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World Religion

World Religion. Where are religions distributed? Why do they have different distributions?. The Paradox of Religion. All religions hold peace as the highest value. Loving thy enemy is common to all religion So why is so much conflict centered around religion?

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World Religion

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  1. World Religion Where are religions distributed? Why do they have different distributions?

  2. The Paradox of Religion • All religions hold peace as the highest value. • Loving thy enemy is common to all religion • So why is so much conflict centered around religion? • Geographers are concerned with distribution of religion and the potential for conflict

  3. Globalization vs. Local Diversity • People care deeply about their religion and draw core values/beliefs from it • Some designed to appeal to all people, while others appeal to geographically limited areas • Religious values are a mark of culture and ways people organize the landscape • Most religions require exclusive adherence, adopting a universal religion comes at the expense of a local religion • Unlike language, you can only have 1 religion. • Like language, people carry religion with them when they migrate • Assimilated people usually lose native language before religion

  4. Universalizing vs Ethnic Religions • Universalizing- attempt to be global, appeal to all people. • Ethnic- appeals primarily to 1 group of people in 1 place. • 62% universalizing, 24% ethnic, 14% no religion

  5. Universalizing • 3 main ones- Christianity, Islam, Buddhism • Branch- large and fundamental division within a religion • Denomination- division of a branch that unites a number of congregations in a single body • Sect- small group that has broken away from a denomination

  6. Examples • Religion- Christianity • Branch- Protestant • Denomination- Baptist • Sect- Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention • R- Islam • B- Sunni, Shi’ite • D- American Muslim Mission • S- Nation of Islam

  7. Christian Branches • 3 main branches- Roman Catholicism (52%), Eastern Orthodox (10%), Protestant (21%)- • 27% not part of these 3 branches, including 5% nonreligious Christians • Protestant/Catholic areas sharply divided • Over 2 billion people worldwide call themselves Christian

  8. Western hemisphere • 90% of West is Christian • 5% other, 6% nonreligious • Latin Am 93% Catholic, N. America 29% • Among Protestants in US, Baptists largest, followed by Methodists, Pentecostal, and Lutheran • Catholics in US concentrated in NE and SW

  9. Smaller branches • Egyptian Coptic/Ethiopian- from 4th century, when shipwrecked Christian slaves converted Ethiopian king • About 10 million in Ethiopia • Armenian church originated in Antioch, members concentrated in Lebanon, Armenia, NE Turkey and SW Azerbaijan

  10. Smaller branches • Maronites- a small Christian sect concentrated in Lebanon • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) consider themselves an independent branch 3% of Americans, mostly Utah, some in Canada

  11. Islam • 1.3 billion Muslims, mostly in Middle East from N. Africa to Central Asia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India • Islam means “submission to the will of God”, has a similar root to the word “peace”

  12. 5 Pillars of Islam • 1. There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet • 2. Pray 5 times/day, facing Mecca • 3. Alms giving (charity) • 4. Fasting during Ramadan • 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca if able

  13. Branches of Islam • 2 main ones- Sunni (orthodox) and Shi’ite (sectarian) • Sunni 83%, Shi’ite 16% • Shi’ite concentrated in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan • Muslims in W. Europe a legacy of colonialism and immigration. E. Europe- Ottoman Empire • 5 million Muslims in N. America

  14. Nation of Islam • Aka “Black Muslims” started in 1930’s in Detroit • Led by Elijah Muhammad, advocated a separate nation within the US for themselves • Malcolm X converted to orthodox Islam after a pilgrimage to Mecca, assassinated 1965

  15. Buddhism • 400 million adherents • Mainly in China and SE Asia • 4 Noble Truths: • 1. Life is suffering • 2. Suffering is caused by desire • 3. To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire • 4. To eliminate desire and achieve Nirvana, follow the Noble Eightfold Path- right beliefs, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, meditation

  16. Buddha

  17. Buddhist Branches • Theravada “little raft” (38%), Mahayana “big raft” (56%), tantrayana “yoga” (6%) • Buddhists can adhere to more than one Eastern religion.

