1. The Geography of Religion
The Great Mosque, Mali
The Geography of Religion
Origins and Distributions of the Major Religions
Key Terms
Religious Ecology
Secularism, Fundamentalism, and Conflict
The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem
Hindu Statue (Ganesh)
Buddhist Monks

2. The Geography of Religion
* Ethnic Religions versus Universalizing Religions (proselytic) * Polytheism versus Monotheism

3. The Roots of Religion
Animism (Shamanism) the “original” form of religion - the belief that all objects, animals, and beings are “animated” or possess a spirit and a conscious life. Also called shamanism because of the prominence of a Shaman.
Such beliefs are common among hunter-gatherers.
10% of Africans follow such traditional ethnic religions.
These beliefs are losing ground to Christianity and Islam throughout Africa.
Nigerian Shaman

4. Native American Animism
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. ~ Chief Seattle
Bear Dance

5. How do Universalizing and Ethnic Religions Differ?
Has meaning in particular place only.
Unknown source.
Content focused on place and landscape of origin.
Followers highly clustered.
Holidays based on local climate and agricultural practice.
Universalizing
Appeal to people everywhere
Individual founder (prophet)
Message diffused widely (missionaries)
Followers distributed widely.
Holidays based on events in founder’s life.

6. Monotheism One, central God (upper-case “G”) Creator
Being with personality and a “plan”
Makes the rules… and the punishments

7. Judaism, the First Big Monotheistic Religion
14 million adherents
Strong Ethnic association
Monotheistic
Pentateuch
First five books of the Old Testament
Sects
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
Israel
Homeland for Jewish people
Created 1948
Conflict between Israel and Palestine

8. Origin of Judaism
About 1900 bc (4000 yrs ago) Abraham (a.k.a “Israel”) a tribal leader in the near east gave up idol worship in favor of 1 God (Jews believe he was visited by God’s messenger angel).
The religion became more organized under Moses:
Saved the Israelites/Hebrews from slavery
10 Commandments (“God’s Word”)
“Promised Land” (Israel… after Abraham) Jews believe that “the land of Canaan” i.e. “Israel” was given to them by God

9. Israel’s Destruction and Recreation
70 A.D. the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and the Jews scattered in the diaspora. (the Romans where jerks like that)
The Jews, despite being kicked out and pushed into Europe retained their ethnic heritage even though it often meant ruining their chances of ever fitting in with the other cultures of Europe.
The end of WWI created an opportunity for the Jews to return to the area around Jerusalem… even though other people had been living there for 2,000 YEARS.
The New Jewish nation of Israel was established in This gives rise to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict still in progress. (Many Arab states still do not recognize Israel’s right to exist claiming that the land was stolen from them.

10. Christianity: Judaism version 2.0
2 billion adherents make it most practiced in the world.
Originated in Bethlehem (8-4 BC) and Jerusalem (AD 30) with Jesus.
Spread by missionaries and the Roman Empire (Constantine A.D. 313).
It is the most practiced religion in Africa today.

11. Origin of Christianity
In Judaism, there is a prophecy that there will be a “savior” sent by God.
Christians believe that Jesus was that savior
The Old Testament of the Christian Bible IS (for the most part) the Jewish Torah
The New Testament details the life and teaching of Jesus
Without Judaism there is no Christianity (in terms of ideology, tradition, and practice)
Jews are still waiting for the “savior”

12. The 3 Branches of Christianity
Christianity grew up in the midst of the Roman Empire as a cult religion… Emperor Constantine converted 312ad making it the Roman state Religion. He made a new capital: Constantinople… Eastern Orthodox
The Empire’s Decline leads to founding and rise of the Papacy in Rome… Roman Catholicism
1517… Martin Luther’s “95 Thesis” begins the Protestant Reformation… Protestantism

13. Diffusion of Christianity

14. Christianity in the U.S.

15. Islam: Like Judaism and Christianity… but not
1 billion + adherents
Originated in Saudi Arabia (Mecca and Medina) around AD 600.
Diffused originally by Muslim armies to N. Africa, and the Near East.
Sunni (83%) - throughout the Muslim world.
Shiite - Iran (40%), Pakistan (15%), Iraq (10%)
Fastest Growing World Religion

16. Reading the Koran, Brunei
Islam 101
Prophet: Muhammad
Holy Text: Koran
Islamic Calender
Begins in AD 622 when Muhammad was commanded to Mecca from Medina (Hijra).
Lunar calendar makes Ramadan move through the seasons (30 year cycle - 19 years with 354 days and 11 with 355).
Five Pillars of Islam
There is one God and Muhammad is his messenger. (declaration of faith)
Prayer five times daily, facing Mecca.
The giving of alms(charity) to the poor.
Fasting during Ramadan for purification and submission.
If body and income allow, a Muslim must make a pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca in his lifetime.
Reading the Koran, Brunei

17. Islam
Prophet: Muhammad
Holy Text: Koran

18. Diffusion of Islam
Islam is considered the fastest growing religion in America. Only a small part of this growth is from black Muslims and the Nation of Islam.

