Chapter 7: ReligionChapter 7: Religion

Alex MatthewsAlex Matthews

What is Religion?What is Religion?

• ““A system of beliefs and practices A system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate culturally perceived ultimate priorities”.priorities”.

• Religion answers the question of how Religion answers the question of how a person “should” behave on a day-a person “should” behave on a day-to-day basis. to-day basis.

The Purpose of ReligionThe Purpose of Religion

• Religion normally projects the idea Religion normally projects the idea that a “good” life has rewards and that a “good” life has rewards and that “bad” behaviors have that “bad” behaviors have punishmentspunishments

• For many people, religion defines For many people, religion defines who they are and how they who they are and how they understand the world around them understand the world around them

The Opposite of ReligionThe Opposite of Religion

• SecularismSecularism – “the idea that ethical and – “the idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life on Earth, not to adhered to for life on Earth, not to accommodate the prescriptions of a deity accommodate the prescriptions of a deity and promises of a comfortable afterlife.”and promises of a comfortable afterlife.”

• Basically stating that religion should be Basically stating that religion should be excluded from daily life and the main excluded from daily life and the main concern is to focus on life on the physical concern is to focus on life on the physical Earth. Earth.

Categories of ReligionCategories of Religion

• MonotheisticMonotheistic – “a belief system in which – “a belief system in which one supreme deity is revered as creator one supreme deity is revered as creator and arbiter of all that exists.”and arbiter of all that exists.”– Key Phrase: One deityKey Phrase: One deity– Example: ChristianityExample: Christianity

• PolytheisticPolytheistic – “a belief system in which – “a belief system in which multiple deities are revered as creators multiple deities are revered as creators and arbiters of all that exists.”and arbiters of all that exists.”– Key Phrase: Multiple deitiesKey Phrase: Multiple deities– Example: Hinduism Example: Hinduism

• AnimisticAnimistic – “a belief system in – “a belief system in which inanimate objects and which inanimate objects and elements of the natural landscape elements of the natural landscape possess souls and can help or hinder possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts.”human efforts.”– Key Phrase: Inanimate objects and Key Phrase: Inanimate objects and

naturenature– Example: ShamanismExample: Shamanism

Hearths of ReligionHearths of Religion

• By 500 BCE there were four main hearths of By 500 BCE there were four main hearths of religion and philosophy that were developed:religion and philosophy that were developed:– Greek Philosophy:Greek Philosophy: Shores of the Mediterranean Shores of the Mediterranean

SeaSea– Hinduism:Hinduism: South Asia, along the Indus River valley South Asia, along the Indus River valley– Judaism:Judaism: Eastern Mediterranean Eastern Mediterranean– Chinese Philosophy:Chinese Philosophy: Huang He River Valley in Huang He River Valley in

ChinaChina

• These religions/philosophies influenced other These religions/philosophies influenced other religions that we know of today.religions that we know of today.

Hearth Religious Influence on Hearth Religious Influence on Other ReligionsOther Religions

• ChristianityChristianity has influence from both has influence from both Judaism and Greek Philosophy. Judaism and Greek Philosophy.

• Islam Islam has influence from Judaism, has influence from Judaism, Greek Philosophy, and Christianity.Greek Philosophy, and Christianity.

• The monotheistic beliefs that The monotheistic beliefs that Christianity and Islam share are Christianity and Islam share are derived from the monotheistic beliefs derived from the monotheistic beliefs that Judaism displays.that Judaism displays.

Hearth of the Three Main Hearth of the Three Main Monotheistic ReligionsMonotheistic Religions

• Around 3,500 years ago there was a Around 3,500 years ago there was a monotheistic religion that developed in monotheistic religion that developed in Southwest Asia called Southwest Asia called ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism..

• Some believe that this religion is the Some believe that this religion is the original hearth of Christianity, Judaism, original hearth of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.and Islam.

• However, some others believe that However, some others believe that Judaism itself was the first monotheistic Judaism itself was the first monotheistic religion.religion.

Universalizing ReligionsUniversalizing Religions

• ““A belief system that espouses the A belief system that espouses the idea that there is one true religion idea that there is one true religion that is universal in scope.”that is universal in scope.”

