which also ranks the Abrahamic, monotheistic faith as the fastest
growing religion in the world.

It was in the small desert town of Mecca, located in what is now Saudi Arabia and surrounded by
the Byzantine and Sassanian empires, that Islam emerged in the early 7th century through
revelations that Muslims believe were made to Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, by the archangel
Gabriel – Jibril in Arabic .Muhammad began receiving revelations in 610 while he was meditating
in a cave on the summit of Mount Hira, outside Mecca. Muslims believe that those revelations are
the words of God, conveyed by Gabriel, and that they constitute the Koran, Islam’s holy book.
Muhammad only confided in his wife and close family and friends that he had received the
revelations, and it was more than two years later that he started preaching publicly.

 is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad
is a messenger of God.
Includes: Sufism; Shia Islam; Sunni Islam
Deity Or Deities: God; Allah
Adherents: Muslims
Founding Figures: Muhammad (saw)