1. Religion 101

2. What is Religion? Beliefs in a higher power or spirits
Set of moral beliefs, way of life
Way to explain the unexplainable
Cosmogony
Monotheistic vs. Polytheistic

3. Organizing Religion Universalizing Religion Ethnic Religion
Goal: globalization
Revolve around a founder
Not limited to one culture
Proselytism
Ethnic Religion
Does not look to spread
Origins are unknown
Tends to be limited to one geographic area

4. Classification Examples
Universalizing Religions
Christianity
Buddhism
Islam
Ethnic Religions
Hinduism
Judaism
Daoism
Shintoism
Animist religions

7. Organizing Religion Hierarchical vs. Autonomous religions Organization
Branch
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox
Denomination
Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian
Sect
Cults, ultra-orthodox

8. Major Universalizing Religions:
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism

9. Christianity World’s largest religion Origins Over 2 billion members
Begins with teachings of Jesus
Spreads with relocation and contagious diffusion at first
Later spreads through hierarchical when Constantine converts to Christianity in 380 AD

10. Islam 1.3 Billion adherents
Concentrated in Mid East, N Africa and Asia
Built on five pillars (beliefs)
Two major branches
Sunni
Shia
Spreading to Europe and North America

11. Buddhism Roughly 365 million Based on 4 noble truths
Hard to make an accurate count
Not an exclusive religion like Christianity or Islam

12. Major Ethnic Religions
Hinduism
Roughly 80 percent of India
Polytheistic
Reincarnation
Judaism
One of the oldest organized religions
Diffused only due to relocation diffusion
Closely related to Christianity and Islam

13. Religious Organization of Space
Places of Worship
Christianity: Churches
Islam: Mosques
Hindu: Temples
Burial
Burial in the ground
Cremation

14. Religious Conflict: Religion vs. Government
The Taliban
Sharia Law
Banning western influences
British vs. Caste System
Hindu Caste System
British and Christian missionaries
Communism vs. Eastern Orthodox
Banning religion in USSR

15. Religious Conflict: Religion vs. Religion
Interfaith Boundaries
Enclave and Exclave
The Middle East
Holy land for Islam, Judaism and Christianity
Crusades
Israel vs. Palestine
India vs. Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Northern Ireland