Religion - a special type of outlook, coupled with a belief in transcendental powers.That word is translated from Latin means "piety" or "conscientiousness".The most common religion - it is an idealistic outlook based on faith in God.Its main feature is the belief in the supernatural principle.
Let us examine what are religion.In the early stages of human existence it has had a cult of animals (the so-called Stone Age) and hunting magical rites.This is confirmed by archaeological data, in particular, preserving the ancient images carved primitive tools on the walls of caves.Around the same time he originated the belief in the afterlife.In confirmation of this we can say that the hunters were buried with their weapons, which supposedly would be useful to them in the other world.Over time, the level of awareness and culture of the people grew up.And developed ideas about the world.If you look at what religion are among the most backward peoples today, you can get an idea of what our ancient ancestors believed in the Bronze Age.It is idolatry, animism, shamanism and the worship of the dead.
But religion - this is not just some primitive cult.This higher level of worldview, which includes a number of provisions.Otherwise, it is degraded to the level of primitive magic.Consider then what are religion.All of them can be divided into two main types: mono- and polytheistic.What are the different religions in the first case?The most famous of them - Judaism, Christianity, Islam.They are very similar.Monotheistic many areas of Christianity is questioned because the religion is generally recognized as the triune nature of God.In all these systems, outlook highlights the confrontation between good and evil, God and the devil.It's safe to say that Islam grew out of Judaism, having incorporated elements of Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Arab folklore.What are the religions do not acknowledge the principle of monotheistic (Monotheism)?Perhaps the biggest of these is Hinduism.It has about 900 million followers.There are four main provisions in Hinduism: the veneration and study of ancient sacred books, belief in supernatural beings, as well as in the immortal soul and the afterlife.Shinto - an ancient Japanese religion.It is based on the worship of the gods responsible for the forces of nature and the spirits of dead ancestors.This religion was formed under the influence of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.However, it left a lot of identity, for example, the practice of shamanism.Here you can also mention archaic cults preserved south of the Sahara desert.What are faith and religion in Africa?It is worth remembering in the first place on the prevalence of voodoo.This religion teaches that the whole world around us is filled with an invisible energy that exists in the universe is infinite.Clerics (Unga and mambo) serve as priests.If they are expelled due to misconduct, they are likely to become Bokor - dark wizards.These people are dangerous because they can zombie, that is, to deprive the human mind to fully subdue its own influence.As it turned out recently, it is not even in witchcraft, and in the use of certain chemicals.Acts Bokor usually cause censure.Speaking of which are religion-Saharan Africa, it is necessary to point out those features that are common to all faiths of black Africans.First, they developed a cult of deceased ancestors.Often, building huts in the family cemetery.Thus, the deceased ancestors still remain family.Africans believe in evil spirits and believe that they can use the power of witches.Features such people have no limits.According to the Africans, they can easily turn into animals move through the air at great distances, as well as nasylat damage.With wizards fighting prophets - people who allegedly also endowed with special abilities.Africans believe that there is a single creator, and the gods of the lower and higher rank.
What religion are among the indigenous peoples of Siberia and the Far East?Before the advent of Christianity there was widespread shamanism.A number of Turkic people had faith in Tengri - God of Heaven.Until today, many Altai turn to shamans - intermediaries between the people and the spirit world.These magicians, plunging into a trance, trying to make contact with the transcendental powers.
