Religion

1
Religion

• Christianity is the most popular religion in USA
  and Britain
• Religion is reflected in art, culture, and even
  politics
• eg Christian Coalition (a group within the
  Republican Party)

2
Christianity

• Jesus Christ lived 2000 years ago, in the Middle
  East
• Bible (holy book of Christianity)
• Old Testament Jewish writings
• New Testament early Christian writings
  (including the life of Jesus)

3
Christianity says

• There is one God
• Jesus was God, in human form
• Love God
• Love your neighbour (other humans)

4
Roman Catholic Church

• Pope in Rome
• before 1517 AD Roman Catholic church was the
  most powerful organisation in Europe
• 597 AD the Roman Catholic church was formally
  established in Britain

5
Reformation

• 1517 AD the Protestant church originated in
  Europe
• 1534 AD Church of England was established

6
Religion in Britain

• Most English are Protestants
• Church of England (Anglican), Methodist,
  Congregational, Baptist, Quakers, Presbyterian,
  Pentecostal, etc
• Roman Catholic
• Jews
• Other (especially new migrants)
• lt1 English regularly go to church

7
Northern Ireland

• 17th century English migrants
• late 19th century campaign for home rule
• 1914 violence increases
• 1922 Northern Ireland created

8
Northern Ireland

• 60 Protestant, 40 Catholic
• 1960s Catholic civil rights movement
• 1972 Bloody Sunday British soldiers kill 13
  Catholics in a peaceful march
• violence continues

9
Religion in USA

• American Constitution
• freedom of religion
• separation of religion from government
• About 50 of Americans regularly go to church
• (much more than many Western countries)

10
Religion in USA

• Over 1000 religion groups
• 60 Protestant
• 25 Catholic
• 3 Jewish
• The many Protestant groups exist side-by-side,
  and may even preach in each others churches.

11
Cults

• small, very religion group
• usually under one persons control
• may leave their jobs and families
• Peoples Temple 1978 914 people killed
  themselves by drinking poison
• Heavens Gate 1997 39 people killed themselves,
  to get to heaven