Religion: What Is It?Religion: What Is It?

► All have some set of teaching that imply a All have some set of teaching that imply a value system, include some notion of the value system, include some notion of the sacred, and include ideas about the place of sacred, and include ideas about the place of human beings in the universe.human beings in the universe.

► For many, more than any other cultural trait, For many, more than any other cultural trait, defines who they are and how they defines who they are and how they understand the world around them.understand the world around them.

► Because it is tied to all aspects of human Because it is tied to all aspects of human culture and social systems, geography of culture and social systems, geography of religion provides insight into population religion provides insight into population growth, international politics, and design and growth, international politics, and design and structure of cities.structure of cities.

Geographic Distribution of the Geographic Distribution of the World’s Major ReligionsWorld’s Major Religions

►Hindu is most dominant in the Indian Hindu is most dominant in the Indian subcontinent.subcontinent.

► Islam is dominant in the Middle East, Islam is dominant in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and parts of the South Northern Africa, and parts of the South Pacific/Southeast Asia.Pacific/Southeast Asia.

► Christianity is dominant in Australia, Europe, Christianity is dominant in Australia, Europe, and North and South America.and North and South America.

► Traditional and Shamanist religions are Traditional and Shamanist religions are found predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa found predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South America.and parts of South America.

Universalizing vs. Local Universalizing vs. Local ReligionsReligions

►Universalizing religions claim global Universalizing religions claim global applicability and actively seek new applicability and actively seek new converts.converts.

►Local religions are specific to an area; Local religions are specific to an area; some are ethnic religions, such as some are ethnic religions, such as Hinduism and Judaism, others are Hinduism and Judaism, others are tribal and often polytheistic.tribal and often polytheistic.

Monotheistic vs. Polytheistic Monotheistic vs. Polytheistic ReligionsReligions

►Monotheistic religions teach primacy Monotheistic religions teach primacy of a single god; Christianity, Islam, and of a single god; Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are monotheistic religions.Judaism are monotheistic religions.

►Polytheistic religions teach numerous Polytheistic religions teach numerous gods or spiritual powers; many Native gods or spiritual powers; many Native American religions are polytheistic.American religions are polytheistic.

Global vs. Ethnic ReligionsGlobal vs. Ethnic Religions

►Global religions have numerous members, Global religions have numerous members, are widespread, and their doctrines have are widespread, and their doctrines have global appeal.global appeal.

►Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam are Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam are global religions.global religions.

►Ethnic religions appeal to small groups of Ethnic religions appeal to small groups of people with a common heritage or to large people with a common heritage or to large groups of people living in a single region.groups of people living in a single region.

►Hinduism and Judaism are ethnic religions.Hinduism and Judaism are ethnic religions.

Shamanism and AnimismShamanism and Animism

► Local religion types, associated with particular Local religion types, associated with particular places.places.

► Tend to attract small, localized followings; Tend to attract small, localized followings; often involve belief in supernatural powers often involve belief in supernatural powers that reside in particular people or natural that reside in particular people or natural phenomena.phenomena.

► In Shamanism, a single person fulfills the In Shamanism, a single person fulfills the roles of priest, counselor, and physician and roles of priest, counselor, and physician and claims a conduit to the supernatural world.claims a conduit to the supernatural world.

► Animism is most prevalent in Africa and the Animism is most prevalent in Africa and the Americas; Animists see the world as being Americas; Animists see the world as being infused with spiritual and supernatural infused with spiritual and supernatural powers.powers.

ChristianityChristianity

► The world’s most widespread religion with about The world’s most widespread religion with about two billion believers.two billion believers.

► A monotheistic religion with its origins in Judaism.A monotheistic religion with its origins in Judaism.► The three major categories include Eastern The three major categories include Eastern

Orthodox, Protestant, and Roman Catholic.Orthodox, Protestant, and Roman Catholic.► Roman Catholicism is prominent in large parts of Roman Catholicism is prominent in large parts of

Central and South America, North America, and Central and South America, North America, and Western Europe.Western Europe.

► Protestantism includes distinct denominations and Protestantism includes distinct denominations and is especially prevalent in North America.is especially prevalent in North America.

► Eastern Orthodox is dominant in Eastern Europe Eastern Orthodox is dominant in Eastern Europe and Russia.and Russia.

Christian Denominations in the Christian Denominations in the United StatesUnited States

► Baptist denominations are predominant in the “bible Baptist denominations are predominant in the “bible Belt” region, which is essentially the southeastern Belt” region, which is essentially the southeastern states.states.

► The upper Midwest is predominantly Methodist.The upper Midwest is predominantly Methodist.► Spanish Catholicism is dominant in the southwestern Spanish Catholicism is dominant in the southwestern

states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; it also had states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; it also had dominant pockets in Florida.dominant pockets in Florida.

► Mormonism is dominant in Utah and parts of its Mormonism is dominant in Utah and parts of its surrounding states.surrounding states.