19. Polytheism Multiple gods (lower-case “g”)
Gods are usually representative of some aspect or personality trait of some universal “spirit” or “force”.
The idea of god, soul, spirit, sin, etc… are not nearly as “set in stone” or so “black and white” as it is in the monotheistic religions.

20. Hinduism: Oldest World Religion
Ganges River, Varanasi, India

21. Hinduism
900 million + adherents, primarily in India (4th largest)
Hinduism is an ancient term for the complex and diverse set of religious beliefs practiced around the Ganges River.
Hinduism is an ETHNIC religion
There is no central authority
There are no “branches”, more of a collection of styles, and there are MANY!

22. Hinduism
The four sacred texts are ancient hymns called the Vedas, but few Hindus historically could read. There is no ONE spiritual text.
Coastlines and river banks most sacred sites.
Many, many festivals, often surrounding harvest or spring or the birth of gods.
Brahman is the divine creator/force but is manifested in literally hundreds of gods, of which Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu are most dominant/fundamental.

23. Brahman
In the Hindu religion, Brahman is the eternal, unchanging, infinite, immanent, and transcendent reality which is the Divine Ground of all matter, energy, time, space, and being. (Think of “THE FORCE” described in Star Wars)
The first principle of Indian thought, therefore, is that the ultimate reality is beyond description. It is something that can be experienced only by bringing the mind to a stop; and once experienced, it cannot be described to anyone in terms of the forms of this world Joseph Campbell
Another important concept is that Hinduism believes in the omnipresence of the Supreme God in every individual. There is no "fall." Man is not cut off from the divine. He requires only to bring the spontaneous activity of his mind to a state of stillness and he will experience that divine principle within him.  Joseph Campbell

24. The Trinity of Brahman
Brahma (The Creator) - depicted with four faces each continually reciting one of the Vedas. The force of creation and birth.
Shiva (The Destroyer)
- Shakti or power; the dissolving force in life; centrifugal force; entropy.
Vishnu (The Preserver)
- peace; balance; Sustainer of life.

25. Hindu Beliefs and Practice
Atman- the “essential self” (think “soul”)
Moksha- salvation/ release from rebirth/reincarnation
Reincarnation – the soul is immortal but the body endlessly cycles to higher or lower levels of existence.
Karma- BOTH the good and bad deeds committed in one’s life
Dharma- one’s spiritual duty to follow their destiny
Ahimsa- spiritual concept of nonviolence (karma!)
Yoga – the practices or tools used to break from habits of past lives. Includes various meditations and physical practices.

26. The Hindu Caste System
The Hindu religious beliefs have such a bearing on how the follower views their “station” in this world that a unique social structure has developed called the “caste system.”
Belief in reincarnation and karma led Hindus to assert that there were “levels” of “purity” for every living person.
Centuries ago segments of Hindu society took on their own particular “level” in the hierarchy of this religion-based social structure. It works like this:

27. The Caste System cont.
The Untouch-ables Seen as unfit/ unclean non-participants in the society

28. Buddhism: (Universalizing Religion)
300 million + adherents primarily in China and S.E. Asia
Originated near modern Nepal around 530 BC by prince Siddhartha Guatama.
Spread originally in India and Sri Lanka by Magadhan Empire (250 BC).
Indian traders brought it to China in 1st century AD.
By 6th century it had lost its hold on India, but was now in Korea and Japan.
Buddhism: (Universalizing Religion)

29. Buddhism Four Noble Truths:
1. All living beings must endure suffering. 2. Suffering, which is caused by desires (for life), leads to reincarnation. 3. The goal of existence is an escape from suffering and the endless cycle of reincarnation by means of Nirvana. 4. Nirvana is achieved by the Eightfold Path, which includes rightness of understanding, mindfulness, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, and concentration.
Theravada - the older, more severe form which requires the renouncing of all worldly goods and desires.
Mahayana - focuses on Buddha’s teachings and compassion.
Karma - your past bad or good actions determine your progress toward Nirvana through reincarnation. You are your own God.

