Geography of Religion

Geography of ReligionAP Human Geography

Geography of ReligionWhat is Religion?Major Religions & DivisionsReligious LandscapesReligious Conflict and Interaction2

ReligionA set of beliefs an explanation of the origins and purpose of humans and their role on earthexistence of a higher power, spirits or godWhich involves rituals, festivals, rites of passage and space (religious landscapes)

***Religion dominates the lives and behavior of billions of people worldwide. Because religion is tied to all aspects of human culture, studying religion can help us understand everything from population growth, international politics and the design, structure and location of cities. From a geographical perspective, we are not concerned with the beliefs themselves or their places of origin. We are more interested in a religions patterns and processes of diffusion and their influence on the landscape in a given area.

Key TermsUniversalizing Religion: attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular locationProselytize: to try to convert people to ones belief or opinionMissions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. John Piper Soteriology-is the study of religious doctrines of salvation, which are a feature of various religionsSyncretic: Traditions that borrow from both the past and the presentKey TermsSecularization - a process that is leading to increasingly large groups of people who claim no allegiance to any church or denomination. Some of these people are atheists. Others simply do not practice. Still others call themselves spiritual, but not religious.Common in Europe and the larger cities of the U.S.Common in former Soviet Union and China.

A movement in American churchesto secularize church. Any thoughts?

Key TermsEthnic Religions: concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are likely based on physical characteristics of a particular location.-Tribal/traditional religions: specific religions distinguished by their small size, close ties to nature and their unique identity with localized culture.-Animism: belief than inanimate objects, such as rocks, trees, bodies of water, mountains all possess spirits and therefore should be revered as gods.

Key TermsFundamentalism - a process that is leading to increasingly large groups of people who claim there is only one way to interpret worship. Fundamentalists generally envision a return to a more perfect religion and ethics they imagine existed in the past.Common in the U.S. and in some Islamic nations.Key TermsMonotheism: existence of only one God.Polytheism: existence of many gods.Cosmogony: A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.

Religious DivisionsBranch: A large and fundamental division within a religion. (Catholicism vs. Protestantism)Denomination: A division within a branch of a religion. (Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran-Protestant Denominations)Sect: A relatively small denominational group that has broken away from an established church. (Warren Jeffs-FLDS)Major World ReligionsUniversalizing ReligionsChristianityIslamBuddhismCharacteristics: Traced to actions and teaching of a man, diffused from specific hearths by followers / missionaries

Major World ReligionsEthnic ReligionsHinduism Judaismall Animistic ReligionsCharacteristics: No specific founder, limited diffusion / no missionaries

http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htmEthnic Religions

The Roots of Religion

Animism (Shamanism) - the belief that all objects, animals, and beings are animated or possess a spirit and a conscious life. Also called shamanism because of the prominence of a Shaman. Such beliefs are common among hunter-gatherers and folk cultures. 10% of Africans follow such traditional ethnic religions. These beliefs are losing ground to Christianity and Islam throughout Africa.Nigerian ShamanHinduismOrigin & Diffusion-unknownHearth: Indus River Valley in present-day Pakistan 2200-4000 BCE (oldest major religion)Collection of scriptures 1500BCE 500BCVedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita Over 800 million followers Almost exclusive to India, Nepal, and Sri LankaSacred SpacesGanges River

HinduismMonistic: One god, many forms Brahman: Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer), Shakti (mother god)Main Beliefs Karma- deeds have corresponding effects on the future dharma - fulfill moral, social and religious duties artha - attain financial and worldy success kama - satisfy desires and drives in moderation Reincarnation-a soul moves upward or downward based on an individuals behaviormoksha - attain freedom from reincarnation The Caste System-untouchables (lowest) to Brahman (highest)*shrines/temples are built; bestows merit on the builder; cultural landscape inundated with shrines and temples

JudaismOrigin and Diffusion 2000 BCE Abraham formed covenant with God as patriarch of Israelites (second oldest religion) Moses led people out of EgyptDiaspora: In 70 A.D., Romans forced Jews to disperse throughout the world. Ghetto: During the Middle Ages, a neighborhood in a city set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews.Zionist: goal of all Jews to return to a homeland (Israel-1948)

JudaismSacred PlacesSynagogues (all have ark containing five books of Moses-Torah)JerusalemWestern Wall-edge of the temple mountDivisionsSephardimAshkenazim 80% (Yiddish)Current Diffusion 13-14 million worldwideIsrael, United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia

