1. Wed 12/6: Religion (Unit 3b)
3b Essential Questions:
Where are religions distributed?
Why do religions have different distributions
Why do religions organize space in distinctive patterns?
Why do territorial conflicts arise among religious groups?
H.W.)
Due Fri: Guided Reading 3b # 10-13; Quiz on Religion (what we’ve covered in class)

2. Religion (3b) Christianity + the Cultural Landscape

3. The Cultural Landscape
The cultural landscape is the visible expression of human activity in a place. Contains valuable evidence about a culture.
Often it involves modification of landscape by human activity. Cultures use, alter, + manipulate landscapes to reflect their identity.
Most of “built landscape” (things we actually construct) is embedded within the cultural landscape,
some of built landscape is not part of the cultural landscape (part of our culture, but we don’t make it)

4. How is religion seen in the cultural landscape?
Obvious ways?
Sacred sites (places or spaces people infuse with religious meaning)
Less obvious ways?
Absence of things (liquor stores), certain types of food not being sold (Middle East – no pork; No beef in India. Food taboos)

5. Christian Churches More critical than in other religions. Why?
Affects landscape
Usually tall, centrally located
Style reflects:
Availability of resources
cultural influences
Catholic= Roman classical styling, Renaissance Art
Orthodox = Greek pointed onion domes, mosaics
beliefs
Catholic
reflect power of faith, authority of church
= Gothic Cathedrals
veneration of saints, crucifix
Protestant = simple, protest against corruption of church, don’t ask saints for intercession, crucifix = idolatry
Orthodox cross

6. Protestant Reformation:
1517; 16th Century in Europe (Germany)
Martin Luther fed up with R.C.C.
Corrupt leaders + extravagant spending on military, the arts + personal pleasure
Corrupt popes - fathering children, pursuing worldly affairs + neglecting spiritual duties.
Priests breaking vows (drinking, gambling)
Taking $ from poor - Ex. Corrupt practice of selling indulgences (pardons for sins)

7. Luther’s 95 Theses 1517: Martin Luther challenges RCC:
“95 Theses” - public stand against corrupt practice of selling indulgences (selling pardons so people “buy their way into heaven”) + taking $ from poor.
Becomes foundation of Protestant Ref - “Faith alone, and not deeds, would lead to salvation.”
Leads to founding of denominations that did not accept the pope’s authority.
Luther’s teachings: (1) Win salvation by faith in God alone; (2) All Church teachings based on words of Bible; (3) All people with faith are equal.

11. Christianity Calendar Disposal of the Dead
Holidays relate to life of Jesus = Universalizing!
Easter
Christmas
But, still connected to Jewish/pagan seasonal holidays
Jesus was a Jew
Syncretic appeal to win pagan converts
Ex. “Christmas” = Dec 25th
Roman festival “Saturnalia” = gifts, green
Scandinavian pagan = yule
Differences between branches
Catholic use “Gregorian”
Orthodox use “Julian”
Burial
Cemeteries
(-) Use valuable land, esp. in areas w/ overpop. + need for more farmland.
(+) Serve as green space in newly industrializing cities
reflect religion on the cultural landscape
can be repositories of history + culture
spaces 4 memorialization

15. Administration of space
Catholic hierarchy creates “territories”
Archdioceses, dioceses, parishes

16. Other effects on landscape
toponyms