summary ofThe Religions BookBook by DK & Neil Philip

first KEY POINT

Religion helps people to make sense of the world

Religion goes back through the entire thread of history. As far back as our cave-dwelling ancestors, we can see evidence of a belief or faith system from drawings on cave walls and historical accounts of burial ceremonies. Two main subjects draw humans to religion: continuation to the afterlife and the desire to make sense of the world.From unexplained weather phenomena to how we came to live on this planet, religion provides comfort for millions of people around the world and has been that way for centuries. We have pieced together the different religious customs and ceremonies of past civilizations from the relics found during excavations, providing a fascinating glimpse into history. However, in many religions, the central tenets of those faiths haven’t changed a considerable amount since their beginnings. Of course, life has evolved, yet the basics have remained static.

Religion and morality are tied together exceptionally closely. It is the general idea of good versus evil, and to get into heaven or succeed in the afterlife, you need to be and do good. With that in mind, many religions guide followers on living a life that will help them achieve that aim. Morality differs from religion to religion, but every single main religion has a strong focus on the afterlife.Learning more about the main religions worldwide helps knock down the walls of confusion and ensures everyone can become more open-minded and accepting of one another. It’s also very interesting to learn more about different religions that perhaps you don’t know too much about, making this summary an enlightening read on many levels.