The influence of the national and religious traditions of the Russian people on the modern life of Russia. The influence of religion on culture and leisure World religions and their impact on culture

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Religion "bodily" and spiritually enters the world of culture. Moreover, it constitutes one of its constructive foundations, fixed by historians almost from the appearance of “reasonable man”. On this basis, many theologians, following the outstanding ethnographer J. Fraser, assert: "All culture comes from the temple, from the cult."

The power of religion in the early stages of the development of culture went beyond the boundaries of the measurement of the latter. Until the late Middle Ages, the church covered almost all cultural spheres. It was both a school and a university, a club and a library, a lecture hall and a philharmonic society. These institutions of culture have been brought to life by the practical needs of society, but their origins are in the bosom of the Church and in many respects have been nurtured by it.

Spiritually ruling over the flock, the Church at the same time exercised guardianship and censorship over culture, forcing it to serve the cult. In particular, this spiritual dictatorship was felt in the medieval states Catholic world where the Church dominated politically and legally. And almost everywhere it dominated morality and art, education and upbringing. Church guardianship and censorship, like any dictate, did not stimulate cultural progress at all: freedom is the air of culture, without which it suffocates. Noting the positive aspects of the religious impact on the realities of culture, we should not forget about this.

Perhaps most of all, religion influenced the formation and development of national identity, the culture of the ethnic group.

The church rite often continues in the establishments of folk life and the calendar. At times it is difficult to separate the secular principle in national traditions, customs and rituals from the religious one. What, for example, are Semik and Maslenitsa for the Russian people, Navruz for the Azerbaijanis and Tajiks? Secular-folk and ecclesiastical-canonical are inextricably intertwined in these holidays. God save (thank you) - is this a religious or secular commemoration formula - is it a purely church ritual? What about caroling?

The awakening of national consciousness is usually associated with a revival of interest in the national religion. This is exactly what is happening in Russia.

In Europe, schools for monks at monasteries became cultural islands. In the Middle Ages, the leading place was occupied by architecture. This was caused primarily by the urgent need for the construction of temples.

A further cultural impetus was the growth of cities, centers of trade and crafts. A new phenomenon was urban culture, which gave rise to the Romanesque style. The Romanesque style arose as a strengthening of the authority of the Roman Empire, which was necessary for the royal power and the church. Best of all, the Romanesque style was personified by the large cathedrals located on the hills, as if towering above everything earthly.

The Gothic style denies the heavy, fortress-like Romanesque cathedrals. Attributes gothic style lancet arches and slender towers ascending to the sky became. The vertical composition of the building, the impetuous upward rush of lancet arches and other architectural structures expressed the desire for God and the dream of a higher life. Geometry and arithmetic were understood abstractly, through the prism of the knowledge of God, who created the world and arranged everything by "measure, number and weight." Every detail in the cathedral had a special meaning. The side walls symbolized the Old and New Testament. Pillars and columns personified the apostles and prophets carrying the vault, portals - the threshold of paradise. The dazzlingly shining interior of the Gothic cathedral personified heavenly paradise.

Early Christianity inherited from antiquity admiration for the products of creativity and contempt for the people who created them. But gradually, under the influence of Christian ideas about the beneficial, uplifting significance of labor, this attitude changed. In the monasteries of that time, it was attributed to combine activities leading to communion with God, to penetration into his essence, such as divine reading, prayers, manual labor. It was in the monasteries that many crafts and arts developed. Art was considered a charitable and noble occupation, not only ordinary monks, but also the highest church elite were engaged in it. Medieval arts: painting, architecture, jewelry - were laid within the walls of monasteries, under the shadow of a Christian church.

In the 12th century, interest in art increased significantly. This is due to the general technical, economic and scientific progress of society. The practical activity of a person, his intellect, the ability to invent something new begins to be valued much higher than before. The accumulated knowledge begins to be systematized into a hierarchy, at the top of which God continues to remain. Art, which combines high practical skills and the reflection of images of sacred tradition, receives a special status in medieval culture.

The attitude to art in the Middle Ages has undergone great changes. So, during the early Middle Ages (V-VIII centuries) dominated by ancient representations about art. Art is classified into theoretical, practical and creative. Since the 8th century, Christian ideas have been actively intertwined and interacted with non-religious ones. The main goal of art is the pursuit of divine beauty, which is embodied in the harmony and unity of nature.

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Geography of world religions

Religion is an essential element of differentiation human cultures. On different stages history, in different countries and regions, the position and influence of religion on the life of society and economic activity differ significantly.

Religions and beliefs are widespread in clearly localized geographical areas and have a specific impact on the social, political and economic life of people, on psychology, moral and legal consciousness and behavior. The influence of religion on the peculiarities of resource use and on the susceptibility to the introduction of innovations is especially great.

Religious causes have given rise to most of the major political conflicts in the history of mankind, and territorially they were confined to the borders of regions with different beliefs.

The religions of the world that exist today are divided into two large groups - monotheistic, which are characterized by belief in one main deity, and polytheistic who have an extensive pantheon of gods.

Geographically, religions are subdivided into local traditional beliefs held by scattered, isolated tribes; national, as a rule, distributed within state borders or areas of residence of ethnic groups, and world religions "> world, which overcame the national framework and became the common religion of many ethnic groups and states.

local traditional beliefs

They arose at the very dawn of mankind and in the conditions of geographical isolation of communities. The objects of their worship are varied: Animism"> animism- belief in the soul, its immortality and the existence of spirits; the cult of ancestors - the belief in the existence of people after physical death and their influence on the living; Totemism"\u003e totemism is the belief in the origin of all members of a given tribe from a plant or animal that are considered sacred; Fetishism"\u003e fetishism- belief in inanimate objects and their supernatural power; shamanism is the belief in the ability of shaman people to communicate with spirits.

Many of these beliefs, originating at the dawn of the primitive system, are still preserved today in isolated and hard-to-reach areas of Southeast Asia, Latin America, in the Arctic latitudes of North America and Eurasia. By the beginning of the XXI century. the total number of followers of traditional beliefs was about 200 million people.

Evolution of early religious beliefs followed the evolution of society. The unification of disparate tribes into a single state was accompanied by the emergence of the cult of the leader of man, who in the early class society was transformed into the image of an abstract man of god.

By the II millennium BC. e. relates to the emergence of religions that have survived to this day.

Zoroastrianism (parsism). This is one of ancient religions, which originated in Central Asia in the 1st millennium BC. e. Its occurrence is associated with the name of the prophet Zoroaster. The doctrine is based on belief in two divine principles - the good god Ahura Mazda and the evil god Andromache. The divine service includes the rituals of priests with sacred fire in a metal bowl (hence another name for the Zoroastrians - fire worshipers). Fear of defilement and the need for purification gave rise to many prohibitions: restrictions on sharing meals and bathing, eating from the hands of strangers, contact with garbage and sewage. The number of Zoroastrians does not exceed 200 thousand people.

National religions

Judaism"\u003e Judaism is considered one of the earliest beliefs that have survived to this day. It arose in the territory of modern Israel, first as a polytheistic religion, which later switched to monotheism. For Judaism, in addition to faith in one God, faith in the immortality of the soul, posthumous retribution, This last circumstance, as well as the fact that only one born of a Jewish mother can be considered a Jew, prevented the transformation of Judaism into world religion. Judaism in its orthodox form is the dominant religion of the State of Israel; it is professed by Ashkenazi (Jews - immigrants from Western, Northern and of Eastern Europe) and Sephardim (Jews - immigrants from North Africa, the Middle East, the Balkan and Iberian Peninsulas), as well as Jews living on all other continents. By the beginning of the XXI century. There were about 14 million followers of Judaism in the world, and about half of them live in America.

