World Religion Where are religions distributed Why do

World Religion Where are religions distributed? Why do they have different distributions?

The Paradox of Religion § § § All religions hold peace as the highest value. Loving thy enemy is common to all religion So why is so much conflict centered around religion? § Geographers are concerned with distribution of religion and the potential for conflict

Globalization vs. Local Diversity § People care deeply about their religion and draw core values/beliefs from it § Some designed to appeal to all people, while others appeal to geographically limited areas § Religious values are a mark of culture and ways people organize the landscape § Most religions require exclusive adherence, adopting a universal religion comes at the expense of a local religion § Unlike language, you can only have 1 religion. § Like language, people carry religion with them when they migrate § Assimilated people usually lose native language before religion

Universalizing vs Ethnic Religions § Universalizing- attempt to be global, appeal to all people. § Ethnic- appeals primarily to 1 group of people in 1 place. § 62% universalizing, 24% ethnic, 14% no religion

Universalizing § 3 main ones- Christianity, Islam, Buddhism § Branch- large and fundamental division within a religion § Denomination- division of a branch that unites a number of congregations in a single body § Sect- small group that has broken away from a denomination

Examples § § Religion- Christianity Branch- Protestant Denomination- Baptist Sect- Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention § § R- Islam B- Sunni, Shi’ite D- American Muslim Mission S- Nation of Islam

Christian Branches § 3 main branches- Roman Catholicism (52%), Eastern Orthodox (10%), Protestant (21%)§ 27% not part of these 3 branches, including 5% nonreligious Christians § Protestant/Catholic areas sharply divided § Over 2 billion people worldwide call themselves Christian

Western hemisphere § § 90% of West is Christian 5% other, 6% nonreligious Latin Am 93% Catholic, N. America 29% Among Protestants in US, Baptists largest, followed by Methodists, Pentecostal, and Lutheran § Catholics in US concentrated in NE and SW

Smaller branches § Egyptian Coptic/Ethiopian- from 4 th century, when shipwrecked Christian slaves converted Ethiopian king § About 10 million in Ethiopia § Armenian church originated in Antioch, members concentrated in Lebanon, Armenia, NE Turkey and SW Azerbaijan

Smaller branches § Maronites- a small Christian sect concentrated in Lebanon § Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) consider themselves an independent branch 3% of Americans, mostly Utah, some in Canada

Islam § 1. 3 billion Muslims, mostly in Middle East from N. Africa to Central Asia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India § Islam means “submission to the will of God”, has a similar root to the word “peace”

5 Pillars of Islam § 1. There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet § 2. Pray 5 times/day, facing Mecca § 3. Alms giving (charity) § 4. Fasting during Ramadan § 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca if able

Branches of Islam § 2 main ones- Sunni (orthodox) and Shi’ite (sectarian) § Sunni 83%, Shi’ite 16% § Shi’ite concentrated in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan § Muslims in W. Europe a legacy of colonialism and immigration. E. Europe. Ottoman Empire § 5 million Muslims in N. America

Nation of Islam § Aka “Black Muslims” started in 1930’s in Detroit § Led by Elijah Muhammad, advocated a separate nation within the US for themselves § Malcolm X converted to orthodox Islam after a pilgrimage to Mecca, assassinated 1965

Buddhism § § § § 400 million adherents Mainly in China and SE Asia 4 Noble Truths: 1. Life is suffering 2. Suffering is caused by desire 3. To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire 4. To eliminate desire and achieve Nirvana, follow the Noble Eightfold Path- right beliefs, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, meditation

Buddha

Buddhist Branches § Theravada “little raft” (38%), Mahayana “big raft” (56%), tantrayana “yoga” (6%) § Buddhists can adhere to more than one Eastern religion.

Other Universalizing § Sikhism- 25 million, mostly in Punjab region of India § Kind of a combo of Islam and Buddhism § Sikhs wear turbans and never cut beards/hair § Baha’i- 8 million, dispersed mostly in Asia and Africa § Baha’u’llah wanted to overcome disunity and establish universal faith by abolishing class, race, and religious prejudices

Ethnic religions § § § Hinduism- 860 million, 3 rd largest 97% in India It is up to you to decide the best way to worship God 4 paths- knowledge, renunciation, devotion, and action 68% Vishnu, mostly west 27 % Shiva, mostly north and east

Ethnic Religions § Confucianism emphasizes li, or “correct behavior”, 5 relationships § A series of ethical principles like following traditions and fulfilling obligations § Taoism- seek the Tao, or “way”. Only by avoiding daily activities and introspection can a person live in harmony with the universe. § Split into many sects

Ethnic Religions § Shintoism- ethnic religion of Japanoriginally worshipped forces of nature § Transmitted orally until 5 th century when introduction of Chinese script § Eventually deceased emperors and ancestors became more important gods than nature § After WW 2 Emperor forced to renounce his divinity

