Religion

Chapter 6 Sec 1

Order of Religion Origin

Hinduism - 5000+ BCE Judaism - 5000+ BCE Buddhism - 586 BCE Christianity - 30 CE Islam - 570 CE

Number of followers per religion

Christianity Islam Hinduism Buddhism Judaism

2.1 Billion 1.5 Billion 900 million 374 million 14-19 million

Religion is the core component of culture The other key component is… Language Religions like languages are constantly in

changing Define religion…

Not easy… “A system of beliefs and practices that attempts to

order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities”

“A relatively structured set of beliefs & practices through which people seek mental & physical harmony with the powers of the universe”

Others?

Looking at religion spatially

Culture regions - differ from one place to another, producing spatial variations

Cultural diffusion - spread & evolved by involving many interactions among people & places

Cultural landscape - religious beliefs are visible where people live and practice their beliefs

What role does religion play in culture? Interaction - one religion can thrive, another

can disappear Conversion - a nonbeliever introduced to a

new religion Migration - religion is mobile Landscape is marked by religion -

mosques, churches, synagogues, temples Dress - different religions may require

certain dress Religion is manifested in many ways

Universalizing Religion

Attempt to be global, appeal to all people Actively seeking converts Also called proselytic

Syncretic - combine two or more belief systems Orthodox - purity of faith; Greek word for “right

teaching” Fundamentalism - intolerance of other religions

Christianity Three branches:

1. Roman Catholic (51%)

2. Protestant (24%) 3. Orthodox (11%) 4. 14% belong to a

Christian church not in these three branches

Christianity in Europe: Roman Catholicism

dominant (SW & E) Protestantism (NW) Orthodox (E & SE)

Regions between Catholicism & Protestantism frequently have sharp boundaries

Christianity in Western Hemisphere 90% are Christian (5% other

religions 6% no religion)

Latin America 93% Roman Catholic

North America 40% (Concentrated in SW &

NE, Quebec)

Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox) 14 self-governing

churches (E Eur & ME) 1 – Russian Orthodox

40% 9 of these churches were

established in 19th or 20th centuries Romanian (20%) Bulgarian, Greek &

Serbian Orthodox (10%) Recent – Albania,

Cyprus, Georgia, Poland & Sinai (2%)

Remaining 4 churches – Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch & Jerusalem (3%)

Other Christians Developed independently

as isolated Christian communities

NE Africa – Coptic Church of Egypt & Ethiopian Church (10 million)

Armenian Church – helped diffuse Christianity to S & E Asia (Lebanon, Armenia, Turkey & Azerbaijan)

Maronites - Lebanon Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter Day Saints (Mormons) 3%

Islam Branches of Islam – 1.5

billion people1. Sunni - Arabic for

orthodox or people following the example of Muhammad, largest branch (83%) in most Muslim countries

2. Shiites - Arabic word for sectarian, 16% of Muslims concentrated in Iran, Pakistan & Iraq

Islam in North America 1 to 5 million 1/3 of Muslims can

trace ancestry to Pakistan or other South Asian countries & ¼ from Arab countries in SW Asia & N Africa

Islam in Europe 5% of population France largest

population 4% Germany 3% SE Europe 2%

Buddhism Mainly found in China &

Southeast Asia Branches

1. Mahayana 56%

2. Theravada 38%

3. Vajrayana 6% Accurate count is difficult

because many do not participate in Buddhist institutions

Someone can be a Buddhist & a believer in another Eastern religion

Other universalizing religions Sikhism

Pakistan in origin God is revealed to Guru

Nanak One Supreme Being or

Creator who rules universe by divine will

Only God is perfect but people have the capacity for continued improvement

Move toward perfection by taking individual responsibility for their deeds & actions on earth

Baha’I From Iran 1844 Believe that one of

Bab’s disciples was the prophet & messenger of God

Overcome disunity of religions & establish a universal faith through abolition of racial, class & religious practices

