Ethnic Religions ①Hinduism o 860 million; 3 rd largest religion; clustered in India & Nepal; makes up 80% of population of India & Nepal o Up to individual how to worship god; no central authority or “right way” o Belief in reincarnation, karma o Believe in many manifestations of god – examples of Vishnu, Siva, Krishn o No holy book, but scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads, & Bhagavad Gita o Existed before recorded history, earliest documents from 1500 BC & objects date back to 2500 BC o Aryans invaded from Central Asia in 1400 BC – brought religion and Indo- European language that mixed with beliefs of Dravidians living there ②Confucianism o Confucius ( BC) in China; sacred text – the Analects o Emphasized proper behavior, following traditions, fulfilling obligations, treating others with sympathy&respect; great respect for elders, public servants, teachers o Religion or ethical code? ③Daoism/Taoism o Lao-Tse (Laozi) ( BC) in China (sacred text – Tao Te Ching) o Emphasis on mystical aspects of life, oneness with nature, dualism, & karma o Seek Dao (path) - Cannot know everything; importance of mediation o Banned by Communists in 1949 – still practiced in China; legal in Taiwan

Ethnic Religions ④Shintoism o Ethnic religion of Japan; focus on forces in nature; emperors became deities o Chinese writing helped record ancient rituals o Emperor Meiji declared it state religion in late 1800s and early 1900s o Hirohito renounced divinity after WWII o Exists today to honor ancestors ⑤Judaism o 6 million in U.S. (mostly in large cities – ¼ in NYC); 5 million in Israel (majority Jewish); 2 million in Russia; 1 million in Asia; 1 million in Latin America o Canaan/Palestine/Israel – considered holy land given by God to Jews (Muslims/Arabs consider it theirs) o 1 st recorded monotheistic religion (sacred text – Torah/Tanakh) o Dispersed by series of conquests – Assyria in 721 BC, Babylonians in 600 BC; ruled by Persians, Greeks & Romans o Diaspora – great dispersal in 70 AD by Romans; migrated to Europe, North Africa, and Asia; kept religion but adopted language & other culture traits o Often persecuted throughout history o Ghettos – where Jews were forced to live in many European cities; WWII – Nazi Germany led Holocaust of Jews; concentration camps; 6 million killed o Many migrated to U.S. before, during, and after Holocaust o Creation of Jewish state of Israel after WWII – conflict with Palestinian Arabs

Ethnic Religions ⑥Jainism – Approximately 4-6 million adherents, primarily in India – Unclear origin (when? By whom?) – Jains consider Mahavira as the last and greatest (24 th ) tirthankara (teacher who has conquered reincarnation) – Mahavira lived at some point between BC; abandoned his wealthy family to live as a Jain monk; through meditation, he became omniscient – Believe in an eternal universe (never created, will always exist) – Emphasis on meditating & becoming a monk; desire to escape cycle of reincarnation – reach moksha/liberation; must conquer anger, greed, pride, and deceitfulness; role of karma – Major principles: non-violence (to all animal life, strict vegetarians), non-absolutism, and non-possessiveness – At times, suppressed and mistreated by Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims in South Asia (also declined due to competition for followers with each)

Ethnic Religions ⑦Ethnic African Religions o 100 million (12%) today – 200 million in 1980 o Mostly animist – belief in spirits in nature; also shamans–”medicine men” o Passed down orally to generations; few writings or holy books o Some monotheistic principles (many divinities but one supreme god) o Declining as more Africans accept Christianity or Islam (46% Christian – ½ Catholic & ½ Protestant, 40% Muslim) o Large # in Botswana, Angola, Benin, Congo Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Togo Lack of Diffusion of Ethnic Religions (except Judaism by relocation) o Ethnic do not use missionaries, lose followers to universalizing o Ethnic & Universalizing can mingle Africa – blend traditions with Christianity Shintoism in Japan – mix with Buddhism Daoism & Confucianism mix with Buddhism in parts of China Immigration of Hindus from india to Mauritius (island country off east coast of Africa) – brought by British to work; island uninhabited until 1638 when Dutch, French & British occupied it and brought Christianity Hatian Voodoo & Santeria (in Cuba) mix West African animism and Catholicism (Slavery & European colonialism) Syncretism – mixing of cultural (esp. religious) traits to form a new, distinct culture

Ethnic Religions Diffusion of Judaism o Dispersed through series of conquests by Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, & Romans o Diaspora completed in 70 AD from attempted revolt against Roman Empire o Migrated to Europe, N. Africa, & Asia – kept religion but adopted language & other cultural characteristics o Forced to live in ghettos in Europe o WWII – Nazi Germany persecuted Jews; concentration camps, approx. 6 million killed during Holocaust o Many migrated to the U.S. to escape persecution in Europe; after WWII, Jewish state of Israel created o Zionism – desire for a Jewish homeland in Palestine Holy Places in Ethnic Religions o Usually relate to physical environment o Hinduism – Ganges River, Mt. Kailas (source of Ganges in Himalayas & dwelling of Siva), Varanasi (Benares), remote shrines), take a pilgrimage (tirtha) as an act of purification

Ethnic Religions Cosmogony o Religious beliefs about beginning & working of the Earth & universe o Ethnic religions incorporate more physical features & events o Yin-Yang – balance & harmony of yin (earth, female, dark, cold, death, passive) & yang (male, heaven, light, warm, life, action) o Ethnic religions are less likely to modify the environment Calendar in Ethnic Religions o Usually related to physical geography & natural cycles or events o Annual, seasonal, moon cycles, nomadic cycles o Agricultural calendar – planting & harvest o Judaism – agricultural calendar (also lunar/moon) Planted grain during Autumn Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Rosh Hashanah (New Year) in Autumn Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths), Pesach (Passover), & Shavuot (Feast of Weeks/Harvest/Pentecost) – all relate to key times during harvest time Some events also relate to Exodus from Egyptian slavery Lunar calendar is based on full moon to new to full moon again – 29 days per month for a total of 350 in a year (extra month 7 years every 19 years)