Ethnic Religions

Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions? Limited diffusion of ethnic religions more tied to physical environment universalizing religions usually compete with or intrude on ethnic religions Examples of syncretism: Christianity with African ethnic religions Buddhism with Confucianism in China Buddhism with Shinto in Japan Ethnic religions can diffuse with migration Hinduism in Guyana due to Indian diaspora

Hinduism 3rd largest religion in the world Many paths to spirituality 900 million adherents 97% of Hindus are found in India rest in Nepal Many paths to spirituality Individual decides best way to worship Vaishnavism (Vishnu) 70% Incarnations (Krishna, Buddha, Jesus?, etc.) Sivaism (Siva) 26% Protector and destroyer of ignorance Shaktism (female consorts of Vishnu/Siva)

Hinduism Origin Holy places Effects on landscape Basic ideas brought by Aryans (Indo-Europeans) Intermingled with Dravidians No clear founder, archaeological evidence dating from 2500 B.C. ‘Karmic” religion (cause and effect) Dharma = set of rules for caste Caste = social class Social mobility is limited, Why? discuss Holy places Riverbanks, coastlines, mountains Temples often located on riverbanks/water Ganges River is the most sacred, Varanasi = pilgrimage site Effects on landscape Overcrowding/pollution due to pilgrimages Hindus cremate dead = preserves land, no cemeteries BUT Cremation strains wood supply, pollutes water

Judaism 14 - 15 million Origin and diffusion 1/3 USA, 1/3 Israel, 1/3 elsewhere 15% in Europe (90% before WWII) Origin and diffusion Abraham’s migration/covenant Promised land ↔ monotheism Moses Exodus (escape from Egypt) Ten Commandments, conquest of Canaan Kingdom of Israel (Saul, David, Solomon) 10 lost tribes (Assyrians)/2 tribes remain (Babylon) Tribe of Judah = “Jewish” Diaspora (after 70 AD by Romans) “re-clustering” due to est. of Israel Zionism = movement for a Jewish homeland began late 1800s, reaction to persecution

The Jewish calendar Rosh Hashanah New Year Yom Kippur Day of Atonement Passover Sukkot Feast of Weeks Autumn holidays express worry over winter rains Spring harvest and sacrifices commemorated in Exodus

Islam’s 3rd most holy site Dome of the Rock Western “Wailing” Wall Solomon built 1st temple Destroyed by Neo-Babylonians Rebuilt after Babylonian Captivity Remnant of 2nd Temple Destroyed by Romans 70 AD

Jewish Symbols

Chinese Ethnic Religions Confucianism Kong Fuzi (551 – 479 BCE) Proper relationships/behavior bring stability answers to bigger questions come later metaphysics borrows spirituality from Buddhism/Daoism Neo-Confucianism Daoism Laozi (604 – 531? BCE) Seek the way or “dao” Harmony with nature (feng shui) Yin and yang (the natural and spiritual world consists of opposite forces: the ugly and beautiful, the dark and the light, masculine and feminine) Chinese Ethnic Religions

Animistic Religions African ethnic religions animism 100 million/12% of Africans animism things in nature have living spirits/consciousness celebration of the natural competition with universalizing religions Leads to decline (50%) in animism Africa now: 46% Christian/40% Muslim

Animistic Religions Shinto Japanese animism As state religion it previously elevated emperor as divine (renounced after WWII) Temples marked by distinctive Japanese gate (torii) separates sacred space from the profane

Animistic Religions Shinto Other Japanese animism As state religion it previously elevated emperor as divine (renounced after WWII) Temples marked by distinctive Japanese gate (torii) separates sacred space from the profane Mixed with Buddhism (syncretism) = Zen Other Isolated areas, indigenous areas Amazon rainforest Arctic Ocean (Komis/Samoyeds in Siberia, Inuit in Canada, Sami in Scandinavia) Interior of SE Asia Interior of large Indonesian islands (Borneo and New Guinea) Interior of Australia (Aborigines)