This document discusses the definition and functions of religion. It defines religion as the belief in and worship of a controlling supernatural power, often containing moral codes. The two main types are monotheistic, believing in one god, and polytheistic, believing in many gods. Five major world religions are described briefly: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The document then outlines several social functions of religion, such as socializing values and moral codes, encouraging collective worship and group unity, attributing sacred qualities to societal aspects, preventing normlessness, and relieving stress from life events.

3. …the belief in and worship of a
superhuman controlling power.
Religion considered as a set of beliefs and
practices related to sacred things and one’s
relationship with the supernatural.
They also often contain a moral code governing
the conduct of human affairs.

4. The two most known types of Religion:
Monotheistic
Polytheistic
One god
Many gods

5. The five (5) major world Religions

6. Christianity
Believes in Jesus
Christ and his
teachings in the
New Testament.

7. Judaism
Jews believes in the
Hebrew Bible (Old
Testament).

8. Islam “Surrender”/”
Submission”,
follows the
teachings Qur’an
and prophet
Mohammad swt.

9. Hinduism
Polytheistic, every
village having gods
and goddesses,
believes in
transmigration of
souls.

10. Buddhism
Central to this religion are
the “Four Noble Truths” of
Buddha:
1) This life is suffering and pain
2)The source of suffering is desire
and craving
3) Suffering can cease
4) The practice of an “eightfold
path” can end suffering

12. In modern societies the major function of
religion is to socialize society’s members
into a value consensus by investing
values with a sacred quality. These values
become ‘moral codes’ - beliefs that
society agrees to revere and socialize
children into.

13. Encouraging collective worship
enables individuals to express their
shared values and strengthens group
unity.

14. Refers to a situation where sacred
qualities are attributed to aspects of
the society. Ritual and ceremony is a
common aspect of national
loyalties.

15. Anomie (or a state of normlessness)
Religious and civil ceremony prevents
this happening by encouraging an
awareness of common membership of
an entity greater than, and supportive
of, the individual.

16. Religion functions to relieve the
stress and anxieties created by life
crises such as birth, puberty,
marriage and death.