In Judaism, prayers, fasting, the rite of circumcision, numerous holidays (Easter, Judgment Day, New Year, Saturday, etc.). Rabbis are actually teachers of the law, judges in Jewish communities, and not priests of a cult. Some followers of Judaism do not recognize the Talmud. These are, for example Karaites- descendants of those who migrated to the Crimea from Khazaria in the 11th century. children of Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers who, according to the dogmas of nudaism, are not "real" Jews. Samaritans, mainly living in the region of Samaria (Israel) and in Jordan, recognize only some parts of the Old Testament (Torah and Nebim).

Hinduism"> Hinduism. In the second half of the 1st millennium BC. e. developed from Brahminism, which appeared in South Asia, sanctifying the caste system of India. It is practiced by a significant part of the population of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Large communities of Hindus live in Indonesia, Guyana, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and Mauritius.

The spread of Hinduism outside the Hindustan peninsula was hindered by two main factors: geographical (Himalayas) and conservative dogmas of the religion itself, and, first of all, its basis - the caste system.

In Hinduism, there is no single dogmatics, rituals, organized church. It includes elements of Brahmanism, Vedic and local religions, primitive beliefs: veneration of water (“ sacred waters"Ganges River), animals ("sacred cows"), the cult of ancestors.

The followers of Hinduism recognize the Vedas as sacred books, follow the doctrine of samsara - the wanderings of the soul, reincarnating after death into various living beings according to the law of karma, that is, depending on the deed. Hinduism affirms the inequality of people before the gods and the divinity of caste division. People are obliged to fulfill the order of life established for each caste, to choose a profession and social circle.

The caste system is changing very slowly. The Caste Abolition Act, which came out after India gained independence, did little to change the life of Hindu society. The government of Rajiv Gandhi in the late 80s. 20th century introduced the reservation of 30% of places in the state apparatus and in higher educational institutions for representatives of the untouchable caste, which caused protests from almost all sectors of Hindu society - both representatives of the higher castes and the untouchables themselves.

The pantheon of Hindu gods is large. The main God in Hinduism is the Triune God (Trimurti), who has the properties of creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), destruction and creation (six-armed Shiva). Many temples have been built in their honor.

Jainism arose as an "opposition" to the caste system in the VI century. BC e., he proclaimed the main principle of faith not to kill living beings.

In the XV-XVI centuries. at the junction of the cultural influence of Islam and Hinduism in the territory of the modern state of Punjab (India), Sikhism was born, rejecting the caste system and absorbing elements of Islam and Hinduism. The dogmas of Hinduism indirectly contributed to the penetration of Islam into Hindustan. There were few representatives of the Kshatriya (warriors) caste in the western regions, and other castes did not have the right to engage in military affairs, so the Muslim conquerors did not receive a worthy rebuff here. To distinguish themselves among Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs wear "five Ks": kesh ( long hair), kacha (short pants), kanha (comb), kara (steel bracelet), kirpan (dagger). The colorful turbans and beards of the Sikhs are clearly visible in the street crowd. The number of Sikhs is about 15 million people, this is the third largest confessional community in India (after Hindus and Muslims). Since the mid 60s. Sikhs are fighting for the creation of an independent state of Khalistan. Sikhs have influential communities in many countries of Asia and Africa, where they control the tailoring business and trade.

Religions of East Asia: Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto. On the territory of modern China, philosophical systems arose - Confucianism"> Confucianism and Taoism"> Taoism. Over time, these systems acquired the status of religions. They did not have a strict church hierarchy, they did not oblige believers to think and act in a certain way. Unlike Christianity and Islam, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism have never been implanted with a sword and fire, they have never resorted to missionary work.

Confucius

Confucianism. Confucius - statesman Ancient China (V - VI centuries BC) and his followers wrote the treatise "Lun - Yu" ("Conversations and Judgments") - the main literary source of Confucianism. Strictly speaking, Confucianism is not a religion, since it never had the institution of the church, the priesthood, or mystical elements. The ideas of Confucius are the ideas of an earthly person, not of God. A person must observe the norms of social behavior, traditional rituals. Other ethical norms of Confucianism are mandatory moral self-improvement and observance of the rules of etiquette - to act in accordance with one's social position, unconditionally obey the higher authorities. The power of the rulers is considered to be granted by heaven, and therefore sacred, and the division of people into "higher" and "lower" is a fair law. Confucian morality preaches five basic virtues: humanity, justice, self-improvement, nobility and loyalty.

From the 2nd century n. e. before the Xinhai Revolution of 1911-1913. Confucianism was the official state ideology of China, an authoritative ethical system that determined the thinking and character of millions of people. In our time, about 300 million people follow Confucianism in China, on the Korean Peninsula, in Japan, in countries with a large Chinese diaspora (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.).

Confucian values, included in the sphere of economic activity and education, have largely contributed to economic success in the territories where this religion is practiced.

Temple in China

Taoism- one of the religions of China, the ideological source of which was philosophy Lao Tzu, who lived peacefully at the same time as Confucius. Unlike Confucianism, Taoism focuses on the individual. According to this teaching, people should follow the natural course of events and not try to change it. The ideal of this religious and philosophical school is a life that does not violate the harmony of the surrounding world, the achievement of unity with nature and the attainment of immortality. In Taoism, fortune-telling and rites that expel evil spirits occupy a central place. The highest deities are recognized as Shang di (Jasper lord - the God of heaven and the Father of emperors), Lao tzu and the creator of the world Pan gu.

Taoism had a strong influence on culture, contributed to the development of chemistry, traditional medicine based on the principle of harmony of the human body (acupuncture, physiotherapy, pharmacology). Closely connected with Taoism is the doctrine of opposite principles - yin and yang.

Yin - feminine, weakness, passivity, north, even numbers, yang - masculine, strength, activity, south, odd numbers. Their unity creates a perfect whole. Ancient books preserved prescriptions for medicines, descriptions of the properties of metals and minerals. About 30 million people in China, Singapore and other countries where the Chinese live, consider themselves adherents of Taoism.

Shinto shrine in Japan

Shintoism "\u003e Shintoism - a philosophical and religious system - was formed in Japan, based on the cult of deities of nature and ancestors. The main deity is the goddess of the Sun Amaterasu - the progenitor of all Japanese emperors. Gods and spirits inhabit and spiritualize all nature, are able to incarnate in any object that becomes an object of worship.The religious goal is to achieve salvation in this, and not in the other world, by spiritual merging with the deity through prayers and rituals.Shintoism is characterized by magnificent holidays with sacred dances and processions.Shintoism partially coincides and peacefully coexists with Buddhism.The Japanese, for example, they are adherents of both Shintoism and Buddhism.For almost a century (from the middle of the 19th century), Shintoism was the state religion of Japan.

Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto did not become world religions and did not spread beyond the formation areas.

Yezidis (Yazidis). At the heart of the doctrine, which the followers try to keep secret, is the belief in the one God Ezda. At the same time, followers recognize Jesus Christ as God, revere the Muslim prophet Muhammad and the Jewish Abraham. They recognize the Bible and the Koran as sacred books, they have a common christian baptism and circumcision of boys as among Muslims and Jews. Yezidis are Kurds living in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia.

world religions

Buddhism is the world's oldest religion. Appeared in the VI century. BC e. as an opposition to the caste system, enshrined in Brahmanism: the dignity of a person and his social status depend not on its origin, but on behavior. All people, regardless of class and ethnic differences, can accept the teachings of the Buddha and find the path to salvation.

According to Buddhist canons, life is a continuous chain of suffering, which can be alleviated by righteous behavior and not killing living beings.

Buddhism is widespread in China, Japan, Korea, is the dominant religion in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos. Large Buddhist communities live in India, Nepal, Singapore, Indonesia and Russia, where it is practiced by Buryats, Tuvans and Kalmyks.

The followers of Buddhism are vegetarians: they do not eat meat products. These ethical standards have a direct impact on economic life, especially on the specialization of agriculture.

There are two main branches in Buddhism. Adherents of the Hinayana (which means "narrow path") consider the Buddha to be a real historical person, strictly follow the principles of early Buddhism; those who want to achieve salvation must leave the worldly life. Followers of the Mahayana ("wide path") deify the Buddha and believe that monasticism is not necessary for salvation.

