"The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

- Thomas Paine

• • How is divorce viewed?
  • Are these views based in religion?
• • Is birth control accepted?
  • Are these views based in religion?
• • What is the popular view of homosexuality?
  • How does the popular view compare to the religious beliefs about homosexuality?

• • Do people worship a god or gods?
• • How do people communicate with their god or gods?
• • Are there other respected religious figures?
  • Allah, Buddha, Dalai Lama, Pope?

• • How is creation explained?
  • Religiously, scientifically?
• • How are natural phenomena explained?
  • Lightning, fire, day and night, earthquakes?
• • Are these legends and explanations documented in writing?

• • Where do people go to worship?
  • Are they indoor temples, outdoor areas, locations centered around idols?
• • Where are the places of worship located?
• • How often do people visit places of worship?
• • Who visits places of worship?

• • What foods are holy?
  • Ethnic?
• • How is alcohol viewed by members of religious groups?
  • Other drinks?
• • Do religious rules exist to govern diet?
  • Why do they exist?
• • Are religious rituals associated with meals?

• • Who are the noted religious founders?
• • What caused the foundation of the religion?
• • What artifacts are regarded as sacred?
• • What is the relationship between religion and the government?

• • Which religious holidays are recognized?
• • What is the reason or story behind the religious holidays?
• • Are religious holidays nationally recognized?
  • Which ones?
• • How are religious holidays celebrated?

• • What religious customs are performed when a couple gets married?
• • Is the providing of dowry practiced?
  • Is it legal?
• • How many people can one person marry?

• • What types of religions are present and what themes are common among them?
  • Different?
• • What religious conflicts are present and how did they begin?
• • What are people’s opinions of religions other than their own?

• • What religious texts are read/followed?
  • What are the texts based upon?
• • Who wrote the religious texts and when?
  • Have they ever been revised?
• • What is in the texts?
  • Stories?
  • About whom or what?

• • What is each religion’s view of the mind/body connection?
• • Do people believe in afterlife or reincarnation?
• • Are birth and/or death celebrated for religious reasons?
• • What is the philosophy of life in each prevalent religion?

• • Do people pray?
  • When and how often?
  • What do people pray about?
• • What sacrifices are made for religion?
• • Do people perform pilgrimages?
• • Do people perform rituals such as traditional dances or ceremonies?
• • Is there religious dress?
  • What does this mean?
  • For whom?