RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

Cultural GeographyReligions of the World

Religion (The Basics)Religion is a belief in a supernatural power orpowers that are regarded as the creators andmaintainers of the universe.Religion is a cultural system of behaviors andpractices, world views, sacred texts, holyplaces, ethics and societal organization thatrelate humanity to what an anthropologist hascalled "an order of existence.”

Types of Religions Universalizing religions are religionsthat appeal to a broad group of peopleregardless of ethnicity. Ethnic religions are religions that mainlyappeal to certain ethnic groups. Proselytic religions actively seek newmembers and have the goal ofconverting humankind.

Types of Religions Monotheistic religions believe in onegod. Polytheistic religions believe in manygods. Animistic or traditional religions oftenbelieve that different aspects ofnature have divine powers.

ReligionsSome examples of universalizingreligions are:A. ChristianityB. IslamC. Buddhism

ReligionsSome examples of ethnic religions are:A. HinduismB. JudaismC. ShintoismD. ConfucianismE. Taoism

Religions of the World:Distribution

Religions of the World:Christian and Islamic DistributionRed Christianity, Green Islam

Religions of the World:Relative Numeric SizeReligionFollowersChristianity2,376 millionIslam1,66 millionHinduism1 billionBuddhism / Chinese Folk950 millionSikhism26 millionJudaism14 million

Religions of the World:Relative Numeric Size

Religions of the World:Relative Spatial Size

Southwest AsiaThe three religions that began inSouthwest Asia are:A. Judaism (2000 BCE)B. Christianity (26-36 CE)C. Islam (610 CE)

JudaismSome of the major beliefs of Judaism are:A. Monotheism - There is one god who is allpowerful and all knowing.B. This god made a special covenant oragreement with Abraham, who is the fatherof the Jewish people.C. God revealed his laws to his peoplethrough Moses and the TenCommandments.

JudaismOne of the central beliefs of Judaism isthat God promised the Jewish people aland of their own called Canaan, which isin the modern state of Israel.The Jewish people built a special templein Jerusalem where they put the Ark ofthe Covenant, a container that held theTen Commandments.

Judaism The Old Testament of the Bible was writtenby Jewish people and is called the Tanakh. The first five books of the Tanakh are calledthe Torah. The Tanakh contains many restrictions andrules that Jewish people must follow. The Tanakh is often interpreted by learnedJewish scholars called rabbis.

JudaismHoly days and life events:A. Yom Kippur - A total day of rest andfasting and the 10th day of the seventhmonth (Hebrew Calendar)B. Bar Mitzvah - Passage from childhood toadulthood (bat mitzvah for daughters)C. Hanukkah - Eight day holiday thatcommemorates the rededication of thesecond temple in Jerusalem

JudaismDiaspora - In 70 CE, Jerusalem wascaptured by the Romans, who destroyedthe Jewish temple. Jewish peoplemigrated to other parts of the world andformed small communities. However,there was always the hope that theywould be able to return to Jerusalem andrebuild the temple.

Judaism: Western Wallremnant of the ancient wall of the Temple courtyard, asacred site of Jewish prayer and pilgrimage . Wailing Wall

Judaism: Star of Davidthe Star of David in theoldest surviving completecopy of the Masoretictext, the Leningrad Codex,dated 1008the yellow badge: the Star ofDavid with the word Jude(German for Jew) inscribed

ChristianityChristianity was heavily influenced byJudaism. Some of the major beliefs ofChristianity are:A. Monotheism - There is one god whois all powerful and all knowing.B. Jesus Christ, the human son of God,died for the sins of humankind.C. Salvation comes from faith in God.

Christianity Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ,who was born into a Jewish family inPalestine. Some thought the teachings ofJesus challenged the authority of Rome andof Jewish leaders and he was arrested andcrucified. According to Christians he rose from thedead three days later and ascended toheaven.

ChristianityChristians believe the Old and NewTestaments of the Bible are holy books.The first four books of the NewTestament were written by followers ofJesus and they are based on his life andteachings.

Christianity Christianity slowly spread throughoutthe Roman Empire and became themajor religion. Christianity split into branches anddenominations. A branch is a majordivision of belief and a denomination is aminor division of belief.

Christianity Some branches of Christianity are:Roman Catholicism, Protestantism,and Eastern Orthodox. Protestantism has manydenominations such as Baptist,Methodist, Presbyterianism,Calvinism, Anglicanism andLutheranism.

ChristianityStates and areas of the world that areprimarily Christian are:A. The US and Canada (Protestant)B. Latin America (Catholic)C. Sub-Saharan Africa (Protestant)D. Europe (Catholic and Protestant)E. The Philippines (Catholic)F. Russia (Eastern Orthodox)

Christianity: EasternOrthodox

Eastern Orthodox:Saint Basil’s

Eastern Orthodox: Icons

Islam Islam is a monotheistic religion thatdeveloped in Saudi Arabia in the early600s. Islam is directly related toJudaism and Christianity. Islam was founded by the ProphetMuhammad who lived from 570 to632 in Saudi Arabia.

Islam

IslamFollowers of Islam believe thatMuhammad was a prophet of God(Allah) in the same vein as Abraham,Moses and Noah. They also believeJesus was a prophet of God, but they donot believe that he was the son of God.