The three most important values ​​of Buddhism are the teacher Buddha, the teaching of the drachma, the keeper of the truth - sagha, which indicates and facilitates the path of the believer. These ideas of Buddhism, as well as the relative indifference to rituals and adaptation to local conditions, contributed to its spread beyond India. In the southern and southeastern direction, Buddhism spread mainly in the form of the teachings of the Hinayana (in the 3rd - 1st centuries BC). From the beginning of our era, its movement to the north and northeast begins in the form of the teachings of the Mahayana. In India itself, Buddhism was supplanted by Hinduism with a caste system that does not accept equality.

IN Lamaism, a later form of Buddhism, special importance is attached to magic spells, meditation, with which you can achieve nirvana - a state of supreme bliss and detachment from life's worries. Lamaism is widespread among the population of Mongolia, in eastern Buryatia, among the Kalmyks and Tuvans.

Christianity appeared at the beginning of the first millennium AD in the east of the Roman Empire, on the territory of modern Israel, as a protest against Judaic exclusivity. It quickly spread among the slaves and the poor. Having proclaimed the equality of all people, Christianity rejected the existing slaveholding public order giving hope to the hopeless of gaining freedom through the knowledge of the divine truth that Christ brought to earth.

Craftsmen, merchants, farmers, and the nobility began to join the Christian communities. Emperor Constantine (c. 285 - 337), by his edict of 324, laid the foundation for the transformation of Christianity into the state religion of the Roman Empire.

The creeds were defined in the first seven Ecumenical Councils. They are preserved unchanged in Orthodox Church, which gives it additional arguments as a true Christian dogma.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Sourozh Monastery in the 11th century. in Pskov (Russia)

According to Christianity, God exists in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God the son accepted martyrdom in order to atone for the sins of people and come to Earth a second time to establish the kingdom of heaven. The holy book of Christians is the Bible, which consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The main ethical norms are patience and forgiveness. In 1054 there was a complete break between the Roman (western) and Constantinople (eastern) branches of Christianity, it was divided into Catholicism "> Catholicism and Orthodoxy"> Orthodoxy. The main differences between them are in the question of the origin of the Holy Spirit: Catholics believe that it originated from God the Father and God the Son, Orthodox - from God the Father.

Catholics, unlike the Orthodox, believe that in addition to hell and heaven, there is also purgatory. In the Orthodox Church, only choral singing without music is allowed, in the Catholic Church, worship is accompanied by organ music. There are also differences in rituals, in the architecture of church buildings, in the organization of the church (strict centralization and the omnipotence of the Pope in Catholicism).

The Orthodox Church is not governed from a single center, it is represented by 15 autocephalous (independent) churches: Constantinople, Alexandria (Egypt and some African countries), Antioch (Syria, Lebanon), Jerusalem (Palestine), Russian, Georgian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Cypriot, Helladic (Greek), Albanian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, American. Autonomous churches have been singled out from a number of autocephalous churches, which have great rights for self-government (Sinai - the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Japanese - the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus').

In the 90s. 20th century As a result of the collapse of the USSR, the question arose of the formation of an independent Ukrainian Church and its separation from the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Macedonia, and Cyprus, those who profess Orthodoxy make up the majority of the population. There are large Orthodox communities in the USA, Kazakhstan, the Baltic countries, Kyrgyzstan, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, and the Middle East.

Uniate(or the Greek Catholic Church), recognizing the primacy of the Pope, appeared in the areas of "contact" between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity, absorbed the ethical norms and rituals of both branches. The most widespread in Western Ukraine.

Monophysite Church, which considers Jesus Christ not a god-man, but a god, is common among Egyptian Copts, in Ethiopia, in Armenia.

Catholic Church strictly centralized, has one center - the state of the city of Vatican City, a single head - the Pope (Vicar of Jesus on Earth). The clergy in Catholicism take a vow of celibacy. For many centuries, worship in Catholicism was performed in Latin, only the II Vatican Council (1962-1965) allowed services in national languages.

In most countries Western Europe Catholicism is the dominant religion, and in a number of countries - Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland - there are large communities. In all states of America, the majority of the believing population professes Catholicism: almost a third of the US population and half of Canadians are Catholics.

The Catholic Church has a huge army of clergy subject to strict discipline, numerous monastic orders, and charitable organizations.

The spread of Christianity, primarily Catholicism, outside of Europe and its transformation into a world religion began with the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. Often, colonization was explained by the need to bring true faith to new territories. Outside of European countries, Christian rites were modified in accordance with local conditions. In the XVI century. Catholicism spread in Latin America, in the Philippines, where the position of this religion is strong to this day. In the 19th century Catholicism entered Australia and New Zealand with the settlers.

The colonial governments declared Catholicism the state religion in a number of countries in South and Tropical Africa (Cabo Verde, Reunion), about 50% of the population of Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Cameroon are Catholics. More than a third of the population of Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda adhere to the Catholic faith; 20% of the population of Mozambique. There are large groups of Catholics in Namibia, Lesotho, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Madagascar.

In Asia, the Philippines and East Timor are Catholic countries, there are many Catholics in Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

At the beginning of the XX century. Catholicism spread to the islands of the Pacific Ocean: Guam, Samoa, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia.

As a result of the Reformation in Europe in the XVI century. seceded from the Catholics Protestants who rejected the primacy of the pope as an intermediary between God and the faithful. They began to recognize the atonement of sins only by faith in God, to consider the Bible as the only source of doctrine. The Protestants, in turn, were divided into Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Calvinism from which broke away Reformers, Presbyterians, Baptists and others. Protestants predominate among the population of Northern Europe, in Canada, the USA, Austria, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland.

Islam. The founder of Islam is a real historical person, the Arab merchant Muhammad (509-623). In 609 or 610, in the month of Ramadan, the archangel Jabrail appeared to him and announced that Muhammad was chosen by God to give people true faith and save from the Last Judgment. Mohammed's birthplace, Hijaz, lay on a mountain-lined coastline between the Sinai Peninsula and Mecca. This area, where Bedouin tribes used to roam and caravans slowly passed, gradually became a place of permanent residence for merchants and usurers.

Wars required a constant flow of goods, and the people of Mecca, located at the crossroads of the most important trade routes, did everything possible to develop trade. "Holy months" were introduced, when blood feuds and any military actions near the walls of the city were prohibited.

The situation in the vicinity of Mecca was unstable: the nomads robbed peasants and caravans, the Bedouins were at enmity with each other because of pastures and wells.

Thus, circumstances demanded an ideology that would smooth out social contradictions, put an end to civil strife and robbery, and direct the militancy of the inhabitants to external goals. All this was given by Muhammad. At first ridiculed for his obsession, he united his countrymen under the green banner of Islam.

In Islam, unlike other religions, there are provisions that promote geographical discoveries, this is the "holy war", the obligatory pilgrimage to holy places and the recognition of trade as charitable activities. For example, sura 17 of the Qur'an directly insists on sea voyages, arguing that Allah drives forward the ships of the faithful, on which they strive for abundance. Muhammad himself, being a merchant, argued that one who leaves his native hearth in search of knowledge follows the path of God.

The main center of Islam is Mecca, where the black stone of the Kaaba is located. Muslims pray five times a day, facing this place. In Europe, Islam spread within the Iberian Peninsula - in southern and eastern Spain. Here the Arab Moorish rule lasted for almost eight centuries - from 711 to 1492.

A distinctive feature of Arab palaces is the abundance of carpets, the division into ceremonial halls, services and the female half (harem), where it is forbidden for outsiders to enter. The palaces necessarily adjoined the park.

Arab trade caravans brought Islam to North and Tropical Africa. We are indebted to Arab travelers for the description of the "country of gold" - the West African empire of Ghana (in the south of modern Mauritania), the kingdom of Bornu and Kanem, the East African coast, where Azanian civilization was formed under their influence.

