Religion a fundamental part of human culture Can

Religion a fundamental part of human culture Can have a profound effect on human interaction with their environment and other cultures thereby shaping the development of a people’s cultural landscape

Religion Although religious affiliation is on the decline in some parts of the world’s core regions, it still acts as a powerful shaper of daily life, from eating habits and dress codes to coming of age rituals and death ceremonies, holiday celebrations, and family practices in both the core and periphery

Religion Definitions: relatively structured set of beliefs & practices through which people seek mental & physical harmony with the powers of the universe. Set of stones, symbols, beliefs, & practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life though reference to an ultimate power of reality A belief system and a set of practices that recognizes the existence of a power higher than humans

Religion encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience Through rituals religion is celebrated (birth, marriage, death, etc. ) Religion doesn’t just explain natural forces but helps people make sense of their place in the world.

Religion is one of the most complex, and often controversial, aspects of the human condition. Definitive trait of a culture and highly territorial phenomenon with links to the spirit of a place, ethnicity, and nationality Example Core component of culture Often lies at the root of conflict Virgin of Guadalupe

Types of Religions Proselytic Example: Christianity seeks new members and aims to convert mankind Ethnic Example: Judaism Identified with a particular ethnic or tribal group and doesn’t seek converts Syncretic Syncretism Example: Brazil – Umbunda Combines elements of two or more belief systems Orthodox Russian Orthodox Emphasizes purity of faith, “right teaching”

Types of Religions Polytheistic Belief in more than one god, or goddess Hinduism? ? , Voodoo Monotheistic Belief in one god, or goddess Islam, Christianity, Judaism Animistic Centered on the belief that inanimate objects, such as mountains, boulders, rivers, and trees, possess spirits and should therefore be revered.

Universalizing vs. Ethnic Religions Universalizing Religions Have universal appeal and attract all people to their beliefs Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism Universalizing religions can be broken down into: Branches: Large fundamental divisions within a religion Denominations: 60% of world follows a universalizing religion Ethnic religions Attempt to appeal to only one group One place or one ethnicity Examples: Judaism, Hinduism Groups of common congregations within a branch Sects: Smaller groups that have broken away from a recognized denomination within a branch

Religion Families Abrahamic Christianity Islam Judaism Baha’I faith Rastafarianism Indian Hindu Buddhism Sikhism Jainism

Religion Families African Primal Indigenous African traditional African Diasporic Far East Taoism Confucianism Shinto Codaism Yiguando Chinese folk

Religion Families Other Juche Spiritism Neopaganism Ah-E Haqq Yazidism Scientology

Fundamentalism Intolerance of other religions Today there are several movements in Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam Signals a return to founding principles, or literal interpretations of the text Often leads to violence Example: bombing of abortion clinics, 9 -11

Universalizing Religions Christianity Islam Buddhism Sikhism Ba’hai

Christianity Largest universalizing religion 2 billion adherents Predominate in: North America South America Europe Australia Origin Palestine (Israel) Doctrine 10 commandments Founder Jesus of Nazareth Date: 30 C. E. Diffusion Initially Relocation- Migration missionaries Expansion Contagious- Roman Empire

Branches of Christianity Roman Catholic Protestant Europe: SW, East Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. South America Europe: Northwest North America = 40% (NW, SE) North America= 28% (highly clustered) Headed by Pope Receive grace from sacraments Eucharist Reformation- Martin Luther Oct 31, 1517 Individuals could directly communicate with God Eastern Orthodox Europe: SE, East Middle East Ruled by Patriarchs Split with Roman Catholic teachings after 8 th century C. E.

Christianity Holy book Bible o Administration n Roman Catholic *hierarchical p Pope p Archbishops- Province Holy places Churches Jerusalem p Bishops- Diocese p Priests- Parish n Mormons- hierarchical o Calendar n Roman/ Protestant p Gregorian calendar n Orthodox p Julian calendar n Holidays p Easter= death and resurrection of Jesus p Christmas= Birth of Jesus

Landscape impact Churches Roman Catholic More elaborate Cathedrals Protestant More plain Orthodox Cathedrals, Byzantine style Cemeteries Christians bury their dead Hierarchy in burials

Islam 2 nd largest universalizing religion World’s fastest growing religion 1. 3 billion people Founder Muhammad 622 C. E. Origin Arabian Peninsula, Middle East Doctrine 5 Pillars of Islam Allah one true God Prayer 5 x a day facing Mecca Charity Fast during Ramadan Diffusion Military conquest after Muhammad’s death Then relocation diffusion through missionaries Ex. North Africa Ex. Indonesia- Arab traders

Main Branches of Islam Sunni Sufi branch 83 % of Muslims 1% of Muslims Middle East, Asia More mystical dimension of Islam “people following the example of Muhammad” Succession of Muhammad From the community Shiite 16% of Muslims Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Oman, and Bahrain Word for “sectarian” Succession of Muhammad Must come from familial line of Muhammad

Islam Holy Book Administration Local autonomy The Quran No formal religious hierarchy Holy Places Mecca Birthplace of Muhammad Secular states Calendar Lunar calendar Medina 30 year cycle Muhammad's tomb 19 years with 354 days Jerusalem 11 years with 355 days Muhammad’s ascension Holidays Holy month of Ramadan Landscape Impact Mosques Central, open-air courtyard Minaret tower Cemeteries- Burial of dead Art Calligraphy Geometric design

Buddhism 3 rd largest universalizing religion Difficult to gage number Doctrine Four noble truths 8 -fold path Can be Buddhist and other religion 400 million adherents China, SE Asia Founder Siddhartha Gautama 563 B. C. E. Diffusion Origin India/ Nepal No rapid diffusion Emperor Asoka 273 - 232 B. C. E. Trade routes brought it to China

Branches of Buddhism Mahayana Tibetan 56 % 6% China, Japan, Korea Tibet and Mongolia Split from Theravada 2000 years ago Less demanding More encompassing Theravada 38% Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Oldest branch “way of the elders” Full-time occupation, monks

Buddhism Holy Book none Holy Places Shrines 8 sacred sites All associated with the Buddha 4 locations of miracles Landscape Impact Pagodas Contain relic of Buddha Not designed for congregational worship Calendar Holidays Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death Same day for Theravada monks Different for others

Other Universalizing Religions Baha’i 7 million adherents Origin Grew out of Babi faith Founder: Siyyid ‘Ali Muhammad Shiraz, Iran 1844 C. E. Doctrine Believe that one of Bab’s disciples was a prophet of God Function: to overcome disunity in religions and establish a universal faith House of Worship Temples on every continent Calendar Established by Bab 19 months with 19 days, 4 “extra” Diffusion Followers persecuted and exiled to Iraq

Sikhism One of the smaller universalizing religions 25 million adherents Founded in the late 15 th century in present day Pakistan Lahore Follows teachings of Guru Nanak Chief religious prophet God revealed himself to Nanak One Creator, people have capacity for improvement on earth Sikhs mean disciple in Hindi Monotheistic Syncretic religion? Blend of Hinduism and Islam practices and beliefs

Diffusion of Sikhism Diffused outward from its origin in Pakistan, particularly towards northern India Sikhs have a global diaspora today and are especially prominent in the U. S. , Canada, the UK, former British colonies of East Africa, and Australia High concentration of Sikhs exist in Punjab region Straddles Northwestern India and Northern Pakistan

Cultural Landscapes of Sikhism Holiest Site: The Golden Temple In the Punjab region Holy Book: Guru Granth Sahib contains the teaching of all its prophets, called gurus