1. Bygone Religions

Question 1

What are 3 common characteristics of many religions in the world?

Answer 1

• Belief in the Supernatural: Something greater or bigger than us | Fear vs. Fascination
• Moral Code: List of Dos and Don’ts.
• Ritual Acts: Rituals to consult, please or even manipulate God | Praying

Question 2

What are some of the theories of origins of religion?

Answer 2

• Kant: religion is the product of limited reasoning.
• Muller: Religion developed as people watched the nature - God of the sea
• Marx: Religion used to deal with social class challenges.
• Freud: Religion developed of the human need for a protective father figure.

Question 3

What do you know about “sumer” Babylon religion?

Answer 3

• In southern Mesopotamia river (Iran & Iraq) ==> first civilization Sumer
• It was ruled by a priest-king
• Temples = singers, prostitutes worked inside and sacrifices
• No heaven or hell = after death as ghost serving Gods
• Only water in beginning (nothing else)
  War among gods led to creation of heavens and earth

Question 4

Discuss Gilgamesh and Enkidu epic?

Answer 4

• Handsome | Brave | Lordly | Warrior | Half man & half god
• Gods create Enkidu as a match for him
• Enkidu lives with animals = uncivilized
• Prostitute civilizes him (dress, beer, shower)
• G & E embark to get cedar tree for city door
• Fights monster and Gods take E from G
• Deep thoughts on mortality = goes to find the magic plant
  Meets utnapeshtum = finds the plant = taken by a snake

Question 5

What are the 2 main books of Greek religion?

Answer 5

1. Illiad

2. Odyssey

Question 6

How was the universe created in Greek mythology?

Answer 6

Sex

Question 7

What were the 2nd generation of Greek myth?

Answer 7

Titans (God of time, sun, memory, knowledge)

Question 8

What were the 3rd generation of Greek myth?

Answer 8

Olympians (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades)

Question 9

Roman religion was influenced by?

Answer 9

Greeks (colony)

Question 10

Most of the Roman gods were named after?

Answer 10

9 planets

Question 11

Romans strongly believed in?

Answer 11

Oracles and prophecies

Question 12

Roman culture was dominated by?

Answer 12

War and man

Question 13

Greek culture was dominated by?

Answer 13

Art, philosophy, and beauty

Question 14

Mayas and Azteks were located in?

Answer 14

Central America (Mexico)

Question 15

What was the Mayan calendar based on?

Answer 15

Sky objects movement

Question 16

What took place in their temples?

Answer 16

Human sacrifices

Question 17

Mayans believed that everything has ______

Answer 17

spirits (i.e. stones, rivers, mountains)

Question 18

Azteks had _______ like gods

Answer 18

human

Question 19

Which number was holy for the Azteks?

Answer 19

52 (cleaned homes every 52 years)

Question 20

What did the Azteks believe in?

Answer 20

Flood after flood (destruction of the world)

Question 21

______ was part of marriage

Answer 21

dowry

Question 22

What happened to Mayans and Azteks when they died? Their belief?

Answer 22

Return to the spirit world