• Members of universalizing religions Members of universalizing religions actively seek people to be a part of actively seek people to be a part of their religion. (Missionaries)their religion. (Missionaries)

• Examples: Christianity, Islam, and Examples: Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Buddhism.

Ethnic ReligionsEthnic Religions

• ““A religion that is particular to one, A religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct group of people.”culturally distinct group of people.”

• Followers are normally born into the Followers are normally born into the religion.religion.

• Followers do not actively seek out Followers do not actively seek out converts like in universalizing religions.converts like in universalizing religions.

• Ethnic religions tend to be spatially Ethnic religions tend to be spatially concentrated but not always.concentrated but not always.

• Examples: Judaism, Shamanism, Examples: Judaism, Shamanism, traditional religions in Africatraditional religions in Africa

Hearths of Different Hearths of Different ReligionsReligions

• Hinduism:Hinduism:– Originated 4,000 years ago in the Indus Originated 4,000 years ago in the Indus

River Valley which is now part of River Valley which is now part of PakistanPakistan

– Does not have a single founder or single Does not have a single founder or single theologytheology

– Based on ancient practices of the Indus Based on ancient practices of the Indus River cities of Mohenjo-Daro and River cities of Mohenjo-Daro and HarappaHarappa

• Buddhism:Buddhism:– Derived from Hinduism over 2,500 years agoDerived from Hinduism over 2,500 years ago– Created as a reaction to Hinduism’s strict social Created as a reaction to Hinduism’s strict social

hierarchyhierarchy– Prince Siddhartha of what is now Nepal founded Prince Siddhartha of what is now Nepal founded

Buddhism and was known as the BuddhaBuddhism and was known as the Buddha• Shintoism:Shintoism:

– Buddhism was mixed with a local religion in Japan Buddhism was mixed with a local religion in Japan creating Shintoismcreating Shintoism

– There is no official founderThere is no official founder• Taoism:Taoism:

– The exact beginnings are not knownThe exact beginnings are not known– Can be traced back to an older contemporary of Can be traced back to an older contemporary of

Confucius, Lao-Tsu Confucius, Lao-Tsu – Lao-Tsu published the Tao-te-ching, “Book of the Way”, Lao-Tsu published the Tao-te-ching, “Book of the Way”,

which focused on the proper form of political rule and which focused on the proper form of political rule and the oneness of humanity and naturethe oneness of humanity and nature

• Confucianism:Confucianism:– Started by Confucius in ChinaStarted by Confucius in China– Confucius denied the divine ancestry of the aristocratic Confucius denied the divine ancestry of the aristocratic

rulers, educated the landless and the weak, disliked rulers, educated the landless and the weak, disliked supernatural mysticism, and argues that human virtues supernatural mysticism, and argues that human virtues and abilities not heritage should determine a person's and abilities not heritage should determine a person's position and responsibility in society.position and responsibility in society.

– Confucianism is a philosophy not really a religion.Confucianism is a philosophy not really a religion.• Judaism:Judaism:

– Grew out of the belief system of the Jews, one of the Grew out of the belief system of the Jews, one of the several nomadic Semitic tribes in Southwest Asia about several nomadic Semitic tribes in Southwest Asia about 4,000 years ago.4,000 years ago.

– The teachings of Abraham are the roots of the Jewish The teachings of Abraham are the roots of the Jewish religious beliefsreligious beliefs

• Christianity:Christianity:– Can be traced back to the same hearth as Judaism in Can be traced back to the same hearth as Judaism in

the Mediterranean the Mediterranean – Jesus was the founder of ChristianityJesus was the founder of Christianity

• Islam:Islam:– Can be traced back to the founder Can be traced back to the founder

Muhammad in MeccaMuhammad in Mecca– Muhammad admired the monotheism of Muhammad admired the monotheism of

Judaism and Christianity Judaism and Christianity

• Traditional/Shamanist:Traditional/Shamanist:– Can be traced back to many different Can be traced back to many different

tribes scattered all around the worldtribes scattered all around the world– These faiths could be found in early These faiths could be found in early

African, Native American, Southeast and African, Native American, Southeast and East Asian civilizations. East Asian civilizations.