JudaismBasic PreceptsBelief in One God (foundation of both Christianity and Islam)Torah - original 5 chapters of Christian Bible (Old Testament)Coming of the Messiah still to comeAtonement accomplished by sacrifices, penitence & good deedsDiffering opinions on afterlife

Ethnic Asian ReligionsTaoism The Path or WayFounder: Lao Tze500 BCE20 million followers, mainly in ChinaSacred Text: Tao Te Ching philosophy of harmony & balance: TaoAfterlife: change from being to non-being

Ethnic Asian ReligionsConfucianism6-5th century BCEmoral code taught by ConfuciusHumanity and striving for perfection5-6 million adherents, most refer to themselves as having more than one faithMost influential in China

Ethnic Asian ReligionsShintoismJapanese traditional religionNo founder or origin known3-4 million followersBeliefsWorship and offerings to kami at shrines and at homeSimple and harmonious life with nature and peopleMany practices tied with Buddhism Ethnic Asian ReligionsJainism550 BCEFounder: MahaviraIndian traditional religion4 million followersBasic Principles:Reincarnation to attain perfection and liberationNon-violence-cause no harm to any being

Universalizing Religions-Christianity-Islam-Buddhism

ChristianityOrigin and Diffusion Palestine (modern Israel) Universalizing Religion

What are the 3 branches? Branches Roman Catholic Protestant Eastern Orthodox

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2011/07/29/language.of.christianity.cnn

ChristianityOrigin and Diffusion Messiah: Jesus Universalizing Religion Spread by missionaries (Paul, Peter)

ChristianityBasic Precepts Belief in One God Father, Son & Holy Spirit Covenant (contract) with God New Testament - salvation to those who believe in Jesus Christ and his teachingsSalvation is by grace or belief not worksBelievers to heaven with everlasting lifeConversion of others (proselytize)

ChristianityBasic PreceptsFounded in 30 CE (Jesus baptized by John the Baptist), Palestine Bible-Old and New Testament2 billion followers largest faithEuropeNorth and South America

*Christians utilize more land for their dead than any other religion with the widespread use of ceremonies (funerals)

Catholicism - largest branch Headed by the PopeCeremonial - 7 sacraments ex: baptism, marriage, EucharistEastern Orthodoxy - 11th Century split-Great Schism Rivalry between Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul)Russian, Greek, Serbian Orthodox, etc.Protestantism - (1517) Reformation era (Luther-Germany, 95 Thesis/ Calvin, France-sovereignty of God) No Pope needed individual has direct link to God Grace through faith rather than sacramentsChristianity

IslamOrigin and Diffusion Mecca, Saudi Arabia 633 CEFounder-Muhammad1.3 Billion followersBranches Sunni (majority)-Middle East and North Africa (believe in the effectiveness of family and community in solving lifes problems) Shiite (13%)-Iran, Iraq, Bahrain (imams, Muslim leaders, are the only sinless sources of true knowledge)

IslamBasic Precepts Submission to the will of God (Allah) Lineage - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, & Mohammed (different lineage) Holy Book - Quran - built on Old TestamentWorship done in mosques (most imposing and carefully maintained buildings). Exemplifies how religion and culture are one.

5 Pillars of Faith Shahada: Creed There is no God but Allah Salat: Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca Zakat: Giving to the poorSawm: Fasting during month of RamadanHajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca

Islam41BuddhismOrigin and Diffusion Founder: Siddhartha Gautama 520 BCEHearth: present day Nepal360 million followersBranches Theravada-(Orthodox) Burma, Sri Lanka, Laos Mahayana-(all living creatures could become a Buddha) China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan (Zen) Vajrayana/Tantra (Tibetan-Lamaism)

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His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama45

BuddhismBasic Precepts Buddha - the enlightened one Nirvana - highest degree of consciousness 4 noble truthsAll of life is marked by suffering.Suffering is caused by desire and attachment.Suffering can be eliminated.Suffering is eliminated by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

BuddhismBasic Precepts8 Fold Path1. Right beliefs2. Right aspirations3. Right speech4. Right conduct5. Right livelihood6. Right effort7. Right mindfulness8. Right meditational attainment

BuddhismBasic Precepts Individuals choose the Middle Path Buddhists believe: not in any God, blind faith, or savior what is created is impermanent True Permanent Absolute Reality uncreated, unborn, permanent bliss of Nirvana

Why many hate religionReligion, to many, especially Christianity, is mans attempt to be close to God, relate to God, understand God, but on mans own terms. Religion is mans creation.