The Geography of Religion

1. The Great Mosque, Mali The Geography of Religion • Origins and Distributions of the Major Religions • Religious Ecology • Secularism, Fundamentalism, and Conflict The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem Hindu Statue (Ganesh) Buddhist Monks

2. World Distribution of Religions Figure 6-3

3. The Roots of Religion Animism (Shamanism) -all objects, animals, and beings are “animated” or possess a spirit and a conscious life. Shamanism because of the prominence of a Shaman. • losing ground to Christianity and Islam throughout Africa. Nigerian Shaman

4. Native American Animism Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.~ Chief Seattle Bear Dance

5. How do Universalizing and Ethnic Religions Differ? Ethnic (folk) • Appeal SMALL (one place). • Unknown source. • Content focused on place and landscape of origin. • Followers highly clustered. • Holidays based on local climate and agricultural practice. Universalizing • Appeal LARGE • Individual founder (prophet) • Message & Followers diffused widely (missionaries) • Holidays based on events in founder’s life.

6. Christianity • 2 billion adherents make it the largest world religion • Originated in Bethlehem (8-4 BC) and Jerusalem (AD 30) with Jesus Christ. • Universalizing or Ethnic?

7. Diffusion of Christianity

8. Christianity • Three major branches • Roman Catholicism (51 percent) • Protestant Christianity (24 percent) • Eastern Orthodox (11 percent) • Other, smaller branches of Christianity comprise 14 percent of all Christians

9. Distribution of Christians in the United States Latter day/Mormon Lutheran Baptist Figure 6-2

10. Islam

11. Islam 2nd largest world religion (1.3 B adherents/followers) • Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia • Two significant branches • Sunnis(83 percent) • Shias or Shiites (16 percent)

12. Prophet: Muhammad Islam Holy Text: Koran/Quran Islamic Calender • Begins in AD 622 when Muhammad was commanded to Mecca from Medina (Hijra). • Lunar calendar: makes Ramadan move through the seasons Five Pillars of Islam • 1-One God & Muhammad is his messenger. • 2-Prayer 5X daily, facing Mecca(EAST) • 3-Giving “alms”(charity) to the poor. • 4-Fasting during Ramadan for purification and submission. • 5-If body and income allow, a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca in his lifetime. Reading the Koran, Brunei

13. Diffusion of Islam Islam is considered the fastest growing religion in America. Only a small part of this growth is from black Muslims and the Nation of Islam.

14. Buddhism • 400 million + adherents primarily in China and S.E. Asia • Originated by Nepal by prince Siddhartha Gautama. (around 530 BC) • Introduced in 3rd century (201-300) • Not fully accepted until 8th (701-800)

15. Four Noble Truths: 1. All beings must suffer.2. Suffering, which is caused by desires (for life), leads to reincarnation.3. The goal of existence is an escape from suffering 4. Nirvana is achieved by the Eightfold Path, which includes rightness of understanding, mindfulness, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, and concentration. Buddhism Karma - your past bad or good actions determine your progress toward Nirvana through reincarnation.

17. STOP… INSIDE MECCA Please follow along and answer the questions based on the lives of 3 pilgrims .as they go on “HAJJ” the most fulfilling journey of their religious lives!

18. Ethnic religions

19. Hinduism • 900 million + adherents primarily in India (97%) • 3rd largest religion in the world. • Hinduism is an ancient term for the complex and diverse set of religious beliefs practiced around the Indus River. • Reincarnation - endless cycles. Karma and Yoga. • Coastlines and river banks most sacred sites.(LETS WATCH)

20. HinduismPolytheistic Lord Vishnu Dancing Shiva/Nataraj Ganesh

21. Judaism • Basic Ideas • Belief in 1 God(1st “mono-theistic” faith) • 15 million adherents • Atonement accomplished by sacrifices & good deeds

22. Judaism • A nation in Diaspora (dispersed) • Orthodox: • Modern • Chasidic or Hasidic (Ultra Orthodox) • Reformed (18th century Germany) • Conservative – moderates, response to reform • Reconstructionist (20th century America)

23. Judaism Holy Books • Written Law (Torah) • 613 commandments • Oral Law (Talmud) • commentary of ancient rabbis on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life

24. Where Are Religions Distributed? • Ethnic religions • Other ethnic religions • Confucianism (China) • Daoism (China) • Shinto (Japan) • Judaism (today: the United States, Israel) • The first monotheistic religion • Ethnic African religions • Animism

25. Key Terms Syncretism -the mixing of two or more religionscreating new beliefs (unique rituals, artwork) Examples include syncretism of Christianity and indigenous beliefs in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. • Caribbean Voodoo (Haiti, Louisiana) • STOP Voodoo Dolls, Haiti Shrine, Bangalore, India

26. Secularization vs Fundamentalism Secularization -groups of people who claim no allegiance to any church. Some of these people are atheists. Others simply do not practice. Still others call themselves spiritual, but not religious. Secularization is Common in: Europe, the former Soviet Union, China & the US Fundamentalism -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. Fundamentalism is Common in: Islamic nations, the former Soviet Union, China & the US

27. DIFFUSION OF BUDDHISM • Out of India into surrounding areas • JAPAN: Small adoption by 200’s. By 700’s predominant hearth