► Catholicism is dominant in the northeastern states.Catholicism is dominant in the northeastern states.► The West (including large parts of California, Idaho, The West (including large parts of California, Idaho,

Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) is largely Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) is largely categorized as being of mixed relgions.categorized as being of mixed relgions.

IslamIslam

► Claims about one billion members worldwide.Claims about one billion members worldwide.►Distribution is centered in the Middle East and Distribution is centered in the Middle East and

North Africa, but is found throughout the world, North Africa, but is found throughout the world, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States.States.

► A monotheistic religion, stemming from Judaism, A monotheistic religion, stemming from Judaism, which is based on belief that there is one god, which is based on belief that there is one god, Allah, and that Muhammad was Allah’s prophet.Allah, and that Muhammad was Allah’s prophet.

►Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the birthplace of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the birthplace of Muhammad and the base for the nation of Islam.Muhammad and the base for the nation of Islam.

Spread of IslamSpread of Islam

► Islam began in Saudi Arabia near Islam began in Saudi Arabia near Mecca and Medina and diffused Mecca and Medina and diffused originally through expansion diffusion originally through expansion diffusion to surrounding areas, including other to surrounding areas, including other parts of the Middle East and Northern parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa.Africa.

► It then diffused by relocation diffusion It then diffused by relocation diffusion to Indonesia and Malaysia.to Indonesia and Malaysia.

BuddhismBuddhism

► Has approximately three-hundred million adherents Has approximately three-hundred million adherents worldwide.worldwide.

► Originated in the sixth century B.C. in northern Originated in the sixth century B.C. in northern India.India.

► Traces origins and many traditions from Hinduism. Traces origins and many traditions from Hinduism. While still centered in East Asia, has gained and While still centered in East Asia, has gained and increasingly large following in Europe and North increasingly large following in Europe and North America since the 1950’s.America since the 1950’s.

► A pattern attributable in part to emigration by Asian A pattern attributable in part to emigration by Asian people to Western nations and in part to Buddhism’s people to Western nations and in part to Buddhism’s teachings, which resonate with many westerners.teachings, which resonate with many westerners.

► Nearly half of Buddhists in the United States live in Nearly half of Buddhists in the United States live in southern California.southern California.

HinduismHinduism

► An ethnic religion tied to Indian culture.An ethnic religion tied to Indian culture.►Oldest major religion, at approximately four Oldest major religion, at approximately four

thousand years.thousand years.►Not just a religion; also contains Not just a religion; also contains

philosophical, social, economic, and artistic philosophical, social, economic, and artistic elements.elements.

► The caste system is an important aspect, The caste system is an important aspect, which gives every Indian a particular place which gives every Indian a particular place in the social hierarchy from birth.in the social hierarchy from birth.

► Each caste defines individuals’ occupations, Each caste defines individuals’ occupations, social connections, where they can live, social connections, where they can live, clothes they wear, and food they eat.clothes they wear, and food they eat.

JudaismJudaism

►First major monotheistic religion.First major monotheistic religion.►Based on a sense of ethnic identity; Based on a sense of ethnic identity;

adherents tend to form tight-knit adherents tend to form tight-knit communities wherever they live.communities wherever they live.

► In 1948, Jewish people established In 1948, Jewish people established their own state in Israel, which, in their own state in Israel, which, in addition to the United States, is where addition to the United States, is where most Jews reside.most Jews reside.

Fundamentalism vs. Fundamentalism vs. ExtremismExtremism

►Fundamentalism is strict and literal Fundamentalism is strict and literal adherence to a set of principles, beliefs, adherence to a set of principles, beliefs, or teachings.or teachings.

►Members of any religion can be Members of any religion can be fundamentalists.fundamentalists.

►Fundamentalism differs from Fundamentalism differs from extremism, which is violent extremism, which is violent fundamentalism, and is becoming more fundamentalism, and is becoming more prevalent across the globe.prevalent across the globe.

Sacred SpacesSacred Spaces

► Areas or places of religious or spiritual Areas or places of religious or spiritual significance.significance.

► Some are historical, such as the Dome of Some are historical, such as the Dome of the rock and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.the rock and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

► Some are current, including all the various Some are current, including all the various places of worship such as cathedrals, places of worship such as cathedrals, mosques, temples, and tabernacles.mosques, temples, and tabernacles.

► Cemeteries are often included in this Cemeteries are often included in this category as death and the afterlife are an category as death and the afterlife are an integral part of many religions.integral part of many religions.

Interfaith Boundaries and Interfaith Boundaries and Intrafaith BoundariesIntrafaith Boundaries

► Interfaith boundaries refer to Interfaith boundaries refer to boundaries between the world’s major boundaries between the world’s major faiths, such as Buddhism, Christianity, faiths, such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.and Islam.

► Intrafaith boundaries refer to Intrafaith boundaries refer to boundaries within a single major faith, boundaries within a single major faith, such as the boundary lines that such as the boundary lines that separate different denominations of separate different denominations of Christianity.Christianity.