aphg chapter 7: religion -...
TRANSCRIPT
APHG
CHAPTER 7:
RELIGION
KQ #1: WHAT IS
RELIGION, AND
WHAT ROLE
DOES IT PLAY IN
CULTURE?
(5 slides)
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Religion & language are the foundations for
culture
– Both reflect identity the most
• The cultural landscape is marked by religion
– Churches, mosques, cemeteries, shrines,
statues, symbols, toponyms, etc.
• Evidence in modes of dress (veils, turbans) and
personal habits(ritual scars, beards, etc)
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Great definition of religion:
– System of beliefs and practice that attempts to order
life in terms of cultural perceived ultimate priorities
• “Perceived ultimate priorities” is expressed in the
terms of “should”
–Should I say this?
–Should I do this?
–Should I eat this?
–Should I wear this?
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• In many religions, the idea that a “good” life has
rewards and that “bad” behavior risks punishment
has an enormous influence on culture, behavior and
how people perceive & evaluate the behavior of
others
• Religion manifests itself in many ways
– Some worship natural objects (mountains,
animals, trees), some worship a living person with
supernatural powers, some worship a deity or
deities
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Rituals and prayers are common
–May mark important events (birth, death,
attainment of adulthood, marriage, etc)
–Expressed at regular intervals or certain
times of day/days of the week/times of the
year/holidays/astronomical events/etc
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Secularism prevails in some societies
– In these places, religion has become less
significant in the lives of most people
– But even in secular societies, religion
permeates art, history, customs, beliefs,
architecture, dress, etc
• Religion is still one of the most complex---and
controversial---aspects of humanity
KQ #2: WHERE DID
THE MAJOR
RELIGIONS OF THE
WORLD ORIGINATE,
AND HOW DO
RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
(5 slides)
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Three categories of religion
– Monotheistic---single deity
– Polytheistic---more than one deity(even
thousands)
– Animistic---belief that inanimate objects possess
spirits and should be revered
• Throughout most of human history, virtually all
religions were either animistic or polytheistic (or
even both)
World Religions
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Development of Zoroastrianism in the Middle East
around 3500 years ago changed all of that
– Some believe Judaism, Christianity & Islam can be traced
to Zoroastrian beliefs
– The diffusion of these religions transformed the world
theologically
• By 500 BC, there were 4 major hearths of religion &
philosophy
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Hearth of Greek philosophy: along the
northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea
• Hearth of Hinduism: along the Indus River
valley
• Hearth of Judaism: along the eastern
Mediterranean
• Hearth of Chinese philosophy: along the
Huang He River valley
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Many other philosophies & religions
originated from these hearths
• Christianity & Islam originated in the Judaism
& Greek regions
• Dominant religions by region can be found
on pages 198-199
World Population by Religion
Fig. 6-1a: Over two thirds of the world’s population adhere to Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, or Buddhism. Christianity is the single largest world religion.
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Religion can be looked at in two ways
– UNIVERSALIZING: followers actively seek
converts because they view themselves as
offering systsems of universal appropriateness &
appeal
• Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
– ETHNIC: adherents are born into the faith and
converts are not actively sought
• Hinduism, Judaism