Unlike all other religions, Islam spread among all peoples who were ready to accept it, regardless of skin color and local beliefs. The result of such a campaign was the flourishing of Islamic culture, due to the joint actions of the Indians, Persians, Egyptians, united by Arab power. In Islamic literature, along with studies in mathematics, medicine and astronomy, descriptions of travel became especially popular.

Muslims, or Mohammedans, believe in the one God of Allah, Muhammad is considered his messenger on earth. The holy book of Muslims is the Koran, which consists of sermons, instructions regulating property, legal, family relationships, it also contains household rules and teachings.

In Islam, three main directions have been formed, differing in their approach to the issue of the head of the Muslim community. Followers Sunnism in addition to the Koran, the “sacred tradition” of the Sunnah is recognized, and worthy representatives of the elite are elected as the head of the Muslim community. For followers Shiism the role of the son-in-law of Mohammed, the prophet Ali, is important (only his descendants can inherit power). Kharijism- Orthodox Islam, close to Sunnism, requires compliance with strict rules of conduct in life. Kharijites condemn luxury, forbid games and music, and choose a worthy leader of the community.

Almost 90% of Muslims in the world are Sunnis. Shiism prevails in Iran, Bahrain, Yemen, Azerbaijan. Large Shiite communities live in Lebanon, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

At the end of the twentieth century. - the beginning of the XXI century. in the world there was a sharp increase in the role of Islam in the economic, political, spiritual life of countries.

There are Muslim communities in almost 120 countries of the world. Islam is recognized as the state (official) religion in almost 30 countries. In 43 countries, Muslims make up the absolute majority of the population. These are 16 countries in North and West Africa, 26 countries in South West and Central Asia, Albania. In almost 30 countries, Muslims form an influential minority of the population. Among them is the Russian Federation, in which many peoples of the North Caucasus, Tatars and Bashkirs, profess Islam.

Religions and social life

Most religions of the world attach special importance to continuity, traditions, and following certain norms of behavior. From this point of view, religions definitely play a conservative role in the life of society. Religions are often a hindrance in the conduct of demographic policy.

Religions have an indirect influence on the development of agriculture, restricting the consumption of certain foods (at certain times of the year) and giving symbolic meaning to domestic animals. More than 260 million Buddhists are vegetarians, Hindus do not eat beef, Muslims do not eat pork.

Despite the fact that the words "culture" and "cult" have a similar sound and even are often mistakenly defined as the same root, the similarity between the meanings of these words is superficial. The only thing that unites culture and cult is belonging to the moral and spiritual sphere of human life and the influence of religion on culture and vice versa. In the modern world, in most states, religion and culture are corroded, and coexist as separate independent layers of the spiritual life of society. However, from time to time, due to the relationship between culture and religion, either cultural objects with pronounced religious motives, or religious and philosophical cults based on modern culture are created.

Modern philologists, historians and religious scholars interpret it as worship before something or someone; in the field of religion, cult is the worship of a deity based on faith, as well as all the rituals, rites and traditions associated with worship. Culture in the broadest interpretation is the totality of all human actions that are not aimed at satisfying biological instincts. In a narrower sense, the concept of "culture" refers to the practical implementation of any spiritual and moral values ​​and human aspirations, and the most obvious result of such implementation is creativity. However, in addition to creativity, culture also includes the rules of communication and behavior in society, the rules and well-known moral and ethical standards that all members of society adhere to.

Relationship between culture and religion in the ancient world

In ancient times, culture and cult were practically inseparable, since the whole life of people was regulated by beliefs and religious traditions. primitive religions, based on, were firmly merged with the creativity and morality of man, and were a creative reflection of the surrounding nature and the world. A vivid example of such a strong connection between culture and religion in the life of ancient peoples can be called many monuments left over from ancient civilizations: the ruins of majestic religious buildings - masterpieces of architecture, ancient jewelry used in various ceremonies and served as protective amulets, statues carved from solid stone, installed on the burial sites, and even rock art, which is a graphic description of the life and beliefs of ancient people.

Religion also had a significant impact on ancient culture, because even now the most complete sources of information about the events of those times are myths and legends. Mythology is not only stories about gods, but also stories about real kings, generals and heroes who lived in those times. And the holy book of all Christians, the Bible, in the Old Testament contains a description of the history, life and traditions of the Jewish people, as well as those peoples with whom the Jews had military or political conflicts. IN scriptures other religions also describe not only the covenants and commandments for believers, but also the biographies of prophets and rulers, philosophical research and valuable knowledge of that time and many historical events.

The vast majority of historical and cultural monuments ancient era, which have survived to this day, are related to both culture and religious cults. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Egyptian pyramids are indeed a marvel of architecture and architecture, but for the ancient Egyptians they were primarily of religious significance. Yes, and among the peoples of Eastern Europe, cultural monuments of antiquity have cult value- for example, one of the most famous sights of Kiev, St. Sophia Cathedral, was erected by order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise in the first half of the 11th century in order to perpetuate the victory over the Pechenegs and glorify Christianity in Kievan Rus.

The relationship of culture and religion in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, a clear distinction between culture and religion began, and these two layers of a person's spiritual life began to coexist separately, although they were often closely intertwined with each other. Talented writers, musicians and artists lived during this period of human history, and their works were not connected with religious themes, and the church prohibited works of such "secular" nature only in those cases when they were recognized as blasphemous and immoral. In most states during the Middle Ages, there was quite strict censorship, so many works of art were banned and destroyed.

Another side of the relationship between culture and religion in the Middle Ages was the huge role of religion in the life of society, so the spiritual and public life people was closely connected with religion. Even if scientists, politicians and artists in the depths of their souls rejected religious dogmas, they did not share their opinions with society, but continued to "play for the public." Therefore, the culture of behavior, communication and social and family life in the Middle Ages was based primarily on the laws of religion, not law.

Culture and religion in our time

in most countries it no longer plays such a significant role as literally 2-3 centuries ago. The Constitution of many states explicitly states that every person has freedom of religion, and the church is separated from the state. Therefore, it is natural that religion and culture coexist side by side, but the connection between them is not as strong as in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, these two spheres of spiritual life are quite compatible with each other - many believers are engaged in creativity, work in the field of culture, etc. Also, modern writers and artists often turn to biblical motifs, and some singers sing songs on religious themes.

However, not only religion affects culture, but vice versa: the requirements of the church for believers have been significantly softened compared to the Middle Ages, for example, now a priest will not declare a sinner and atheist a person who rarely attends a church service and will not expel a woman who entered there in trousers. Also under the influence modern culture new religious and philosophical cults are being created, including features different religions and cultures.

Introduction 3

1. The essence of religion and the relationship between culture and religion 5

2. Main characteristics of world religions 6

Christianity 6

Buddhism 9

3. The influence of world religions on the development of culture. 14

Conclusion 17

List of sources used 18

Vocabulary 19

Introduction

Let's start our consideration of the topic with the words of Douglas Davis: “It is impossible to understand humanity without understanding its religious beliefs. Sometimes naive, sometimes penetratingly noble, sometimes refined, sometimes cruel, sometimes filled with an all-consuming tenderness, sometimes world-affirming, sometimes denying the world, sometimes turned inward, sometimes having the character of a universal mission, sometimes superficial, and often deep in its content - religion permeates life man from time immemorial."

In relation to culture, religion, religious faith is considered differently. There is an atheistic position according to which religion is an expression and the result of human weakness, ignorance, lack of culture. According to atheism, culture does not need religious faith, morality is not only not justified, but also not supported by the belief that God either does not exist at all, or this is some kind of dogmatization of ideals, which is not necessary for a reasonable, enlightened, civilized, cultured person. Others believe that without faith, and precisely without religious faith, there is not and cannot be true culture. Faith in this position is seen as a meaningful value, as something that gives meaning and enduring value to everything else in life. Such religious faith exists, first of all, as faith in God. It is God who acts as the highest value: as absolute truth, absolute goodness, absolute beauty, as the meaning of humanity and human freedom and, at the same time, as its highest limit. Religion, faith in God turns out to be an expression of a living human feeling, the possibility and necessity of the unity of people, based on the ideals of holiness, justice, love, mercy. Only in relation to this highest value are all other blessings of life and culture values.