Ethnic Religions § Judaism- Most in Israel and US § Israel 1 st majority Jewish state since biblical times § Jesus born a Jew, Islam, Christianity have roots in Judaism § Founded by Abraham about 4000 yrs ago when he moved from Iraq to Canaan § 1 st monotheistic religion

Ethnic Religions § Patriarch Jacob (Judaism, Israel). Jacob had 12 sons. 10 sons plus 2 grandsons= 12 tribes of Israel who marched out of Egypt under Moses § Each tribe got a piece of Canaan § 10 tribes lost after they were forced to migrate to Assyria 721 BC

Ethnic Religions § African Religions- 100 million people, 12% of Africa are animists. § Animism- plants, rocks, forces of nature have conscious life and spirit § 1 supreme god and many other gods under him § Orally transmitted § Losing ground to universalizing religion

Why do religions have different Distributions? Origin of Religions Diffusion of Religion

Origin and Diffusion of Universalizing Religions § All 3 based on life of a man § Buddhism 2500 yrs old, Christianity 2000 yrs old, Islam 1500 yrs old § Born between 8 and 4 BC

Christianity § § § Jesus born between 8 and 4 BC Crucified by Romans ~30 AD Story of Life/works spread by 4 gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (New Testament) “Christ” is a title and means ‘anointed one’, from Greek “Christos”, from Hebrew “messiah” 3 days after death rose from dead

Christianity § Last Supper was Jewish Passover seder, meal § Catholics- God conveys Grace through 7 sacraments- Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Eucharist § Transubstantiation- bread/wine literally becomes blood and flesh of Christ- a miracle

Christianity § Split w/ Eastern Orthodox starts with division of Roman Empire § Final Split in 1054 - Great Schism § Reject Catholic teachings after 700 s AD § Protestantism originated w/ the Reformation in 1517 when Luther nailed the 95 theses up - response to Catholic corruption

Origin of Islam § § § § Abe married Sarah- no son Married Hagar- son Ishmael Sarah son- Isaac Sarah told Hagar to take a hike Hagar/Ishmael end up in Mecca Muhammad born 570 AD At 40 - married an older rich lady God spoke to him through angel Gabriel

Islam § Began to preach in Mecca, but they weren’t hearing it. 622 moved to Medina- hijra conversion § Returned to Mecca w/ army § Medina means “city of the prophet” § Shi’ite follow caliph who is of Muhammad’s blood line, Sunnis believe any Muslim can be caliph § Sunni/Shi’ite split ~670 AD

Buddhism § Siddhartha Gautama was a prince, born about 563 BC § 4 trips out at 29 § 1. old age § 2. disease § 3. death § 4. monk and withdrawal from the world

Buddhism § After 6 years of solitude, emerged from the forest as the Buddha “enlightened one” § Theravada focuses on wisdom, Mahayana focuses on compassion

Other Universalizing § Sikhism founded about 500 years ago § Baha’i founded early to mid 1800’s

Hinduism § § § Ancient- Hindu artifacts date to 2500 BC Earliest Hindu writing 1500 BC 1400 BC- Aryan invasion Word Hinduism originated in 6 th century BC While universalizing religions have a hearth and spread out, ethnic religions remain clustered in 1 location

Diffusion of Christianity § Missionaries- individuals who help transmit a religion through relocation diffusion § Paul was most important missionary and a disciple of Jesus § Diffused along Roman roads and sea routes § First towns, then country § “Pagan” means countryside in Latin § Roman Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity in 313 - official religion of Empire in 380

Islam § Also diffused through relocation diffusionthrough conquest and intermarriage § Rapid diffusion from Portugal to Indonesia

Buddhism § Diffused very slowly until Asoka, emperor of Magadhan Empire (273 -232 BC) adopted it § 1 st spread to Sri Lanka, then SE Asia, China, Japan. § By the time it got to Japan it was no longer dominant in India

Others § Sikhs remain clustered in Punjab province India § Baha’i built a temple on every continent in 20 th century

Mixing § Independent Christian churches exist in Africa that mix traditional and Christian beliefs § Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism have mixed in China § Buddhism and Shinto mix in Japan § Mauritius- ex of diffusion of ethnic religion. Hinduism

Judaism § An ethnic religion diffused all over the world because of expulsion of Jews from Canaan in 70 AD by Romans- diaspora § Ghetto- section of city in Europe closed off. Jews live there

Holy Places § 8 sites in Nepal/India holy for Buddhistslocations important in Buddha’s life § Bo tree has become holy and has diffused to Buddhist countries § Mecca holy to Muslims- Ka’ba- a stone thought to have been given to Abraham by Gabriel- meteor? § Medina- #2 for holiness § #3 is Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

Holy places § § § Sikh- Golden Temple at Amritsar Pilgrimmage- a religious journey Tirtha- pilgrimmage for Hindus