Religion and Society

Section A: Religion and Society

• Religion involves beliefs and practices related to the sacred, often including a god or gods.
• Society: A group of people living together in an organized manner with shared laws, customs, and institutions.
• Religion shapes societal values, laws, and traditions, while society influences religious practices and interpretations.

Axial Age

• A period from 800–200 BCE when major religious and philosophical ideas emerged across different civilizations.
• Increased urbanization, trade, and political change led to questioning old beliefs during this time.
• The rise of ethical and philosophical systems like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Greek philosophy influenced future religions and societies.

Symbolic Revolution

• The period when humans began developing complex symbolic thinking, giving rise to art, rituals, and language.
• Cognitive evolution, larger social groups, and the need for communication caused the symbolic revolution.
• Myths, religions, and cultural traditions were created, shaping human identity and society.

Biblical Creation

• Genesis describes God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh.
• Key elements include Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, and the concept of original sin.
• This account significantly shapes Judeo-Christian views on humanity, morality, and the relationship with God.

Human Social Values in Societies

• Cooperation, justice, and respect developed to maintain social order.
• Religious beliefs reinforced morality, social hierarchy, and communal bonds.
• Social values varied across cultures, but often emphasized family, loyalty, and leadership.

Shamanism

• Values include connection with nature, healing, spiritual guidance, and balance.
• Shamans served as healers, mediators, and religious leaders in society.
• Central beliefs: Spirits influence the world, and rituals and altered states of consciousness facilitate communication with them.

Sumerian Society

• One of the first civilizations located in Mesopotamia around 3100 BCE.
• Sumerians developed cuneiform writing, city-states, and religious temples known as ziggurats.
• They practiced a polytheistic religion where gods controlled natural forces.
• Kings, such as Gilgamesh, ruled with religious authority.

Hellenism – Early Greek Culture

• Art & Philosophy: It was influenced by logic, beauty, and humanism (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle).
• Hellenistic religion: It was polytheistic, where gods controlled fate and nature (Zeus, Athena, Apollo).
• Government: Democracy was born in Athens, and city-states (polis) ruled independently.
• Expansion: Alexander the Great spread Greek culture, merging it with local traditions in the Hellenistic period.

Section B: Reformers and the Bible

• John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English (Wycliffe Bible, 1382).
• He criticized the wealth and corruption within the Catholic Church.
• Wycliffe advocated for scripture as the sole authority, an early form of Sola Scriptura.
• His followers, known as Lollards, spread his teachings, which influenced later reformers.
• Posthumously declared a heretic, Wycliffe's remains were exhumed and burned.

Bible Timeline

• ~1400–1200 BCE: First Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) were written.
• 300–200 BCE: The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, was created.
• 1st Century CE: The New Testament writings, including Gospels and Epistles, emerged.
• 382 CE: St. Jerome produced the Latin Vulgate Bible.
• 1382: The Wycliffe Bible, the first English translation, was completed.
• 1526: The Tyndale Bible, the first printed English New Testament, was published.
• 1611: The King James Version, an official English Bible, was released.

King Henry VIII and the Protestant Reformation

• Henry VIII wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, but the Pope refused.
• He broke from the Catholic Church to form the Church of England in 1534 through the Act of Supremacy.
• Church lands and wealth was confiscated, diminishing Catholic influence in England.
• Henry maintained Catholic traditions and allowed the English Bible.
• His actions paved the way for later Protestant reforms in England.

Martin Luther – Achievements and Influence

• Luther wrote the 95 Theses in 1517, criticizing indulgences and church corruption.
• Luther translated the Bible into German, making it accessible to common people.
• Luther started the Lutheran Church, reshaping Christianity in Europe.
• Sola Fide: Salvation comes through faith alone, not through works.
• Sola Scriptura: The Bible is the only authority, not the Pope or Church traditions.

William Tyndale – Achievements and Influence

• Tyndale translated the Bible into English directly from Hebrew and Greek.
• His translation influenced the King James Bible.
• Tyndale opposed church corruption and the Pope’s authority.
• He was arrested and executed in 1536 for heresy, but his work laid the foundation for English Protestantism.

Development of the English Bible and Its Effects on Religion

• Wycliffe’s Translation (1382): It was the first full English Bible and influenced early reformers.
• Tyndale’s Translation (1526): More accurate and widely printed, it led to persecution of translators.
• King James Version (1611): Became the standard English Bible, shaping Protestant worship.
• Effects of the English Bible:
• Common people could now read and interpret scripture.
• The Catholic Church’s control over religious teachings was weakened.
• Protestantism was strengthened, leading to diverse Christian denominations.