But they single out the concept that denotes religions that have a supranational character. These are world religions. By the number of followers, there are three world religions: Christianity (about 1.4 billion people), Islam (900 million people) and Buddhism (about 700 million people).

The purpose of this test is to study the issue of world religions as a phenomenon of culture. Guided by the point of view that culture is a certain level of development of social creative forces and abilities of a person, expressed in the types and forms of organization of people's life, their interaction, as well as in the totality of the material values ​​they create, we must determine for ourselves whether religion is an element of culture ? Or is it still the basis of culture. Or maybe - a phenomenon that stands apart and has its own historical path? After all, religion - a system of beliefs, a cult and religious institutions that carry it out, is a product of the human mind and human activity. Of course, and therefore in this work religion will be considered as an integral part of the development of society; as a factor that served at various stages of the formation of society, either as an impetus to flourishing or as a brake on culture; an institution, one way or another inherent in all peoples, but unfolding in isolated cultural environments, which ultimately determined the diversity of religions.

So, the solution of the main goal of the control work is reduced to the consideration of the following aspects:

The essence of religion and the relationship between culture and religion;

Main characteristics of world religions (Christianity, Buddhism, Islam);

The influence of world religions on the development of culture.

1. The essence of religion and the relationship between culture and religion

Religion is a necessary component of social life, including spiritual culture. In society, it performs a number of important socio-cultural functions, and one of them is ideological, or meaningful. Indeed, in religion, as a form of spiritual development of the world, its mental transformation and organization for consciousness is carried out, during which its holistic picture, norms, values, ideals and other components of the worldview are developed that determine a person’s attitude to the world and act as cultural guidelines and regulators. behavior.

However, the function of a religious worldview is not only to form a certain picture of the world for a person, but first of all, thanks to this picture, he can find the meaning of his being, take an active part in both the material and spiritual life of society. It is also called the value function. After all, the knowledge of a person: why he lives, what is the meaning of the events that take place, makes him strong, helps to overcome life's hardships, suffering, and even meet death with dignity, since all this is filled with a certain meaning for a religious person.

Thus, the main role of religion is to give human norms and values ​​an absolute, unchanging character, independent of the conjuncture of spatio-temporal coordinates of being, the emergence of new social institutions or the change of social formations. And this function is realized through the formation of a person's spiritual life, the most important component of which is culture.

Religion is a spiritual force that ensures the integrity of culture. It creates a hierarchy of values, at the top of which stands God, and all other values, as it were, are derived from Divine Providence. Thus, religion is able to subjugate and unite all spheres of culture around itself.

Thus, in a culture that arises on the basis of a certain religion, serving the needs of the church forms the general direction and style of artistic creativity. Art is permeated with religious terms and ideas, philosophy and science proceed from the ideas about nature, society, and man consecrated by this religion. Thus, everything that exists receives a single explanation and justification, and even the most distant cultural forms from each other turn out to be interconnected by common attitudes due to the dominant religion.

Religion has a dual effect on culture. On the one hand, those of its forms that are associated with a religious cult are developing. The construction of temples became the impetus for the progress of architecture; Catholic chant with organ melodies gave rise to the flowering of music in Europe. But at the same time, the dominance of religion over culture hinders the freedom to apply creative forces. Where art is dominated by religion, the church narrows the scope for creativity, and sometimes bans entire branches of it. In Islam, for example, the image of people and animals is prohibited, and Orthodoxy allows only a flat outline of biblical characters and saints. The trend towards the integration of all culture on the basis of religion was especially strong in the Middle Ages, however, the predominance of religion over culture and the spiritual development of people significantly limited their freedom of thought. Only in modern times did culture begin to acquire a secular character independent of the church; and yet, tracing the historical course of its development, it can be argued that culture itself originated precisely in religion, absorbed its essence by its roots, and even having stepped over its borders, remained a reflection of the religious heritage of a particular nation. Therefore, our main task is to establish the relationship between religion and culture, both at various stages of the development of human society, and in relation to the main world religious movements.

2. Main characteristics of world religions

Christianity

Christianity (from Greek - “anointed one”, “messiah”) is one of the three world religions that arose in the 1st century. in Palestine.

Speaking of the development of the European world, one cannot miss the movement of the Christian religion, to which the re-creation is attributed ancient world, and with which the history of the new Europe begins.

The founder of Christianity is Jesus Christ (Yeshua Mashiach). Jesus - the Greek vowel of the Hebrew name Yeshua, was born in the family of the carpenter Joseph - a descendant of the legendary King David. Place of birth - the city of Bethlehem. The place of residence of the parents is the city of Nazareth in Galilee. The birth of Jesus was marked by a number of cosmic phenomena, which gave reason to consider the boy the Messiah and the newborn king of the Jews. He was baptized at the age of 30. The main qualities of his personality were humility, patience, goodwill. When Jesus was 31 years old, from all his disciples, he selected 12, whom he designated to be the apostles of the new teaching, of which 10 were executed.

The Bible consists of two parts: the Old and New Testaments ("covenant" - a mystical agreement or union). The Old Testament (4-2 centuries BC) includes 5 books attributed to the Hebrew prophet Moses, as well as 34 works of a historical, philosophical, poetic and purely religious nature. These 39 officially recognized (canonical) books make up the Holy Scripture of Judaism - the Tanakh. The Old Testament contains the Jewish picture of the creation of the world and man, as well as the history of the Jewish people and the main ideas of Judaism.

The New Testament was created in the process of the formation of Christianity and is actually the Christian part of the Bible, it contains 27 books: 4 Gospels, which describe the earthly life of Jesus Christ, describe his martyrdom and miraculous resurrection; Acts of the apostles - disciples of Christ; 21 epistles of the apostles James, Peter, John, Jude and Paul; Revelation of the Apostle John the Theologian (Apocalypse).

Christianity is distinguished precisely by faith in Jesus Christ, not as a prophet, but as a God-man. As you know, the Christian Trinity is the unity of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and, finally, God the Son, Jesus Christ, consubstantial with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and, at the same time, being the embodiment of the divine in the human. Christ is the God-Man, conquering death, embodying hopes for a radical change in the world, for overcoming its ulcers. In Christianity, unlike Buddhism and Islam, the main symbol is transformation, change, purification. For Christianity, history is a directed movement. Christian history is a one-time, unique, ultimately God-determined process that has a clear beginning (creation), as well as an ultimate goal - the coming of the Messiah, the Last Judgment. The content of this process is the drama of a man who has fallen away from God, who has fallen into sin, to whom only the mercy of God can give eternal bliss from beyond. And this mercy can be bestowed only if you have faith in the Savior, as well as in the Church as the bearer of faith. And the fate of each person, therefore, is the moment of the fate of mankind.

The Christian Church, having arisen, was split, divided, reformed. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the condescension of the Holy Spirit both from God the Father and from God the Son, while the Greek Orthodox Church recognizes only from God the Father. The Orthodox Church does not recognize infallibility in matters of faith of the high priest (pope), does not recognize the practice of indulgences, the doctrine of immaculate conception Virgin Mary. Catholics and Orthodox baptize differently (the first by dousing, the second by immersion). Among Catholics, the celibacy of all the clergy is accepted, while among the Orthodox, only monasticism. The Catholic Church is more rationalized. The Reformation movement rejected the authority of the pope and, in general, all authorities except the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the Bible turned out to be acceptable to understand in different ways.

With all the differences between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, faith in the one God, faith in Christ the Savior, who suffered for sinful people, and who saves everyone with his pain, with his death, remains unshakable. He gives hope and comfort to all who suffer. Every soul relates to God through faith, through prayer.

