Key Issue 2: Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions?

Origin of Universalizing Religions Each can be traced to a man who lived since the start of recorded history Buddhism Christianity Islam Origin of Universalizing Religions

Origin of Christianity Jesus The four Gospels of the Christian Bible Matthew Mark Luke John Origin of Christianity

Accept the teachings of the Bible as well as the authority of the Church hierarchy (the Pope) 7 sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing the Sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Eucharist) transubstantiation Roman Catholics

Eastern Orthodoxy Split from the Roman Catholic Church Patriarch of Constantinople Accept the 7 Sacraments, but reject doctrines added by the Roman Catholics after the 8th Century Eastern Orthodoxy St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow Capernaum

Protestantism The Reformation Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Individuals directly communicate with God…don’t have to go through a priest/Pope Protestantism

Origin: similar narrative to Judaism and Christianity; Adam – Abraham Hagar and Ishmael Second wife and son Banished Makkah/Mecca Origin of Islam

Muhammad Born about A.D. 570 The visions Arabic and the Quran The Hijra Sunni and Shiite Muslims Muhammad

Origin of Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama Born a prince in 563 B.C. in present day Nepal The Buddha, “the Enlightened One” Spread the message in India Origin of Buddhism

Origin of Hinduism No specific founder Existed prior to recorded history Invasion of the Aryan tribes from Central Asia into India (1400 B.C.) Religion mixed with the Dravidians (who already lived there) This became Hinduism Origin of Hinduism

Diffusion of Religions

Diffusion of Christianity Christianity diffused through all forms of diffusion: Relocation Diffusion Contagious Diffusion Hierarchical in the 4th Century Since the year 1500, missionary activity by Europeans extended Christianity to other regions of the world Diffusion of Christianity

         

Diffusion of Islam Hierarchical diffusion: Muslim armies Relocation: missionaries to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia Diffusion of Islam

Lack of Diffusion of Ethnic Religions Most have limited diffusion They lack missionaries to go out and try to convert Mingling of Ethnic and Universalizing Religions: Africa: in some places Christianity is mixed with the traditional religion Japan: Buddhism is mixed with Shintoism Lack of Diffusion of Ethnic Religions

Judaism: An Exception Judaism is practiced in many countries Diaspora Ghettos Following the Holocaust Judaism: An Exception

Ethnic Religion’s holy places derive from the distinctive physical environment of their hearths Universalizing Religions endow with holiness cities and places associated with their founders’ lives. Holy Places

Buddhist Shrines Eight locations of important events in Buddha’s life Example: Bodh Gaya, where he reached enlightenment Buddhist Shrines

Holy Places in Islam Holiest places: cities associated with Muhammad Makkah: the Ka’ba The Hajj Medina Holy Places in Islam

The Darbar Sahib, or Golden Temple Holy Places in Sikhism

Holy Places in Hinduism Closely tied to the physical geography in India Natural features rank as holy: river banks or coastlines A tirtha The Ganges Holy Places in Hinduism

Cosmogony in Ethnic Religions Cosmogony: a set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe Yin (earth, darkness, female, etc.) Yang (heaven, light, male, etc.) Cosmogony in Ethnic Religions

The Calendar in Ethnic Religions A prominent feature is the celebration of the seasons The Jewish Calendar agricultural Lunar calendar The Solstice Pagan religions Stonehenge The Calendar in Ethnic Religions

The Calendar in Universalizing Religions Holidays: commemorate events in the founder’s life Climate and agricultural cycle are not central to the liturgy and rituals The Calendar in Universalizing Religions

So……… Why do different religions have different distributions?