INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIOUS GEOGRAPHY

How can we classify religions?

How many gods?  Monotheism: One god (Christianity, Judaism, Islam)  Polytheism: Multiple gods (Hinduism, Paganism)

How organized?  Hierarchical religion:  Well-defined geographic structure  Administrative units  Well organized  Ex- Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalian, Anglicans  Autonomous religion:  Self-sufficient  Loose cooperation and shared ideas  Ex- Islam, Baptists

Universalizing v. Ethnic v. Tribal  Universalizing religions  Attempts to be global  Appeal to all people, regardless of ethnicity  Goal is proselytizing (making converts)  Examples?  Diffusion?

Universalizing v. Ethnic v. Tribal  Ethnic Religions  Appeals to a group of people living in one place  Conversion (usually) possible Must adopt cultural practices  Examples?  Diffusion?

Universalizing v. Ethnic v. Tribal  Tribal Religions  Appeal to small, specific group of people  Contains Animism and/or shamanism (usually both)

Universalizing v. Ethnic v. Tribal  Animism – belief that natural objects contain spirits or gods; may include ancestor worship  Shamanism – belief that world of spirits or gods that can only be communicated with by a shaman or priest  Examples: Native American Religions, African Religions

How do they differ?  Beliefs  Symbols  Worship Spaces  Burial