31. Diffusion of Buddhism

32. Other Religions Eastern Religions Confucianism (China) Taoism (China)
Shinto (Japan)
14th Century Chinese painting depicting Lao-tze and Confucius protecting Sakayumi, the future Buddha.

33. Confucianism and Daoism/Taoism
Neither involves the concept of the “supernatual,” so they’re usually viewed as “philosophies” not religions
Confucianism provides a code of moral conduct based on humaneness and family loyalty
Daoism holds that human happiness lies in maintaining proper harmony with nature. (Feng Shui)
Both are still VERY influential in China today and has diffused to Korea, Japan, and East, S.E. Asia.

34. Shintoism
Shintoism is a native ethnic religion of Japan that focuses particularly on nature and reverence of ancestors.
Became the official state religion in late 19th century to promote nationalist policies.
Still has prominent place in Japanese religious geography, but is no longer the state religion.
Prayers offered to ancestors, and shrines mark reverence for house dieties.

35. Sikhism
About 21 million Sikhs live in the Punjab region of India, with abouth 3 million more that live outside the area. Shikhism combines beliefs from Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs stress continual improvement and movement toward perfection by taking individual responsibility for their actions, a universal message that appeals to many… Shikhism therefore qualifies as a universalizing religion.

37. Baha’i
Baha’i is a relatively new faith, founded in Iran in 1844 by Siyyid ‘Ali Muhammad, known as the Bab (Persian for “gateway”). Most followers live in Iran, where they are viewed by some Shiite Muslims as heretics to the faith, since they believe that Husayn ‘Ali Nuri was the prophet and messenger of God, not Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic faith

38. Shrine, Bangalore, India
Key Terms
Syncretism - the mixing of two or more religions that creates unique rituals, artwork, and beliefs.
Examples include syncretism of Christianity and indigenous beliefs in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Caribbean Voodoo (Haiti, Louisiana)
Christianity in Indigenous Latin American
Voodoo Dolls, Haiti
Shrine, Bangalore, India

39. Syncretism - the mixing of two or more religions that creates unique rituals, artwork, and beliefs.

40. Key Terms
Secularization - a process that is leading to increasingly large groups of people who claim no allegiance to any church.
Some of these people are atheists. Others simply do not practice. Still others call themselves spiritual, but not religious.
Common in Europe and the cities of the U.S.
Common in former Soviet Union and China.
Fundamentalism - a process that is leading to increasingly large groups of people who claim there is only one way to interpret worship.
Fundamentalists generally envision a return to a more perfect religion and ethics they imagine existed in the past.
Common in the U.S. and in some Islamic nations.

41. Religion & Politics
Freedom of religion; Separation of church and state
Long, but messy and contested, history of separation of church and state in Christian West. Immigration today is challenging Western notions about secular society.
Many Islamic nations today are officially Islamic, though secular and are essentially modified theocracies. In secular Islamic countries such as Turkey, fundamentalist parties seek to win elections.
Theocracy
Church rules directly; today in Iran and Saudi Arabia, for example.

42. Social Impact of Religion
Gender roles
Women’s rights
Diet
Vegetarians
Pork, beef
Alcohol
Ethics and morals
Schools and institutions
World Distribution of Hogs

43. Economic Impact
Banking and lending - Biblical prohibtion against usuary (lending at interest). Still followed in Muslim world (only fees are charged).
Protestantism and capitalism – Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic; argues that individualism of Protestantism leads to acquisitiveness.
Catholic Church and capitalism – Pope John Paul II praised free markets but with the caution that they cannot meet all needs and salaries must be “just.”
Confucianism versus individualism - Confucius elevated the status of noble bureaucrats and commitment to societal good. This allows Asian nations to attract top talent to government jobs. Also, diligence with regard to savings and spending may be a consequence of Confucian ideas.

44. Religion and Environment
Burial practices
Judeo-Christians bury.
Hindus and Buddhists cremate.
Relationship with nature
Sacred Spaces
Sacred architecture
Role of religion in domination of earth?

45. Religious Conflict
The Big Question: Can secular society exist alongside traditional and fundamentalist religious sects and states?
We are quick to notice fundamentalism abroad (i.e. Salman Rushdie’s death sentence by Shia clerics) and not so quick to recognize it at home (abortion clinic bombings; Southern Baptist Convention’s calls for women to submit to their husbands’ authority).
American evangelical Christianity and Islamic fundamentalism are the two most influential fundamentalist movements in the world.
Fewer and fewer states are governed by an official church.