Sacred SitesSacred Sites

• ““Place or space people infuse with Place or space people infuse with religious meaning.”religious meaning.”

• The ancient city of Jerusalem is The ancient city of Jerusalem is sacred to the Jewish people, sacred to the Jewish people, Christians and Muslims.Christians and Muslims.

• The Western Wall and The Temple The Western Wall and The Temple Mount are other examples of sacred Mount are other examples of sacred sitessites

Sacred LandscapesSacred Landscapes

• How religion is prominent through an How religion is prominent through an areas landscapeareas landscape

• Since the erection of a temple in the Hindu Since the erection of a temple in the Hindu culture bestows merit on the builder, there culture bestows merit on the builder, there are many temples within the Hindu are many temples within the Hindu cultural landscape.cultural landscape.

• In a Christian landscape a church is always In a Christian landscape a church is always present and sometimes is the focus of the present and sometimes is the focus of the whole town.whole town.

Interfaith BoundariesInterfaith Boundaries

• ““Boundaries between the world’s major Boundaries between the world’s major religions”religions”

• Social division in a country based on Social division in a country based on religion can cause conflict and interfaith religion can cause conflict and interfaith boundariesboundaries

• Examples: Examples: – The Christian and Muslim faith presences in The Christian and Muslim faith presences in

AfricaAfrica– Israel/Palestine ConflictIsrael/Palestine Conflict

Intrafaith BoundariesIntrafaith Boundaries

• ““Boundaries within a single faith”Boundaries within a single faith”

• Different sects of a religion could Different sects of a religion could engage in conflict with each other engage in conflict with each other based on diverging beliefs.based on diverging beliefs.

• Example: Example: – The Protestant/Catholic conflict in The Protestant/Catholic conflict in

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

Israel and PalestineIsrael and Palestine

• After World War I, the British, who controlled After World War I, the British, who controlled Palestine, wanted to create a national Palestine, wanted to create a national homeland for the Jewish people within homeland for the Jewish people within Palestine.Palestine.

• The British assured the world that the non-The British assured the world that the non-Jewish people of Palestine would have Jewish people of Palestine would have protected religious and civil rightsprotected religious and civil rights

• A peaceful result was not achieved by the A peaceful result was not achieved by the policy and by 1947-1948 Jews and policy and by 1947-1948 Jews and Palestinians engaged in open warfare. Palestinians engaged in open warfare.

YugoslaviaYugoslavia

• The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox divisions The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox divisions of Christianity existed in Yugoslavia divided of Christianity existed in Yugoslavia divided by the Balkan Peninsula.by the Balkan Peninsula.

• The Slovenians and Croats in the west of the The Slovenians and Croats in the west of the peninsula were Catholic.peninsula were Catholic.

• The Serbians and Montenegrans in the east The Serbians and Montenegrans in the east and south of the Peninsula were Eastern and south of the Peninsula were Eastern OrthodoxOrthodox

• Also, the people in the west of the peninsula Also, the people in the west of the peninsula used the roman alphabet and the people in used the roman alphabet and the people in the east and south used the Cyrillic alphabet the east and south used the Cyrillic alphabet

Yugoslavia (Continued)Yugoslavia (Continued)

• The already present religious and The already present religious and linguistic tension that existed in linguistic tension that existed in Yugoslavia followed by the forceful Yugoslavia followed by the forceful take over by the Muslim Ottomans take over by the Muslim Ottomans caused more tension and conflict.caused more tension and conflict.

Religious FundamentalismReligious Fundamentalism

• ““Religious movement whose Religious movement whose objectives are to return to the objectives are to return to the foundations of the faith and to foundations of the faith and to influence state policy”influence state policy”

• A fundamentalist group holds it A fundamentalist group holds it religious beliefs as nonnegotiable religious beliefs as nonnegotiable and uncompromisable. and uncompromisable.

Religious ExtremismReligious Extremism

• ““Religious fundamentalism carried to Religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence”the point of violence”

• Fundamentalists can be extremists Fundamentalists can be extremists but not the other way around. but not the other way around.