Transcript RELIGION
RELIGION Defined: a set of beliefs and activities that are created to help humans celebrate and understand their place in the world Religion Religions help define right and wrong within a culture Can have profound impact on human interaction with the environment through architecture, ideas about land, etc Study of spatial connections Universalizing vs. Ethnic Universalizing: try to have universal appeal and attract all people to their beliefs Example: Christianity(2.1 billion), Islam( 1.5 billion), Buddhism(376 million) 2 Religious Classifications Ethnic: attempt to appeal not to all people but to one group, usually in one place or of one ethnicity Example: Hinduism(900 million), Judaism(479 million) Atheism-no religion, God or higher power doesn’t exist Polytheistic vs. Monotheistic Polytheistic: belief in many supreme beings Example: Hinduism, maybe Buddhism Monotheistic: belief in one supreme being Example: Christianity, Islam, Judaism World Religious Regions IMPORTANT FACTS: Ethnic Religions Developed before the major universalizing religions Largest are Hinduism and Judaism East Asian ethnic religions have many branches/sects Origins: has more than 900 million adherents, mostly living in India Hinduism Evolved in Indo-Gangetic Heart in about 2000 BC, Aryan Tribes Settled in the Punjab, India then diffused Oldest religion on earth Has many sacred texts including the Vedas Diffusion Route: spread from Indo-Gangetic Hearth eastward via the Ganges and south through India Blended with other faiths Never really left India and is closely tied to Indian culture Primary Branches: no real formal branches exist Reincarnation: continue through cycle until reaching enlightenment Traditional clothing-women Marriage-Some parts of India arranged Karma: universal law of justice Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Basic Beliefs Brahma: creator of the world-THREE FORMS Vishnu: he loves you Shiva: god of duality, both destroyer and fertility Ganesh(a): remover of obstacles-NOT part of the Trinity Caste system: social hierarchy based on Karma Brahmans: educated elite, priests Kshatryas: military class Vaisyas: merchants and farmers Sudras: peasants Untouchables: truly “untouchable” Cultural Landscape Features Ganges River- holy to bathe(purification) Mt. Kailas-source of Ganges, Shiva lives Temples frequently have food as offerings to Gods Worship at home Cremation of dead most common Wash in Ganges to free soul GANESHA Hindu Gods BRAHAM Vishnu Origins: oldest monotheistic religion on earth created 2000 BCE in Semitic Hearth Judaism Grew out of tribal belief of Jews whose headquarters became Jerusalem Abraham is considered founder and root of religions Sacred text is Torah (Biblical Stories) and Talmud (rabbinical and historical teachings) Diffusion route: After Rome destroyed Jerusalem, Jews were scatter throughout world in Diaspora (a scattering of any ethnic group) Jews scattered into central Europe and toward Iberian Peninsula Currently about 18 million Jews world wide with many living in Israel 66% of Jews live in the U.S. and Israel (created in 1948 as homeland for Jews) There is one God, Jehovah There will be a Messiah or Savior 10 commandments Kosher: dietary law based in Old Testament Basic Beliefs Primary Branches Orthodox: seeks to retain the original traditions of the faith Reform: developed in 1800s attempting to adjust the religion to fit more modern times Conservative: most recent branch, more moderate approach to the religion than either Reform or Orthodox Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals. Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law. All blood must be drained from meat and poultry or broiled out of it before it is eaten. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. Kosher laws Fruits and vegetables are permitted, but must be inspected for bugs (which cannot be eaten) Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy. (According to some views, fish may not be eaten with meat). Utensils (including pots and pans and other cooking surfaces) that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot. Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten. There are a few other rules that are not universal. Cultural Landscape Features Synagogue: house of worship and community gathering All have an ark housing the Torah Western Wall in Jerusalem, believed to be western side of Temple Mount complex that was destroyed by Romans Prayers and writing into the wall Six-pointed star-Shield of David Shintoism: syncretic, ethnic religion blending Buddhism with Japanese local religions About 118 million adherents Ancestor worship and Buddhism East Asia Religions Taoism (Daoism): Chinese idea based on philosopher Lao Tzu who lived about 6th century BCE Teaches people should live in harmony with nature in all aspects of their lives Created feng shui the practice of organizing living spaces in harmonious ways Confucianism: Chinese philosopher who lived around the same time as Laozi Teachers a system of morals and way of life for Chinese in areas like government, education, religion and philosphy Focuses more on worldly life rather than idea of heaven and hell Both spread to Korean Peninsula, Japan, SE Asia, North American and Europe Shamanism: term given to any ethnic religion in which community follows its Shaman, or religious leader, healer and truth knower Shamanism and Animism • North America, SE Asia and East Asia Animism: belief that objects such as trees, mountains and rivers have spirits in them • Taught by some Shamans • African tribes Followed by about 60% of worlds population Can be broken down into branches, denominations and sects Universalizing Religions Branches: large fundamental divisions with in a religion Example: Lutheran, Catholicism, Protestantism Denominations: groups of common congregations within a branch Example: Anglicans and Episcopalians Sects: smaller groups that have broken away from recognized denomination within a branch Example: Fundamentalist Examples include: Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam Origins: worlds first universalizing religion Developed out of Hinduism and caste system Founded in India near Indo-Gangetic Hearth between Indus and Ganges rivers by Prince Siddhartha Gautama born in 644 BCE Buddhism Diffusion Routes: started in India, spread to