Ethnic Religions

Appeals to one group of people, primarily an ethnic or tribal group

Does not actively seek converts Not dispersed

Hinduism 900 million adherents with

90% in India Other countries include

Bangladesh & Nepal Average Hindu has an

allegiance to a particular god or concept within a broad range of possibilities Estimated 80% adhere to

Vaishnavism (Vishnu – loving god incarnated as Krishna)

Sivaism (Siva – protective & destructive god)

Confusianism

551-479 BC Sayings were written

down by students Emphasized the

importance of “li” or correct behavior

Series of ethical principles for the orderly conduct of life

Traditions, obligations, sympathy & respect

For China’s rulers as well as people

Daoism (Taoism)

604-531 BC Writing of Lao-ZI

emphasized the magival aspects of life rather than the public service of Confuscius

Tao means “the way” or “the path”

This Tao cannot be comprehended by reason & knowledge because not everything is knowable

Shintoism

Primal- Indigenous No written documents,

rituals passed through generations

Many believe God dwells within all things & everything in nature is spiritual

Shamanism Invisible forces or spirits

affect the lives of the living

Pagan Refers to the practices of

ancient people

Greeks & Romans who had multiple gods with human forms

Term is currently used to refer to beliefs that originated with religions that predated Christianity & Islam

Juchte North Koreans –

meaning “self-reliance” Organized by Kim II-

sung between 1948-1994

Regarded as a government ideology

Cargo-Cult

Judaism 2/5 of the 14 million Jews

live in the US & another 2/5 in Israel

Name Judaism derives from Judah one of Jacobs 12 sons, Israel is another name for Jacob

Opposite of the typical clustered ethnic religion

Judaism is spread throughout the US, Europe, Asia & Latin America

First monotheistic religion

Ethnic African Religions 12% of population

follow traditional ethnic religion - animism

Inanimate objects have spirits

Oral religion Decreasing with the

contact of other religions - missionaries

Chapter 6

Section 2

Origin of Christianity Founded on the teachings of Jesus (born between 8 -4

BC – AD30) Gathered disciples & preached of the coming of the

Kingdom of God Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) highlight life

& teachings of Jesus Referred to as Christ, Hebrew for “messiah” which

means anointed one. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, shared the Last Supper and

put to death after which he rose from the dead three days later

Christians believe Jesus’ Resurrection provides people hope for salvation

Diffusion of Christianity

Hearth - Palestine Christianity has diffused through three

types of diffusion Relocation - missionaries carried it through out

the Roman Empire (Paul) Contagious - contact between believers and

nonbelievers Hierarchial - survival of Christianity was

assured through the Roman Empire’s emperors (Constantine then Theodosius)

Spread to new world

Migration and missionaries since 1500 have spread Christianity around the globe

Characteristics1. Monotheistic2. Abrahamic3. Bible4. Jesus - son of God Specific practices can

vary from region to region (Eucharist, Baptism, Communion,Penance)

Origin of Islam Muhammad born in 570 AD While meditating he received his first revelation

from God through the Angel Gabriel Quran is the record of God’s word as revealed to

the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel Muhammad suffered persecution & fled Mecca in

622 AD to Medina – called the Hijra (Arabic for migration)

By the time of his death at the age of 63, Islam had spread through most of present day Saudi Arabia

Diffusion of Islam

Hearth - Saudi Arabia (Southwest Asia) Followers (armies) spread Islam after

Muhammad’s death Relocation - missionaries spread religion into

newly conquered areas

Traders diffused Islam to Indonesia

Characteristics

1. Monotheistic

2. Abrahamic

3. Koran (Quran)

4. Muhammad is the prophet of God (Allah)

5. Five Pillars

6. Arabic is the official language

Shiite Sunnis

Origin of Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama born in 563 BC in present day

Nepal Led a privileged existence After a series of trips outside the palace, Siddhartha

could no longer enjoy his comfortable life Monk taught him how to withdrawal from the world & at