IslamThe five pillars or central teachings of Islamare:A. A statement of faithB. Prayer (five times a day in the direction ofMecca)C. CharityD. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in yourlifetime (called the Hajj)E. Fasting (during the month of Ramadan)

Islam The teachings of Muhammad werecollected into a book called the Koran. Muslims worship in buildings calledmosques. It is forbidden to makepictures or statues of Allah orMuhammad so most mosques aredecorated with ornate tile work orpassages from the Koran.

IslamStates or parts of the world that areIslamic are:A. North AfricaB. The Middle East (except Israel)C. Central AsiaD. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia

IslamIn some Muslim states the legal systemis not separate from the religion. Thesestates have Shari'a (way, path) Law, orlaw based on the Koran.

Islam: Dome of the Rock

Islam: Mecca

Islam: Crescent and Star

Hinduism Hinduism is one of the oldest religionsin the world. It is a polytheistic religionthat originated in South Asia, presentday India, around 2500 BCE. Hinduism has no founder and is basedon traditions that developed over along period of time.

Hinduism Atman is the spirit or soul of a person, whichmost Hindus believe is eternal. Brahman refers to a supreme spirit but it canalso mean an infinite and unchanging reality. Hindus believe that the goal of life is torealize that your atman is the same asBrahman and thereby reach moksha, orliberation.

Hinduism Hindus believe in reincarnation andkarma. A person dies, then lives again,until they finally reach moksha. Hindus have several holy books whichare collections of teachings, epicpoems and stories. These books arecalled Vedas, Upanishads and the epicsMahabharata and Ramayana.

HinduismThe caste system is a system of socialorganization in India. When a person isborn they are born into one of fourcastes or as a Dalit. This system has ledto discrimination and has been outlawedin India. Hindus still debate whether thecaste system is part of Hinduism or anoutdated social custom.

HinduismThe castes are:A. Brahmins: teachers and priestsB. Kshatriyas: warriors, nobles andkingsC. Vaishyas: farmers, merchants andbusinessmenD. Shudras: servants and laborers

Hinduism: Goddess Lakshmi

Hinduism: Sacred Symbol Aum

BuddhismBuddhism is related to Hinduism andshares many of the same basic beliefs.The relationship between Buddhism andHinduism is similar to the relationshipbetween Christianity and Judaism.

Buddhism Buddhism was founded by a mannamed Siddhartha who was bornaround 500 - 400 BC in Nepal. The religion quickly spread to otherparts of Asia and was a major religionin India for a time. Most people areHindus in India today.

BuddhismBuddhism is a major religion in SoutheastAsia and is practiced in China, Korea andJapan. States that are predominantlyBuddhist are:A. ThailandB. LaosC. CambodiaD. Myanmar

Buddhism

Buddhism: A Dharma WheelThe eight spokes of the wheel symbolize the NobleEightfold Path set out by the Buddha in his teachings.The wheel also represents the endless cycle of rebirth thatcan only be escaped by means of the Buddha's teachings.

Buddhism: LongmenGrottoes in ChinaHousing tens ofthousands of statues ofBuddha and hisdisciples, LongmenGrottoes are among thefinest examples ofChinese Buddhist art.

Taoism Taoism is a religion or philosophy thatbegan in China around 500 - 400 BC. Tradition says that Taoism is based onthe teachings of Lao Zi. The Tao Te Ching is a collection ofLao Zi’s teachings.

Taoism Lao Zi taught of a naturalistic path to lifecentered on the three jewels of the Taoistfaith: compassion moderation humility The wu wei or non-action was also born ofthis faith.

TaoismThe Tao is called the Great Mother.Empty yet inexhaustible,it gives birth to infinite worlds.It is always present within you.You can use it any way you want.

Taoism: Tajitu

Taoism: Lao Zi

Confucianism Confucianism is a philosophy thatbegan in China around 500 - 400 BC. It is based on the teachings ofConfucius. Confucianism is concerned mainly withsocial organization. It emphasizesrespect for elders and education.

Confucianism: Ancestor WorshipOne ancient belief that has beenincorporated into many religions inAsia, including Confucianism, is the ideaof worshipping and respecting one’sancestors.Confucian Ancestor Worship

Symbol for Confucianism

Confucianism: Confucius

Other ReligionsThere are many, many other and lesswidespread religions in the world. A list,although by no means comprehensive,follows.

Other ReligionsAnimismBahá'í FaithBrahma KumariCeltic PaganismChurch of Jesus Christ ofLatter Day SaintsDruidismDruzeGnosticismHare KrishnaHeathenismJainJehovah's WitnessesMennonitePaganismRaja YogaRastafarianSanteríaScientologySeventh Day AdventismShintoSikhismTraditional African ChurchUnification ChurchUnitarianismVoodooWiccaZoroastrianism

Defining ReligionThe very attempt to define religion, to find somedistinctive or possibly unique essence or set ofqualities that distinguish the "religious" from theremainder of human life, is primarily a Westernconcern.An increasing number of scholars have expressedreservations about ever defining the "essence" ofreligion. They observe that the way we use theconcept today is a particularly modern construct thatwould not have been understood through much ofhistory and in many cultures outside the West.

The End

Universalizing religions are religions that appeal to a broad group of people regardless of ethnicity. Ethnic religions are religions that mainly appeal to certain ethnic groups. Proselytic religions actively se