There may be some extra words in the presentation: Do NOT write them down. Religion

 Religion is “A system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities.” What Is Religion?

1. Religions set standards for how people “should” behave. 2. Religion manifests itself in many ways: Worship Prayer Rituals Take place through regular intervals Birth, marriage, and death Attainment of adulthood Secularism is the indifference to or rejection of religion. What Role Does It Play in Culture?

 Monotheistic religions: single god  Polytheistic religions: many gods  Animistic religions: inanimate objects possess spirits Types of Religions

 Universalizing religions: Actively seek converts Believe they offer universal appeal Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism  Ethnic religions: Appeals to one group of people living in one place; born into the faith Do not actively seek converts Hinduism, Judaism, Animism, Shamanism  Sometimes, univ. and ethnic religions mix e.g. in Africa, Louisiana, Haiti. Types of Religions

World Distribution of Religions World religions by continent. 60% of world population – universalizing region; 25% - ethnic religion; 15% - no religion.

World Population by Religion Over two-thirds of the world’s population belong to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. Christianity is the single largest world religion.

Christian Branches in Europe Protestant denominations, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy are dominant in different regions of Europe—a result of many historic interactions.

Hinduism One of oldest religions; over 4000 years; no specific leader Originated in the Indus River Valley Ganges (sacred river) Ancient practices include ritual bathing and reincarnation Polytheistic Caste System → Origin Religions From the Hearth of South Asia

Hindu Temple

Buddhism  Splintered from Hinduism 2500 years ago  Siddhartha Gautama (born about 563 B.C.)  Four Noble Truths + Noble Eightfold Path  Approximately 347 million adherents Sikhism o Originated in Punjab, India around 1669 o Based on the teachings of Guru Nanak o Monotheistic Shintoism  Japan  Focused on nature and ancestor worship From the Hearth of South Asia Origin Religions

Taoism  Lao-Tsu –founder (600 BCE)  Tao-te-ching – “Book of the Way”  Feng Shui – living in harmony with nature Confucianism  Confucius 551 to 479 BCE  Confucian Classics – blueprint for Chinese civilization Origin of Religions From the Hearth of the Huang He River Valley

Origin of Religions From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

Origin of Religions From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

Origin of Religions From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

Diffusion of Religions Overall: –Increase of diffusion – missionary work –Lack of diffusion – lack of appeal to outsiders (tied to cultures)

Diffusion of Universalizing Religions Each of the three main universalizing religions diffused widely from its hearth.

Diffusion of Religions From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

Diffusion of Christianity 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.

Diffusion of Religions From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean

Diffusion of Islam Islam diffused rapidly and widely from its area of origin in Arabia. It eventually stretched from southeast Asia to West Africa.

Diffusion of Judaism Diaspora—scattering of people Zionism—form of nationalism that supports a separate Jewish state From the Hearth of the Eastern Mediterranean Diffusion of Religions

Diffusion of Buddhism Buddhism diffused gradually from its origin in northeastern India to Sri Lanka, southeast Asia, and eventually China and Japan.

Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan Since Japanese can be both Shinto and Buddhist, there are many areas in Japan where over two-thirds of the population are both Shinto and Buddhist.

Sacred sites  Places people infuse with religious meaning  Pilgrimage: Voluntarily travel to a religious site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site Sacred Sites of Jerusalem  Sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims  Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre How Is Religion Seen in the Cultural Landscape?

 Hinduism Temples, shrines Holy animals, ritual bathing  Buddhism Stupus: bell shaped structures that protect burial mounds Pagoda: tiered tower How Is Religion Seen in the Cultural Landscape?

Hindu Holy Places Hierarchy of Hindu holy places: Some sites are holy to Hindus throughout India; others have a regional or sectarian importance, or are important only locally. Also includes the Ganges River.

Holy Sites in Buddhism Most holy sites in Buddhism are locations of important events in Buddha’s life and are clustered in northeastern India and southern Nepal.

Bordeaux, France. Built beginning in 1472, St. Michael’s Tower rises over Bordeaux, France, marking the importance of the Catholic Church in Bordeaux’s history and culture. © H. J. de Blij. Landscapes of Christianity How Is Religion Seen in the Cultural Landscape?

Place Names in Québec Place names in Québec show the impact of religion on the landscape. Many cities and towns are named after saints.

Landscapes of Islam How Is Religion Seen in the Cultural Landscape?

Mecca, Islam’s Holiest City Makkah (Mecca) is the holiest city in Islam and is the site of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims each year. There are numerous holy sites in the city.

What Role Does Religion Play in Political Conflicts?

Example of Religious Conflict: Jerusalem The Old City of Jerusalem contains holy sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Boundary Changes in Palestine/Israel The UN partition plan for Palestine in 1947 contrasted with the boundaries that were established after the 1948–49 War. Major changes later resulted from the 1967 War.

The West Bank: Political and Physical Geography Political control of the West Bank has been split between Palestinians and Israelis (though under overall Israeli control). The West Bank includes many of the higher altitude areas of the region.

Conflict: Protestants in Northern Ireland Percent Protestant population by district in Ireland, When Ireland became independent in 1937, 26 northern districts (or local states) with large Protestant populations chose to remain part of the United Kingdom.

 Religious fundamentalism Beliefs are nonnegotiable and uncompromising  Religious extremism  Fundamentalism carried to the point of violence  Fundamentalists can be extremists but this does not mean that all fundamentalists (of any faith) are extremists Reasons for Political Conflicts