ReligionChapter 6

Importance of Religion

• Source of identify, and therefore conflict• Durkheim: religion explains anything that

surpasses the limits of our knowledge– Profane = ordinary objects, events, experiences– Sacred= extraordinary, sense of awe Explains the relationship of the individual to the

world, meaning of life and death, after life…intertwined with values, beliefs…become way of life

Religion Spatially• Why are some religions widespread while

others are clustered?– Practices, point of origin, type of diffusion

• Effects on cultural landscape– Boundaries, buildings, burials, toponyms,

agricultural influence, protection of environment

Organized Religion Focuses on…

• Combating social ills• Sustaining the poor• Promoting the arts• Educating the deprived• Advancing medical knowledge

Organized Religion has also…

• Blocked scientific study• Encouraged the oppression of

dissidents• Supported colonialism and

exploitation• Condemned women to an inferior

status in many societies

Distribtion

• Universalizing Religions: attempt to be global, and to appeal to all people– Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Baha’i

• Ethnic Religions: appeal to one group of people, living in one place– Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Daoism

• Animistic Religions: the belief that inanimate objects like rocks and tree are animated and have spirits– (Animism), Shintoism, Shamanism

Universalizing Religions• Also called Global or Proselytic• Attempt to be global and to appeal to all people• 60% of world’s population• Can be subdivided:– Branches: a lg, fundamental division w/in a religion

• Sunni and Shiite

– Denomination: divisions w/in a branch that unites local congregations• Baptist and Methodist

– Sect: a small group that has broken away from the established denomination• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Christianity• Largest, 2 billion followers, most widespread• 3 Branches– Roman Catholic• What percentage? Concentrated where?

– Protestant• What percentage? Concentrated where?

– Eastern Orthodox• What percentage? Concentrated where?

– Other branches• Egyptian Coptic, Ethiopian Church, Armenian Church

Origin of Christianity

• Jesus- born a Jew around 6 BCE, died on cross in Jerusalem around 30 CE– Christ = Greek word for Hebrew’s messiah- “anointed”– Died, Resurrected, Ascended

• Group of disciples• New Testament (four Gospels, writings of

disciples)• Roman Catholic vs. Eastern Orthodox• Martin Luther- Reformation Protestantism

Diffusion of Christianity

• Christians actively seek converts, so some diffusion is contagious (especially through Western Europe)

• Worldwide diffusion occurred during the Age of Imperialism

• Today missionaries travel attempting to convert those in other places to Christianity

Islam

• 2nd largest, 1.3 billion followers, fastest growing• 2 Branches:– Sunni• What percentage? Concentrated where?

– Shi’ite (Shi’a)• What percentage? Concentrated where?

• Sects:– Nation of Islam– Organizaiton of Afro-American Unity– American Muslim Mission

Origin of Islam

• Muhammad- 42 y.o., received revelations from Allah– Spoke the verses of the Koran (similar to

Jewish/Christian holy texts)– Fled to Medina to begin teaching

(Christian/polytheistic turmoil in Mecca)• The Five Pillars• Died in 632 CE who will take over– Ali, his son-in-law? – Someone chosen by the religious leaders?

Shi’a Sunni

Diffusion of Islam

• Before his death, Muhammad had converted kings on the Arabian Peninsula – Spread across their empire thru invasion and

conquest– Spread across N Africa, S Europe, and SE Asia very

quickly• Today in North and South America, it is the

result of relocation diffusion

Buddhism• 4th largest, 400 million believers• 3 Branches:– Mahayana• What percentage? Concentrated where?• Broad incorporation of ideas/gods from other religions

– Theraveda• What percentage? Concentrated where?• Stricter adherence to Buddha’s teachings, “Way of Elders”

– Tantrayana• What percentage? Concentrated where?• Emphasis on magic and meditation

Origins of Buddhism

• Siddhartha Gautama: “The Enlightened One”– Prince from Lumbini, Nepal– Witnessed four trips of pain & suffering

• Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path• Differs from other univ. religions in that

believers can also practice other major religions; most are monks

Diffusion of Buddhism

• Not rapid• Asoka of Magadhan Empire spread to each

nucleus of kingdom– Estab. Missionaries

• Silk Road took it to E Asia widespread impact• Water trade routes to SE Asia still stronghold

Other Universalizing Religions

• Sikhism has 25 million followers– Mostly in India– Blend of Hinduism & Islam, began with Nanak

then 9 other gurus– Monotheistic, Reincarnation– Sense of unity and equality– Men are characterized by wearing turbans, and

never cutting their hair or beards, iron bracelet, dagger

Other Universalizing Religions

• Baha’i has about 8 million followers– Founded in Iran, by the Bab (“Gateway”), 1844• Executed along with 20,000 followers

– It emphasizes the underlying unity of all religions

Ethnic Religions

• Generally do not seek converts– More spatially concentrated– Exception being Judaism (forced migration)

• Most in Asia and Africa• Hinduism is the largest

Zoroastrianism

• Up until 3500 years ago, most religions were polytheistic or animistic

• Zoroastrianism: 1st monotheistic religion – laid the foundation for Judaism, Christianity, and

Islam– Zoroastrianism is a religion/philosophy based on

the belief that there is a single all-powerful good god (Zoroastro), and there is also an evil being trying to destroy good

Judaism• 1st major monotheistic, 12-14 million followers• Abraham made covenant with God to be

monotheistic Jews will become Chosen People– Isaac’s sons= Judah and Jacob (Israel) 12 tribes of Hebrews

• Enslaved by Egyptians, Moses led them out• The Jews came together & built Jerusalem, until the

Romans destroyed it in 70 CE– The Romans spread the Jews to the furthest corners of their

empire (Diaspora)– Only a few Jews will remain in Israel/Palestine until the 1948

Hinduism

• 3rd largest in world, 860 believers, mostly in India

• Oldest religion? (existed prior to written history); Aryans, Dravidians

• Very personal religion, way of life– Monotheistic vs polytheistic

• Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, Brahman• Reincarnation (samsara), karma, caste system

Chinese PhilosophiesNo supernatural beings philosophy Confucianism:• Founded by Confucius (551-479 BCE)• Emphasizes appropriate behaviors (roles)– Huge part of East Asian traditional values– Rules applied to rulers as well

Daoism/Taoism:• Founded by Lao Tzu (604-531 BCE)• Means “The Way”– Live in harmony with the universe/nature (yin & yang)– Sects: Popular & Philosophical

Shintoism

• Native to Japan, official state religion during Meiji Restoration– Over 80,000 shrines

• Focus on nature and reverence of ancestors– Kami= nature spirits/dieties– Pray for any event/celebration

• Easily blended with Buddhism most Japanese claim both

Ethnic African Religions

• In Africa, there are about 200 million followers of animistic religions– There is not really a holy book or written traditions– Most of the knowledge is passed down by oral

traditions• Animism is declining as faiths like Christianity

and Islam are growing in Africa