Christianity affirms universal norms of morality, which must be observed. And if in the Mosaic Old Testament commandments these norms are mainly of a prohibitive nature (do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, etc.), then in the New Testament they are supplemented. It is prescribed for a person, not doing evil and not resisting evil by force, to love even enemies, to forgive, not to judge other people, to do alms, to be merciful, and in general to strive to be perfect, as the Heavenly Father is perfect.

The Christian worldview is based on the belief that God will judge a person according to his deeds. Evil will be punished, it will be rewarded. But the good will be appreciated. Even if there were deviations from the ideal of Christian behavior, redemption is always possible, forgiveness can be earned, if not on earth, then in Heaven.

An important place in Orthodoxy is occupied by sacramental rites, during which, according to the teachings of the church, a special grace descends on the believers. The Church recognizes seven sacraments:

Baptism is a sacrament in which a believer, when the body is immersed three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, acquires a spiritual birth.

In the sacrament of chrismation, the believer is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, returning and strengthening in spiritual life.

In the sacrament of communion, the believer, under the guise of bread and wine, partakes of the very Body and Blood of Christ for Eternal Life.

The sacrament of repentance or confession is the recognition of one's sins before a priest who releases them on behalf of Jesus Christ.

The sacrament of the priesthood is performed through episcopal ordination during the elevation of one or another person to the rank of clergyman. The right to perform this sacrament belongs only to the bishop.

In the sacrament of marriage, which takes place in the temple at the wedding, the marital union of the bride and groom is blessed.

In the sacrament of unction (unction), when the body is anointed with oil, the grace of God is called upon the sick, healing the infirmities of the soul and body.

Christianity plays a big role in the modern world. Now it can be called the dominant religion of the world. Christianity penetrates into all spheres of life of people of different nationalities. And against the backdrop of numerous hostilities in the world, its peacekeeping role is manifested, which in itself is multifaceted and includes a complex system that is aimed at shaping the worldview. Christianity is one of the world's religions, which adapts as much as possible to changing conditions and continues to have a great impact on the mores, customs, personal life of people, their relationships in the family.

Buddhism

The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, son of King Shuddhodana, who left a luxurious life and became a wanderer on the paths of a world full of suffering. He sought liberation in asceticism, but convinced that the mortification of the flesh leads to the death of the mind, he abandoned it. Then he turned to meditation and after a few weeks without food or drink, he achieved enlightenment and became a Buddha. After which he preached his doctrine for forty-five years and died at the age of 80.

Tripitaka, Tipitaka (Sanskrit "three baskets") - the books of the Buddhist Scriptures, perceived by believers as a set of revelations of the Buddha as presented by his disciples.

In the first centuries of its existence, Buddhism was divided into 18 sects, and at the beginning of our era, Buddhism was divided into two branches, Hinayana and Mahayana. In 1-5 centuries. the main religious and philosophical schools of Buddhism were formed in the Hinayana - Vaibhashika and Sautrantika, in the Mahayana - Yogachara, or Vij-nyanavada, and Madhyamika.

Having arisen in the North-East of India, Buddhism soon spread throughout India, reaching its peak in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. - the beginning of the 1st millennium AD Faced with the conditions and culture of the northern countries, the Mahayana gave rise to various currents that mixed with Taoism in China, Shinto in Japan, and local religions in Tibet.

So, for Buddhism, the starting point was that life in the world is full of suffering. The source of suffering is the very birth of a person, and the meaning and character of each new birth (for a person is born again after his death) is determined by the deeds committed in a past life. The craving for earthly goods complicates existence, leads to unworthy deeds and, thus, predetermines the imperfection of new incarnations of a person, the chain of which is uninterrupted. It is necessary to break this chain, understanding the illusory nature of this life, and achieve true knowledge, true existence, freed from earthly fuss.

The Buddha's teaching, in his opinion, had one taste - a taste for liberation, for a person to achieve a higher state - nirvana, which is very difficult to determine. Nirvana is not an ordinary life, for to live is to suffer. But this is not death, not non-existence. This is precisely the special being of a person who has freed himself from rebirth, who has eliminated the causes of suffering through a radical change in himself and his relationship with the world. The state of nirvana is difficult to achieve. And less is required of a simple Buddhist: to be truthful, generous, to take care of monks and teachers, to try not to do evil, not to have evil thoughts. Then he will live better on earth and receive hope for bliss in the future.

A characteristic feature of Buddhism is its ethical and practical orientation. Buddhism put forward as a central problem - the problem of being a person. The core of the content of Buddhism is the Buddha's preaching about the "four noble truths": there is suffering, the cause of suffering, liberation from suffering, the path leading to liberation from suffering.

Psychologically, suffering is defined, first of all, as the expectation of failures and losses, as the experience of anxiety in general, which is based on a feeling of fear, inseparable from the present hope. In essence, suffering is identical with the desire for satisfaction. Death due to the adoption of Buddhism is a chain of endless rebirths.

Buddhism imagines liberation, first of all, as the destruction of desire, more precisely, the quenching of their passion. The Buddhist principle of the middle path recommends avoiding extremes, both the desire for sensual pleasure and the complete suppression of this attraction. In the moral-emotional sphere, there is the concept of tolerance, "relativity", from the standpoint of which moral prescriptions are not binding and can be violated. The moral ideal appears as an absolute non-harm to the environment (ahinsa), kindness, a feeling of perfect satisfaction. The equivalent of extinguishing desires is liberation, or nirvana.

In Buddhism, there is no need for God as a creator, savior, provider, i.e. in general as, of course, the supreme being. From this follows also the absence in Buddhism of the dualism of the divine and the non-divine, God and the world, and so on. Starting with the denial of external religiosity, Buddhism in the course of its development came to its recognition. The Buddhist pantheon is growing due to the introduction into it of all kinds of mythological creatures, one way or another assimilating with Buddhism. Extremely early in Buddhism, a sangha-monastic community appears, from which, over time, a kind of religious organization has grown.

Islam

The founder of Islam Muhammad (Mohammed, Muhammad). Born in Mecca (about 570), orphaned early. He was a shepherd, married a rich widow and became a merchant. In 622 he moved to Medina. He died (632) in the midst of preparations for the conquests, as a result of which a huge state was formed - the Arab Caliphate.

The Koran (literally - reading, recitation) is the holy scripture of Islam. Muslims believe that the Koran exists eternally, is kept by Allah, who, through the angel Jabrail, conveyed the contents of this book to Muhammad, and he orally acquainted his followers with this revelation. The language of the Quran is Arabic.

Most of the Qur'an is a polemic in the form of a dialogue between Allah, speaking either in the first or in the third person, or through intermediaries (“spirit”, Jabrail), but always through the mouth of Muhammad, and the opponents of the prophet, or Allah’s appeal with exhortations and instructions to him followers.

The Qur'an consists of 114 chapters (suras), which have neither a semantic connection nor a chronological sequence, but are arranged according to the principle of decreasing volume: the first suras are the longest, and the last are the shortest.

The Quran contains the Islamic picture of the world and man, the idea of ​​the Last Judgment, heaven and hell, the idea of ​​Allah and his prophets, the last of which is Muhammad, the Muslim understanding of social and moral problems.

The most important concepts of the Muslim religion are "Islam", "Din", "Iman". Islam in a broad sense began to designate the whole world, within which the laws of the Koran were established and operate. Classical Islam, in principle, does not make national distinctions, recognizing three statuses of a person's existence: as "orthodox", as "protected" and as a polytheist, who must either be converted to Islam or exterminated. Each religious group united in a separate community (ummah). Ummah is an ethnic, linguistic or religious community of people, which becomes the object of deities, the plan of salvation, at the same time, the ummah is also a form of social organization of people.

"Din" - the duties that Allah prescribed to a person (a kind of "God's law"). Muslims include three main elements in "din": "the five pillars of Islam", faith and good deeds.

The Five Pillars of Islam are:

1) the confession of monotheism and the prophetic mission of Muhammad;

2) daily prayer five times;

3) fasting once a year in the month of Ramadan;

4) voluntary cleansing alms;

5) pilgrimage (at least once in a lifetime) to Mecca ("hajj").

