1. RELIGIOUS ORIGINS: A GEOGRAPHIC INTRODUCTION

2. “Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps that science did not understand.” (Maximillian Kohler in Angels and Demons, pg. 25)

3. Language & Religion cultural foundations –Religion is a binding force –Religions change continually –The great religions span cultural & linguistic barriers –Over 6,000 religions!! –Like languages, the map of religions changes Geography of Religion

4. Religion’s Role in Society Some countries, religion is the culture It manifests itself in many different ways –Subordinate in most Western societies –(might) Wield control in Africa and Asia Every religion has specific components World-scale faiths are vast & complex organizations How can religion affect culture? One of the most complex—and often controversial—aspects of the human condition

5. Religion Defined… Universal human phenomena that asks three essential questions: 1.How did we get here? 2.Why are we here? 3.Where are we going? Two basic theories to answer those questions 1.Evolution 2.Creationism

6. Evolution Charles Darwin’s (1809-82) idea, based on writings by Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) –NOT, I repeat, NOT “man came from monkeys” –Gross misrepresentation of Darwin’s concept –Never even mentions “evolution” in his Origin of Species “Universal—infinite” “Survival of the fittest” The change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation that may, in time, produce new species

7. Evolutionists How did we get here? –The Big Bang; 5-8 billion years ago –Evidence of humanoid creatures 3-5 mya –35-50,000 ya, first homo sapiens Why are we here? –Self-create Anomie: radical meaninglessness Where are we going? –Nowhere, but change happens An uncomfortable feeling (for some) –Freud: “we can remember yesterday; we can anticipate tomorrow; we know the end is coming” Religion is man-made, and comes from this trauma

8. Creationism LOTS older than evolution There is/was a creator(s) Use anthropomorphism –Using human attributes to describe creator(s) How did we get here? –Via a creator Who, where, & how dependent on person and religion Why are we here? –Depends on the religion Where are we going? –Depends on the religion

9. Theistic Religion Monotheism –Belief in one deity Polytheism –Belief in more than one deity Animism –Belief that inanimate objects possess souls and should be revered Atheism –Belief in no theistic deity Deism –The deity (God) is within us; he was there, but now humans can handle it Pantheism –Belief that deity is the world; everything; within Agnostic –Belief in anomie; neither faith nor disbelief in deity Belief in some supreme or ultimate reality, which one can also speak of in personal terms. Transcendent: Outside ourselves (do’s & don’ts from deity) Immanence: Inside ourselves (turn inward for do’s and don’ts)

10. Monotheistic Religions Judaism –“Founded” by Isaac, son of Abraham & Sara –Moses talks with YHVH (tetragrammaton: “I am who I am”) –Describe YHVH (God) as Ruach, Hebrew for “wind” –Sacred books include Tanakh (Old Testament-like), the Torah/Pentateuch, and Talmud –No Holy Sacrament Zoroastrianism –“Founded by Zoroaster”, first millennium CE –Believed to be the predecessor of late Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Others believe Judaism was the first monotheistic religion

11. Monotheistic Religions Christianity –“Founded” by Christ (a Jew), traces roots back (through Judaism) to Isaac, son of Abraham 24 different sects of Jews at time of Jesus –Becomes “independent” of Judaism in 56 CE Until ~1000 CE, everyone could preach, ordain, baptize, etc., because there was no “formal” priesthood –Sacred books include Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha OT compiled by various writers, in various countries over ~1000 years; NT by various writers, ~60-95 CE; –Seven sacraments (from 12 th century) Baptism, communion, confirmation, penance, extreme unction, ordination, matrimony

12. Monotheistic Religions Christianity –Constantine “The Great” makes it “official” in 320 CE His dream…there was this battle, see… Found that there was no “one” Christianity practiced –Conference of Nicea (379 CE) Decided many tenets of Christianity –Transubstantiation—Jesus (or a person) is both divine & human –Books to be used; names to be used –Set stage for Catholicism

13. Monotheistic Religions Catholicism –Catholic—from Gr. = “Universal” Bishop of Rome (Pope) = head of catholic church Founded Church of Holy Sepulcher (Vatican & Jerusalem) Traced foundation to St. Peter (Peter = Gr. for “rock”) –Vatican (largest church in world – 1520-1620 to build) built, literally, on Peter

15. Monotheistic Religions Catholicism –No edifice could be higher than a church –Began the Crusades: 350 years of “conversion” –Founded the Inquisition: a church court judged who practiced correctly –By 1517, Catholic Church owns 2/3 of ALL property in Europe –Martin Luther (Germany, in 1517) started the Protestant movement Same canon as Catholicism Two-Three sacraments: baptism, communion, penance (sometimes)

16. Monotheistic Religions Islam (“submission”) –“Founded” by Muhammad, traces roots back to Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar (black?) “I am only a preacher of God’s words, the bringer of God’s message to mankind”--Muhhamad –Hijrah: Muhammad’s flight from Mecca; beginning of Muslim (“one who submits”) calendar –Sacred book is Koran (“recitation”) Given to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel Also use Hadith to interpret Koran –Sharia (Islamic Law) stresses absolute racial equality –al Illah = the god (little “g”); Allah = THE God (big “g”) –After Muhammad’s death, splits into two sects: Sunni: devout follower successive leader Shiite: blood relative successive leader

17. Monotheistic Religions Islam’s Tenets –Five Pillars of Islam 1.Shahadar: repetition of basic creed “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” 2.Zakat: almsgiving; done during Ramadan 3.Salat: prayer; minimum of five times daily 4.Saum: fasting during the 9 th month (Ramadan) 5.Haaj: pilgrimage to Mecca; once in a lifetime if able