29 he left his palace life to seek different forms of meditation

Spent 6 years seeking the answers he needed and ultimately he emerged as the Buddha

Continued to preach for 45 more years

Diffusion of Buddhism

Hearth - Northeastern India Slow diffusion Asoka - (Magadhan Emperor 273-232 BC)

converted to Buddhism and spread the religion to Southeast Asia

Merchants & traders took Buddhism to China and then Chinese took to Korea and Japan

Characteristics

Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path Nirvana

Lack of Diffusion of Ethnic Religions

No missionaries Christianity and Islam have diffused into

ethnic religion regions at their expense Ethnic religions can diffuse through

relocation

Origin of Judaism 4000 years ago Abraham, patriarch of Judaism,

migrated with his family from Ur (present day Iraq) to Canaan (present day Israel)

After many years the population was growing & food was scarce, left & moved to Egypt

Moses led Jews back to Israel in what is known as the Exodus

Wondered in wilderness & received 10 Commandments at Mt Sinai

Land became known as Israel, after Jacob (Israel) and his 12 sons the 12 tribes of Israel

70 AD Jews are forced out of Israel by the Romans in what is known as the Diaspora

Jews were dispersed to Europe & North Africa Only since 1948 have large numbers of Jews

returned to Eastern Mediterranean They lived among different nationalities in many

countries, keeping separate religious practices Adopted cultural characteristics of host country

like language Jews persecuted against & forced to live in

ghettos Nazi treatment in WWII

Judaism

Judaism is practiced in many areas outside place of origin

Characteristics

1. Monotheistic

2. Abrahamic

3. Torah

4. Prophet is yet to come

5. Diaspora

6. Holocaust

Origin of Hinduism

Did not originate with a specific founder Existed prior to recorded history Term Hinduism emerged in 6th century BC Earliest documents date to 1500 BC, but objects

have been found that date to 2500 BC Aryans invaded India in 1400 BC bringing language

& religion to area that is today Punjab region Aryans mingled with the Dravidians & modified their

religious beliefs

Holy Places - Universalizing

Pilgrimages are important to many religions Buddist - Shrines, eight that are significant

to important events in Buddha’s life Islam - Mosques, Ka’ba in Mecca most holy

sight. Ka’ba is important in the hajj

Sikhism - Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple in the Punjab

Holy Places - Ethnic Religions

Hinduism - no central authority, shrine’s importance established by tradition Ganges is holy river for Hindus

Cosmogony

Religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe Confucianism/Daoism - Yin & Yang, these

forces interact and create balance & harmony. Any disruption can create disorder and chaos

Christianity/Islam - God created the universe - physical environment & human beings Christianity -Earth was given by God for humans

to complete Islam - Humans are representations of God on

earth

The Calendar Ethnic Religions - holidays based on distinct

physical geography and seasons Rituals performed for favorable environmental climate Judaism - lunar calendar (Rosh Hashanah, Yom

Kippur) Universalizing Religions - holidays relate to

events in life of founder Rituals may include pilgrimages and celebrations of

important holidays Islam/Baha’I - lunar Christianity/Buddhist/Sikh - lunar calendar

Chapter 6

Section 3

Place of Worship

Christian - Churches Islam - Mosques Hindu - Temples Buddhist/Shinto – Pagodas or Shrine Baha’I - Houses of Worship

Disposing of the Dead

Burial Cremation

Religious Settlements

Utopian settlements – community built around a religious way of life

Bethlehem, PA Salt Lake City, UT New England – churches placed at the

center of settlement (Puritans) near the common place used by everyone

Administration of Space

Roman Catholic – Pope Archbishop Bishops

Diocese Priests

Parishes

Latter-Day Saints Strong organization of landscape

Locally autonomous religions

Universalizing religions are highly autonomous – self-sufficient, loose cooperation with communities

Islam No religious hierarchy or formal territorial

organization Protestant

Vary from extremely autonomous to somewhat hierarchial

Ethnic religions

Judaism and Hinduism have no central structure of religious control