"Iman" (faith) is understood primarily as "evidence" about the object of one's faith. In the Qur'an, first of all, Allah bears witness to himself; the believer's response is like a returned testimony.

There are four main articles of faith in Islam:

into one god;

in his messengers and writings;

The Qur'an names five prophets - messengers ("rasul"): Noah, with whom God renewed the alliance, Abraham - the first "numin" (believer in one god); Moses, to whom God gave the Torah for the "sons of Israel", Jesus, through whom God communicated the Gospel to Christians; finally, Muhammad - "the seal of the prophets", who completed the chain of prophecy;

into angels;

resurrection after death and judgment day.

After the Battle of Siffin in 657, Islam split into three main areas, in connection with the solution of the issue of supreme power in Islam: Sunnis, Shiites and Ismailis.

In the middle of the 18th century the religious and political movement of the Wahhabis arises, preaching a return to the purity of early Islam in the time of Muhammad. Founded in Arabia by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. The ideology of Wahhabism was supported by the Saudi family, who fought to conquer all of Arabia. Currently, the Wahhabi doctrine is officially recognized in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabis are sometimes called religious and political groups in different countries ah, financed by the Saudi regime and preaching the slogans of establishing "Islamic power".

The main thing in Islam is the belief that Allah is the only God, and Muhammad is his prophet and messenger. Ablutions, prayers, fasting are obligatory. It is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, eat pork, gamble. It is necessary to perform hajji - going to holy places. There is a tax on property and income in favor of the religious community, and voluntary donations. And when it is very necessary, that is Jihad - the full return of forces, means, time, opportunities for the triumph of Islam. Behavior in everyday life is regulated by Sharia - a set of religious and legal norms, principles and rules, the observance of which means a righteous life pleasing to Allah. In the mass consciousness, Sharia is perceived both as a Divine Law and as a way of life for a Muslim.

The role of Islam is currently quite large, but, unfortunately, it is associated with religious extremism. Indeed, in this religion this concept has a place. Members of some Islamic sects believe that only they live according to divine laws and correctly profess their faith. Often, these people prove the case with cruel methods, not stopping at terrorist acts. Religious extremism, unfortunately, remains a fairly widespread and dangerous phenomenon - a source of social tension.

3. The influence of world religions on the development of culture

The role of religion in the life of specific people, societies and states is not the same. Some live according to the strict laws of religion (for example, Islam), others offer complete freedom in matters of faith to their citizens and do not interfere at all in the religious sphere, and religion may also be banned.

Religion forms a system of principles, views, ideals and beliefs in a person, explains to a person the structure of the world, determines his place in this world, indicates to him what the meaning of life is. It gives people consolation, hope, spiritual satisfaction, support. A person, having a certain religious ideal in front of him, changes internally and becomes able to carry the ideas of his religion, assert goodness and justice, resigning himself to hardships, not paying attention to those who ridicule or insult him.

Religion promotes the unification of people, helps the formation of nations, the formation and strengthening of states. But, at the same time, the religious factor can lead to division, disintegration of states and societies, when large masses of people begin to oppose each other on a religious basis.

Thus, religion plays a cultural and social role.

Christianity played a huge role in the development of European culture.

The Bible, biblical images and plots have dominated painting and sculpture for centuries, thus making a significant contribution to the formation of the cult of the deified Christ. The best thing that European architecture has created - church architecture, was called upon to glorify the greatness of God and the church. Music in the church (fugues and chorales of Bach), as well as the church choir in Orthodox services, could not but exert their influence on the musical culture of entire nations.

Biblical aphorisms, images, plots, brief and capacious concepts (“the cross is heavy”, “the path to Golgotha”, King Herod, the traitor Judas, etc.) for centuries formed and nourished systems of life perceptions, assessments, moral concepts. The most important dogmas and postulates of the church about obedience, patience, retribution in the next world formed among the peoples the idea of ​​inevitability, sent down from above by those orders that reign in the world. From century to century, they evolved into a whole system of worldview, according to which, it would be possible to get rid of earthly hardships at best after the Last Judgment and the second coming of Christ.

Although, it is extremely important to take into account that the influence of the church on the traditions, culture and life of the peoples of Europe differed significantly in the western (Catholic-Protestant) and eastern (Orthodox) parts of it. And this difference to a large extent contributed to the unequal paths, pace and results of the social evolution of European countries.

In the West, the protest against the omnipotence of the church, which led to the Reformation, gave a strong impetus to anti-clericalism (secular) development outside the mainstream of church influence. In the East, however, the merging of the Orthodox Church with the state created a much more powerful system of an unshakable autocratic and despotic tradition sanctified by church authority, which turned out to be much more difficult to break.

Buddhist culture was originally associated with the preaching of social harmony, equality and non-violent existence. Prudence, confidence, restraint, gentleness are the main features of Buddhist ethics. She teaches: “The adornment of a person is wisdom, the adornment of wisdom is calmness, the adornment of calmness is courage, the adornment of courage is gentleness.” The basic principles of the Buddhist worldview are formulated as follows: to prevent and suppress evil, to do and maintain good. And in Chinese Buddhism, five leading precepts of moral behavior are listed: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not look at women with lust, do not drink alcohol.

In the field of spiritual culture, Buddhism developed the traditions of searching for special psychic forces in a person, allowing him to control the internal processes of the body and penetrate with his thought into the depths of the secrets of the universe. These traditions led to the accumulation of vast experience of spiritual self-improvement, to the development of special means and methods of immersion in oneself, bringing one's own "I" into a state of so-called trance, which gives extraordinary mystical experiences.

Indian sages I-II centuries. AD is credited with the creation of the decimal system or the invention of zero, however, the exact scientific disciplines in the countries of Buddhist culture practically did not develop. The only exception was architecture - the most striking embodiment of Buddhist art. In numerous temples distinguished by exquisite decoration and unique forms, you can find hundreds of statues of Buddhist gods. Originating on the Arabian Peninsula, Islam, as it spread, absorbed the achievements of many cultures: Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Indian and others. Because Muslim culture is multinational. Its creators were Arabs, Persians, Moors, Tajiks, and Turks. Its unifying elements are directly Islam and the Arabic language - the language of the Koran.

A feature of Muslim culture is the combination of a strict unity of the system of basic religious values ​​and strict regulation of everyday behavior with a fairly broad free-thinking in the interpretation of the theological problems of Islam. And the development of philosophy and science in the Muslim world was largely facilitated by respect for learning, which became a tradition along with reverence for the Koran.

In both Christian and Muslim cultures, the main struggle on the basis of theological reflection ensued between mysticism and rationalism. Sufism began to express the first direction of thought - the idea of ​​spiritual self-deepening and secret occult knowledge.

Another powerful branch of Islamic philosophy, rationalism, relies entirely on logic. This approach to knowledge played a huge role in the development of science, because the Arab world of the Middle Ages gave humanity a lot of knowledge in various areas of life. We use Arabic numerals and algebra based on them, knowledge from astronomy, mineralogy, botany, pharmacology, zoology, linguistics and other sciences. The Arab art of healing was especially famous in Europe.

Islamic literature and poetry developed in organic connection with philosophy and science; and a specific feature of Islamic culture is the almost complete absence of fine arts in it. This is a consequence of the prohibition imposed by religion on the image of man, animals and everything divine. For the same reason, the Muslim world lost the theater, but instead of paintings or statues, Islamic artists have long developed the ornamental art of arabesques and artistic calligraphy. Muslim religious or palace architecture is original and elegant. The famous Taj Mahal, the mosques of Cordoba, Bukhara, Istanbul, Samarkand amaze with their size, completeness of style, abundance of carvings, ornaments and mosaics, complex symmetry of ornamental lace.

Conclusion

In earthly life, in conditions of physical and social inequality of people living in a world full of lies, injustice, grief and evil, world religions assert that all people are initially equal, that everyone has the possibility of a different, more perfect life. Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity proclaim and defend the freedom of the spirit in different ways.