18. Polytheistic Religions Hinduism –Brahman—“oneness” or “soul reality” –Atmah–soul; “true self” –Guru—spiritual leader –Om—“sound of the universe”; encompasses whole world, past, present, and future –Shanti—“peace” (said with palms together, finger pointing up) –Sacred writings include (2000 BCE – 500 CE) Vedas; Upanishads; Bhagavat Gita (“Song of God”— longest poem in the world)

19. Polytheistic Religions Hinduism –Oldest religion in the world –Illusory religion (no relics/artifacts) Art and icons are permitted, unlike I, J, C, “no graven images” Life one of many journeys –Samsara: “re-birth”; the “soul’s cycle”; “birth & re-birth” Reincarnation (many) vs. resurrection (once) –Moksha: “release”; liberation from Samsara –Dharma: “duty” brought on by past Karma –Karma: “action”; cause & effect; path not pre-determined –Miracles Ongoing; everyone experiences –Caste vs. Class System (movement) Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaysias, Shurdas, Harijan/Dalit

20. Polytheistic Religions Buddhism –Founded by Prince Siddharta Gautama –Spread slowly until King Asoka (273-232 BCE) –Fazed out in India, mostly in Japan and E. Asia –Step away from all desire to find peace and enlightenment –Buddha is a title Sanskrit: “enlightened one” or “one who is awake”

21. Polytheistic Religions Buddhism –Follows the Four Noble Truths: 1.Life is suffering 2.Suffering is caused by selfish cravings and greed 3.Remove the cause of the suffering (materialism) 4.Follow the “Noble Eightfold Path” The 8-fold Path 1.Right view 2.Right intention 3.Right speech 4.Right conduct 5.Right livelihood 6.Right effort 7.Right mindfulness 8.Right contemplation Method of training  to “awake-ness”

22. Polytheistic Religions Chinese Religions –Confucianism Brotherly love; harmony with “man” –Taoism (Daoism)— Lao Tzu Harmony with nature Opposites in everything; balance necessary –Feng Shui Spatial arrangement to promote harmony with environment YinYang MoonSun NightDay DarkLight CoolWarm FeminineMasculine EarthHeaven EvenOdd RestActive

24. Another Religion Sikhism –Developed amidst Muslim-Hindu influences –“Founded” by Guru Nanak (1469) –Monotheistic –Sacred text is “Teachings of the Ten Gurus” –An end to reincarnation by disciplined and balanced spirituality –Salvation is not a “heaven”, but a union and absorption into God, Nam Japna

25. Distribution of Major Religions A generalization...

26. Sources and Distribution Universalizing religions Ethnic religions –Sometimes called “cultural religions” Most recent data on religious affiliation –Information must be used cautiously –Data are not always reliable –Should be viewed as a rough estimate

27. Estimated Adherents to Major World Religions, by Geographic Realm (in millions, 2005) Americas Asia ReligionN.Mid.S.Europe Sub- Saharan Africa N. Africa SW AsiaS.SEE.RussiaPacificTotal Christianity2101453093202405259150111151524 Roman Catholic74130264162990.45701357829 Protestant1301545100113420213798503 Orthodox60.10.259290.4na 970.5192 Islam411151874033301833030.21157 Sunni411131792613231803030.2996 Shiite0.1na 2814173na 163 Hinduism10.30.412274460.3na0.4757 Buddhism20.10.40.3na0.1231691521na347 Chinese Religions0.1na0.1 na 0.39253na 262 Sikhism0.4na 0.2na 21na 22 Judaism60.2120.15na 30.117

28. Sources and Distribution Christianity—a divided religion –Roman Catholicism –Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches Islam—also divided –Fastest growing of the world's major religions –Main division = Sunni & Shiite Hinduism –Great diversity of forms and practices –Is an ethnic religion concentrated in a single geographic realm –Probably the world’s oldest organized religion Buddhism –Now a minority faith in its source-country –Remains strong in Southeast Asia Shintoism –Japanese ethnic religion closely related to Buddhism

29. Sources and Distribution The Chinese Religions Confucianism was mainly a philosophy of life Taoism: human happiness = proper relationship with nature Judaism—also “split” (like Islam & Christianity) Outside of Israel is scattered across much of the world Three main branches—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Shamanism and Traditional Religions Community faith Small and comparatively isolated Traditional religion

30. Minority Religions Abound within major religious realms –Most produced by migration and conversion –Sikhism Long-time fusion Traces of Hinduism and Islam –Nation of Islam—founded in the United States About 6 million adherents Product of migration from Islamic parts of the world over time A minority religion in the US and among its African-American population

31. Syncretic religions An intermixing of Christian and traditional cultural elements –Northern Europe Christianity mixing with traditional Norse elements Catholicism & Celtic pagans Gave way eventually to mainstream form of Christianity

32. The Rise of Secularism Many people are religion-less –Figures show active AND non-active members –Modest role in US society (mostly) –Antireligious efforts of China & former Soviet Union Can be traced back over the centuries Middle Ages... Protestant challenge State and Church Separation of church and state Freedom to choose

33. The Rise of Secularism (cont.) Weakening of traditions –Observance of the “Sabbath” Western Europe shows decline in religion as a cultural force The Muslim world shows a strengthening –Oil revenues –Revolutionary fervor Conservative & rural societies

34. Physical Origination All major contemporary religions originated in a small areas of the world –Area stretched from eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea to southwestern flanks of the Himalayas –Source areas coincide quite strongly with the culture hearths

35. Questions and Thoughts… Judaism is experiencing a population decrease. Why? About half of the world’s population practices a polytheistic religion