Chapter 6 Religion Geographers are concerned with the regional distribution of different religions, including the process by which they diffuse, and the resulting potential conflict, which can highlight the tension between the global and the local. Geographers are also concerned with the connection of religions to the local environment and how they modify the landscape.

Key Definitions Monotheism-belief in a single God: the belief that there is only one God, as found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Polytheism- belief in several deities: the worship of or belief in more than one god, especially several deities, as found Hinduism

Key Definitions Universalizing Religion- A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location or of a particular ethnicity –Ex. Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism Ethnic Religion- A religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution and a strong connection to the local environment –Ex. Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, Judaism, Animism

Diffusion Some religions, like universal religions, are designed to encourage the diffusion of the religion. Ethnic religions are usually tied to specific place. Migration usually accounts for the diffusion of religions. Unlike languages, however, people don’t change their religion when they move.

Distribution of Religions Where are these Universalizing religions predominant today? –Christianity Where are the various branches of Christianity predominant? –Islam Where are the branches of Islam predominant? –Buddhism Where are the branches of Islam predominant? –Baha ‘I –Sikhism

World Distribution of Religions Global distribution patterns generally reflect the universal or ethnic nature of the religion and migration patterns.

World Population by Religion About 60 percent of the world’s population adhere to a universalizing religion, 25 percent to an ethnic religion, and 15 percent to no religion. Over two-thirds of the world’s population belong to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. Christianity is the single largest world religion.

Diffusion of Universalizing Religions Fig. 6-4: Each of the three main universalizing religions diffused widely from its hearth.

Diffusion of Christianity Fig. 6-5: Christianity diffused from Palestine through the Roman Empire and continued diffusing through Europe after the fall of Rome. It was later replaced by Islam in much of the Mideast and North Africa.

Key Definitions Branch- A large and fundamental division within a religion –Ex. Catholicism (50%), Protestantism (25%), Eastern Orthodox (10%) Denomination- A division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body –Ex. Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal Sect- A relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination –Ex. Coptic Church of Egypt, Ethiopian Church, Armenian Church, Maronites, Mormons