"Religion is as old as mankind. Primitive man had primitive religions and he worshiped the elements of nature like sun, earth, air, cloud, water, etc., Advances in civilization led to institutionalized religions. The basic characteristics of all religions are similar." Prakash Behere, et al.
Why did religion first emerge as a human impulse? How did religion change over time and what natural and man-made forces influenced that change? What role does religion play in the world today? How are the major religions of the world today different and what do they share in common? These are some of the questions that will guide our study of World Religions.