But in the main they agree. Religious ideas contain a call and a requirement to be humane, conscientious and responsible, tolerant and merciful. And most importantly, religious faith makes it easier for a person to solve the painful problem of the meaning of life. A separate life, felt as a moment of eternal life, becomes initially and obviously meaningful.

And since faith in God is seen as a comprehending, ennobling, inspiring force, it seems obvious that religion is not just a phenomenon of culture, but a necessary element of its highest level.

The role of religion and culture, and most importantly, their unity and balance, is great not only in the formation of national identity, but also in eliminating conflicts on ethno-confessional grounds. Especially when the development of interfaith dialogue, intercultural ties and cooperation becomes an effective alternative to hostility, cultural disunity and religious intolerance. The unity of religion and culture in the conditions of living in the same territory and close social relationships of people of different national traditions have great importance. You can even say - the key, because they touch on the widest range of issues of organizing their life together on the basis of the interaction of various religions and the cultural and historical way of life.

In general, as the American physicist Niels Bohr wittily remarked: “Humanity has made two great discoveries. One is that there is a God, the other is that there is no God.” And it is probably not so important which of these points of view each one adheres to in his self-determination. It is important to find the road that will lead us all to the Temple.

List of sources used

1.Introduction to cultural studies: Textbook in 3 parts. Part 2. Chapter XYIII. M., 1995.

2. Introduction to religious studies. M., 1985.

3. Eremeev D.E. Islam: way of life and style of thinking. M., 1990.

4. Erasov B.S. Culture, religion and civilization in the East. M., 1990.

5. Islam: traditions and innovations. M., 1991.

6.Mamontov S.P. Fundamentals of Cultural Studies: Textbook. M., 2001.

7. Rozanov V.V. Religion. Philosophy. Culture. M., 1992.

8.Yakovlev E.G. Art and World Religions. M., 1987.

Glossary of basic concepts

The Bible (Greek biblio - books) is a set of books that Christians consider divinely revealed, that is, given from above, and are called Holy Scripture.

Buddhism is a religious and philosophical doctrine that arose in ancient India in the 6th-5th centuries. BC.

"Din" - the duties that Allah prescribed to a person (a kind of "God's law").

Islam (“giving oneself (to God), submission”) arose in the Hijaz (at the beginning of the 7th century) among the tribes of Western Arabia.

The Koran (literally - reading, recitation) is the holy scripture of Islam.

The ideological function of religion provides the perception and understanding of the world, during which its holistic picture, norms, values, ideals and other components of the worldview are developed that determine a person’s attitude to everything around and act as cultural guidelines and regulators of behavior.

Nirvana - "liberation from the bustle of the world, passions"

Religious associations - associations of followers of a certain religion, arising on the basis of a common belief and ritual - a church, cult, sect, dogma.

Religion is the unity of the worldview, the corresponding behavior and specific action (cult), which are based on the belief in the existence of one or more gods, "sacred", that is, one or another variety of the supernatural. Religious activities are rituals, divine services, prayers, sermons, religious holidays.

And them ratios between themselves they are always ... "VGPU") SUMMARY ON HISTORY RELIGIONS SUBJECT: " culture And religion" The work was completed by: a student of the PP group ...

Ratio culture and civilization in the concept of N.A. Berdyaev

Abstract >> Culture and art

The Contradiction of Cultural Creativity……………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Chapter 3. Ratio culture and civilization in the concept of N.A. Berdyaev ..., the revival of interest in religions and militant godlessness, conjugation in culture extreme individualism with unprecedented...

In interaction with art, religion addresses the spiritual life of a person and interprets the meaning and goals of human existence in its own way. Art and religion reflect the world in the form of artistic images, comprehend the truth intuitively, through insight. They are inconceivable without a person's emotional attitude to the world, without his developed figurative fantasy. But art has broader possibilities for the figurative reflection of the world, which go beyond the bounds of religious consciousness.

Historically, the interaction of art and religion was carried out as follows. Primitive culture was characterized by indivisibility public consciousness Therefore, in ancient times, religion, which was a complex interweaving of totemism, animism, fetishism and magic, was merged with primitive art and morality, all together they were an artistic reflection of the nature surrounding a person, his labor activity (hunting, farming, gathering). First, apparently, there was a dance, which was a magical body movements aimed at appeasing or frightening the spirits. Then music and mimicry were born. From the aesthetic imitation of the processes and results of labor, gradually developed art aimed at appeasing the spirits.

Religion had a huge impact on ancient culture, one of the elements of which was ancient Greek mythology. Ancient Greek myths served as the basis for the emergence of the ancient theater. The prototype of theatrical performances was the festivities in honor of the very popular and beloved god Dionysus in Greece. From these, Greek tragedy arose later. From rural festivities with comic songs and dances, a tragic comedy was born. ancient greek mythology had a great influence on the culture of many modern European peoples. Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Shakespeare, Mozart, Gluck and many other composers, writers and artists addressed her.

Biblical myths, including the main myth of the god-man Jesus Christ, were the most attractive in art. Painting has lived for centuries with interpretations of the Nativity and the baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. On the canvases of Leonardo da Vinci, Kramskoy, Ge, Ivanov, Christ is presented as the highest ideal of Man, as the ideal of purity, love and forgiveness. The same moral dominant prevails in Christian icon painting, frescoes, and temple art.

The temple is not only a place of worship, it is a fortress, a symbol of the strength and independence of the state (city), historical monument. The temples, being places of worship, were of great cultural significance: they embodied the history of the country, the traditions and artistic tastes of the people. For each temple, ancient Russian masters found their own unique architectural solution. Being able to choose accurately the best place in the landscape, they sought its harmonious combination with the surrounding nature, which enhanced the expressiveness of temple structures.

Religion, being a rich, centuries-old layer of world culture, had a huge impact on literature. She left the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran to the world. The Vedas are an extensive fund of ideas, the most valuable source of ancient Indian philosophy and various knowledge. Here we are talking about the creation of the world, many concepts are introduced (cosmology, theology, epistemology, world soul, etc.), practical ways of overcoming evil and suffering, gaining spiritual freedom are determined. The attitude to the Vedas determined the authority and diversity of ancient Indian philosophical schools(Vedantas, sakhis, yogis, etc.). On the basis of the Vedas, the entire ancient Indian culture arose, giving the world the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita - one of the most popular parts of the Mahabharata, which deals with the moral aspect of Hinduism, inner freedom, good, evil and justice. It also develops the doctrine of yoga as a system of practical improvement of the body, soul and spirit.

The Bible is a monument of Hebrew literature (Old Testament) and early Christian literature (New Testament). The Bible is one of the largest monuments of world culture and literature. Without knowledge of the Bible, many cultural values ​​remain inaccessible. Most of the art paintings of the era of classicism, Russian icon painting and philosophy cannot be understood without knowledge of biblical stories.

The Qur'an includes Islamic teachings about the fate of the world and man, contains a collection of ritual and legal institutions, didactic stories and parables. The Qur'an contains ancient Arabic customs, Arabic poetry, and folklore. The literary merits of the Qur'an are recognized by all connoisseurs of the Arabic language.

The role of religion in the history of world culture consisted not only in the fact that it bestowed on humanity "sacred" books - sources of wisdom, kindness and creative inspiration. Religion has had a considerable influence on the literature of different countries and peoples. Writers turned to the image of Christ as the ideal of moral perfection, the savior of the world and humanity. In the image of Christ, the writers also saw the common things that befell him and what our era is going through: betrayal, persecution, wrong judgment. When people lose their spiritual orientation, break with eternal values ​​and begin to live only with momentary problems, taking care of food, clothing, housing, then culture and society inevitably find themselves in a crisis. So it was at the end of antiquity, so it was at the end of the last century, so it is happening now. The way out of the impasse is in the moral revival of people, which has always been carried out on a spiritual, including a religious, basis.