Christian Branches in Europe Protestant denominations, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy are dominant in different regions of Europe—a result of many historic interactions. Where is each branch of Christianity predominant in Europe?
Christian Branches in the U.S. Shaded areas are counties with more than 50% of church membership concentrated in Roman Catholicism or one of the Protestant denominations. Where are the Catholics? Where are the Baptists? Where are the Lutherans? Where are the Mormons? Where are the Methodists?
Diffusion of Islam Fig. 6-6: Islam diffused rapidly and widely from its area of origin in Arabia. It eventually stretched from southeast Asia to West Africa.
Islam by Branch Islam, the religion of 1.3 billion people, is the predominant religion of the Middle East from North Africa to Central Asia. 83% are Sunnis. 16% are Shiite. 40% of all Shiites live in Iran.
Diffusion of Buddhism Fig. 6-7: Buddhism diffused gradually from its origin in northeastern India to Sri Lanka, southeast Asia, and eventually China and Japan.
Diffusion of Sikhism & Baha’I Baha ‘I has diffused in notable numbers to Africa and Asia. Sikhism has not diffused much and remains concentrated in the Punjab of India.
Global Distribution of Religions Often, Ethnic religions are NOT predominant in a region.
Distribution of Ethnic Religions Animism Amazon, Reservations of N. America, Louisiana/New Orleans, Caribbean, Africa, Central Asia, Pacific, Australia. Confucianism China, Southeast Asia, Far East. Daoism China Shinto Japan Hinduism India Judaism (Breaks the rule b/c of the Diaspora) North America, Europe, Israel.
Shinto and Buddhism in Japan Since Japanese can be both Shinto and Buddhist, there are many areas in Japan where over two-thirds of the population are both Shinto and Buddhist. Christianity has blended with Animism in Africa.
Jewish Diaspora Judaism is an Ethnic religion that has a widespread distribution because of the Diaspora of the 1st century A.D. Persecution has lead to support of Zionism, the Jewish movement back to Israel.