  18. Other Universalizing • Sikhism- 25 million, mostly in Punjab region of India • Kind of a combo of Islam and Buddhism • Sikhs wear turbans and never cut beards/hair • Baha’i- 8 million, dispersed mostly in Asia and Africa • Baha’u’llah wanted to overcome disunity and establish universal faith by abolishing class, race, and religious prejudices

  19. Ethnic religions • Hinduism- 860 million, 3rd largest • 97% in India • It is up to you to decide the best way to worship God • 4 paths- knowledge, renunciation, devotion, and action • 68% Vishnu, mostly west • 27 % Shiva, mostly north and east

  20. Ethnic Religions • Confucianism emphasizes li, or “correct behavior”, 5 relationships • A series of ethical principles like following traditions and fulfilling obligations • Taoism- seek the Tao, or “way”. Only by avoiding daily activities and introspection can a person live in harmony with the universe. • Split into many sects

  21. Ethnic Religions • Shintoism- ethnic religion of Japan- originally worshipped forces of nature • Transmitted orally until 5th century when introduction of Chinese script • Eventually deceased emperors and ancestors became more important gods than nature • After WW2 Emperor forced to renounce his divinity

  22. Ethnic Religions • Judaism- Most in Israel and US • Israel 1st majority Jewish state since biblical times • Jesus born a Jew, Islam, Christianity have roots in Judaism • Founded by Abraham about 4000 yrs ago when he moved from Iraq to Canaan • 1st monotheistic religion

  23. Ethnic Religions • Patriarch Jacob (Judaism, Israel). Jacob had 12 sons. 10 sons plus 2 grandsons= 12 tribes of Israel who marched out of Egypt under Moses • Each tribe got a piece of Canaan • 10 tribes lost after they were forced to migrate to Assyria 721 BC

  24. Ethnic Religions • African Religions- 100 million people, 12% of Africa are animists. • Animism- plants, rocks, forces of nature have conscious life and spirit • 1 supreme god and many other gods under him • Orally transmitted • Losing ground to universalizing religion

  25. Why do religions have different Distributions? Origin of Religions Diffusion of Religion

  26. Origin and Diffusion of Universalizing Religions • All 3 based on life of a man • Buddhism 2500 yrs old, Christianity 2000 yrs old, Islam 1500 yrs old • Born between 8 and 4 BC

  27. Christianity • Jesus born between 8 and 4 BC • Crucified by Romans ~30 AD • Story of Life/works spread by 4 gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (New Testament) • “Christ” is a title and means ‘anointed one’, from Greek “Christos”, from Hebrew “messiah” • 3 days after death rose from dead

  28. Christianity • Last Supper was Jewish Passover seder, meal • Catholics- God conveys Grace through 7 sacraments- Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Eucharist • Transubstantiation- bread/wine literally becomes blood and flesh of Christ- a miracle

  29. Christianity • Split w/ Eastern Orthodox starts with division of Roman Empire • Final Split in 1054- Great Schism • Reject Catholic teachings after 700s AD • Protestantism originated w/ the Reformation in 1517 when Luther nailed the 95 theses up- response to Catholic corruption

  30. Origin of Islam • Abe married Sarah- no son • Married Hagar- son Ishmael • Sarah son- Isaac • Sarah told Hagar to take a hike • Hagar/Ishmael end up in Mecca • Muhammad born 570 AD • At 40- married an older rich lady • God spoke to him through angel Gabriel

  31. Islam • Began to preach in Mecca, but they weren’t hearing it. 622 moved to Medina- hijra conversion • Returned to Mecca w/ army • Medina means “city of the prophet” • Shi’ite follow caliph who is of Muhammad’s blood line, Sunnis believe any Muslim can be caliph • Sunni/Shi’ite split ~670AD

  32. Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama was a prince, born about 563BC • 4 trips out at 29 • 1. old age • 2. disease • 3. death • 4. monk and withdrawal from the world

  33. Buddhism • After 6 years of solitude, emerged from the forest as the Buddha “enlightened one” • Theravada focuses on wisdom, Mahayana focuses on compassion

  34. Other Universalizing • Sikhism founded about 500 years ago • Baha’i founded early to mid 1800’s

  35. Hinduism • Ancient- Hindu artifacts date to 2500 BC • Earliest Hindu writing 1500 BC • 1400 BC- Aryan invasion • Word Hinduism originated in 6th century BC • While universalizing religions have a hearth and spread out, ethnic religions remain clustered in 1 location

  36. Diffusion of Christianity • Missionaries- individuals who help transmit a religion through relocation diffusion • Paul was most important missionary and a disciple of Jesus • Diffused along Roman roads and sea routes • First towns, then country • “Pagan” means countryside in Latin • Roman Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity in 313- official religion of Empire in 380

  37. Islam • Also diffused through relocation diffusion- through conquest and intermarriage • Rapid diffusion from Portugal to Indonesia

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