Religion: Diffusion and Landscape Classification of Religions Paths and Types of Diffusion

2. Religion: Diffusion and Landscape Classification of Religions Paths and Types of Diffusion Sacred Spaces on the Landscape Religion systems of formal or informal worship, faith, ritual… influences cultural landscapes – values and attitudes, rhythms of everyday life, calendar events, consumption of food/drink …

3. CULTURAL (SPATIAL) DIFFUSION (spread of ideas, innovations) – two models Expansion – ideas spread to new places as different cultures adopt idea Has “Contagious” & “Hierarchical” Subtypes Relocation – ideas spread to new places as culture groups migrate there

4. Laggards S-Curve of Adoption of Innovations (non-spatial diffusion model) Percentage of Population That Adopts the Idea or Innovation Majority Adopters (early and late) Innovators Time

5. Spatial Models of Cultural Diffusion

6. Canada England Netherlands Pakistan Won 1992 Bangladesh India Won 1983 West Indies (combined team) Won 1975, 1979 Pakistani cricketer Sri Lanka Won 1996 Kenya Zimbabwe Australia Won 1987, 1999, 2003 New Zealand Namibia South Africa

7. Diffusion - Two related concepts 1. The two-way blending of cultures that results from increased interaction is calledcultural convergence 2. The fusion of two distinctive cultural traits into a unique new hybrid trait is calledsyncretism

8. Religion’s Characteristics that Geographers Focus on Hearth Diffusion Distribution Landscape expression Administration Cosmogony: a view of God, Man and Nature

9. Examples: Animism

10. Examples: Hinduism, Buddhism

11. Examples: Christianity, Judaism, Islam

12. Classification of Religions Universalizing: claim to the “universal truth” – seen as applicable to all humans Seek to convert new members; open to all people Spread mainly by expansion diffusion (any sub-type) Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism Ethnic:associated with a particular culture; membership by birth or identity with that ethnic group Not evangelical (don’t actively seek to convert new members) Spread mainly by relocation diffusion from origin area Examples: Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, East Asian religions, folk and traditional (tribal/Animist) practices

13. Taxonomy: Geographers have our own classification system for religions. Universalizing

14. Ethnic

15. Geographers don’t care so much about specific beliefs so much as how they affect humans. • How does religion affect • Population • Language • Politics • Economics

16. Approximate Membership of Selected Religions (estimated number, in millions, as of 2003) Christianity(total all forms) 2,025 Islam(total all forms) 1,215 Hinduism 820 Buddhism(total all forms) 360 Other Asian religions (various syncretic) 125 Sikhism 25 Judaism 20 Chinese folk religions (syncretic) 390 All other ethnic/tribal religions (hundreds) 265 Non-Religious and Atheist 1,100

17. Principal World Religions

18. Religious Regions of Lebanon Small-scale world religion maps fail to show local details Understanding religion regions is key to several current conflicts

19. Innovation and Diffusion of World Religions Note hearth areas and diffusion paths of four largest religions (contrast Hinduism to 3 universalizing religions)

20. Diffusion Paths of Christianity Spread mainly by hierarchical process, then by contagious expansion in Europe … then by relocation & expansion to European colonies

21. Diffusion Paths of Islam Spread mainly by expansion diffusion through 17th century through Asia, North Africa. Now world’s fastest growing religion; spread by both expansion and relocation diffusion.

22. Melang, Java Grand Mosque, Banda Aceh, northern Sumatra MOSQUE STYLES IN INDONESIA Jepara, southern Sumatra

23. Diffusion Paths of Different Forms of Buddhism Origin in Northern India; different forms spread by expansion and hierarchical diffusion outward; blended in East Asia (syncretism). Hinduism later reclaimed dominance in India.

24. Examples of Religion on the Cultural Landscape Places of worship Shrines, pilgrimage sites Cemeteries, mausolea Sacred spaces Stonehenge, southern England (Druid site)

25. Sacred Spaces Sites of special religious significance (experiences, events) Hallowed grounds that are preserved across generations For believers, places endowed with divine meaning Paha Sapa Kin Wiyopeya Unkiyapi kte sni yelo!!We never sold the Black Hills!! (Lakota expression)

26. Cathedral at Chartres, France Shrine at Lourdes, southern France

27. Methodist-Congregationalist (Protestant) church, southwest Quebec, Canada St. Basil’s (Russian Orthodox), Red Square, Moscow

28. Recoleto Cemetery Buenos Aires Mid-City Cemetery New Orleans

29. Synagogue, Jewish quarter, Prague (13th century) Western (Wailing) Wall, Jerusalem Jewish cemetery, Chicago Temple Beth El (1973), Bloomington Hills, Mich.

30. Buddhist stupa, Thailand (Hemispherical shape is typical, but different forms of Buddhism use differing types and levels of ornamentation.) Statue of Buddha

31. Hindu temple, Northern India Taj Mahal (Agra, India) – Islamic mausoleum Hindu cremation ceremony, India

32. Friday prayers, Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The Hajj

33. Memorial Spaces How similar to, and how different from, “sacred space”?

34. Memorial Spaces Monuments, memorials, shrines, museums, and preserved sites used to commemorate and sanctify the past From D. Alderman (2000): “Public commemoration is a socially directed process: before historical events and figures can be regarded as memorable, people must judge them worthy of remembrance and have the influence to get others to agree.” “Places of memory make history visible and tangible. … Memorial sites shape how we interpret and value the past.” “Memorial landscapes are in a constant state of redefinition as governments rise and fall, as the heritage and cultural tourism industry continues to expand, and as marginalized populations seek public recognition.” From O. Dwyer (2000): “The narrative content of these memorials reflects the types of archival materials that survive, the intentions of their producers, and contemporary politics regarding [historical events]. In turn, through their symbolic power and the large number of visitors who travel to them, these landscapes play a role in contemporary America’s ... politics.”