The Study of Religions, general course I

Monkeys do not believe in any gods. However, there are signs of religiosity in the oldest traces of man, and when man eventually learned to write, texts were full with names of gods and descriptions of rituals. We do not know of any culture that has not been dominated by religion - none, except some western cultures over the last hundred years. In the Study of Religion we study the religions of the world throughout history. We examine how religions have developed and changed. How they permeate everything: politics, ethics, rules for eating, styles of dressing and piety. We study religion among kings, priests and regular people. We analyse the gods of religions can give hope. How its devils can frighten us into obedience. How its rituals can simultaneously create solidarity and hierarchies. Religion is a very special form of culture and, like all cultures, religion can, and should, be studied historically, sociologically, psychologically as well as anthropologically.