China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia and Southeast Asia along Silk Road Now nearly extinct in India Nearly 350 million followers world wide Remains in one region of the world Who is the Buddha? The Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal around 2,500 years ago. Sadden by the destruction of the world. BUDDHA 4 Trips: saw old man, diseased man, corpse, and monk who taught to withdraw from the world. Age 29 left the place to live in the forest for 6yrs. Emerged as the “enlightened one” 4 noble truths Life is suffering and inherently painful Suffering has a cause: craving and attachment (selfishness) Leads to reincarnation-new bodies or forms Craving and attachment can be overcome By following the eightfold path Basic Beliefs of Buddhism Nirvana- “inner peace” Eightfold path Right Concentration, Right Purpose, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Alertness, Right Understanding Reincarnation: humans cycle through until reaching enlightenment Karma: Universal law of justice Theravada: monastic, practiced by nearly 55% of all Buddhists Found mainly in SE Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia Mahayana: do not spend time as monks but find salvation (enlightenment) through meditation and prayer Practiced by 40% of Buddhists and found primarily in Korea, Vietnam, Japan and China Later teachings of Buddha Branches of Buddhism Lamaism in Tibet: combines monasticism of Theravada with local images of deities and demons-practiced only by about 5% of Buddhists Leader is Dalai Lama who has been exiled from Tibet by Chinese government Zen: exists primarily in Japan but growing in popularity in U.S. Believes in original mind Cultural Landscape Features 8 Holy places in NE India-Buddha’s life or teachings Examples: 1st sermon, 1st miracle-created multiple images of self, visited heaven and where he died-80yrs Most famous structure is pagoda which is made to look like ancient burial mound shapes Bodhi tree in India where Buddha reached enlightenment while meditating under it Origins: second universalizing religion to develop as offshoot of Judaism when Jesus Christ was seen as expected Messiah by disciples Christianity Hearth: near modern day Israel Diffusion Route: used both expansion and relocation diffusion from Palestine, has nearly 2 billion adherents 312 CE Roman Empire adopted Christianity as official religion 15th Century colonization efforts of Europeans spread it as well Today nearly 90% of Western Hemisphere is Christian Jesus Christ is the Son of God Bible is sacred text Belief of love, forgiveness and repentance Basic Beliefs Some branches/sects accept prophets, some do not All believe in personal God who is unchanging Burial- bury the dead Roman Catholics: largest and original piece of Christianity with nearly 830 million adherents Hierarchical religion because of well defined organization with Pope at top No real divisions Headquartered in Vatican City in Rome, Italy Branches of Christianity Protestant Christians: nearly 503 million adherents, broken into denominations Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal and Lutheran are largest denominations Began in 15th Century with Protestant Reformation Eastern Orthodoxy: developed in 1054 when Roman Catholic Church split Collection of 14 self-governing churches, largest being Russian Orthodox Has nearly 192 million adherents and is rooted in Constantinople • Hierarchical Religion- Latter-Day Saints • Means-well-defined geographic structure and organizes territory into local administrative units Cultural Landscape Features Varied landscape reflects varied history Catholicism has Cathedrals in almost every city Protestantism is usually simple, wood, plain churches Origins: was 3rd Universalizing religion to develop, originated in Mecca, Saudi Arabia around 600 CE Islam Abraham-2nd wife named Hagar and son-Ismael Muhammad is descendent of Ismael Last prophet was Muhammad, has nearly 1.2 billion adherents Is 2nd largest but fastest growing religion on earth It is monotheistic and sacred text is the Koran Diffusion Route: diffused through Mohammed’s followers who organized armies through Africa, Europe and Asia Successful diffusion led to Crusades by Europeans to “take back” and “save” lands that had been conquered by Muslims Muhammad 1st revelation from God through Angel Gabriel 5 pillars of Islam Faith: accepting Allah as the only God, Mohammad as his final prophet and the Qur'an as Allah’s words Basic Beliefs Prayer: pray 5 times a day, facing Mecca Fasting: during month of Ramadan in memory of Mohammad’s first vision Giving of money to care for the less fortunate; about 2 ½% of one’s income and can be public or private Pilgrimage-once in a lifetime trip to Mecca Sunni: means orthodox Primary Branches About 85% of Muslims practice this Dominate in Arab-speaking areas of Bangladesh and Pakistan Believe Sunni Caliphs (religious emperors) in the Umayyad Dynasty were not descendants of Muhammad, nor were Ottoman emperors Shi’ite: majority in Iran and Iraq Account for nearly 15% of adherents Shia believe descendants of Ali were acceptable authorities in Islam Cultural Landscape Features Mosque: center of Muslim worship, typically has four minarets or towers used to called worshippers Dome of the Rock: Muhammad assented to heavens Ka'ba-Black silk box that holds the black stones given to Abraham by Gabriel Sign of the covenant with Ishmael and Muslims Mecca-holiest city Largest World Religious Bodies Catholic Church 1,100,000,000 Sunni Islam 875,000,000 Eastern Orthodox 225,000,000 Anglican 77,000,000 Assemblies of God 50,000,000 Seventh-day Adventists 16,811,519 Jehovah’s Witnesses 16,500,000 LDS Church 12,275,822 New Apostolic Church 10,260,000 Taliban vs. Western Values Religion vs. Government or Social Change 1996: Taliban gained power in Afghanistan Globalization= Incompatible with religious values. Other Target: Buddhist statue removed from Mountain(Afghanistan) • ( 1st Good-get rid of War Lords and Russia invasion) Means “Religious students” Strict Laws: “ Western non-Islamic” activities banned Soccer stadiums converted to executions Men beaten for shaving their beards Women for stoned for adultery Homosexuals burned alive Thieves hands cut off and women with nail polish fingers cuts off. Other Muslims outraged against the Taliban Us-led coalition overthrew in 2001. Regrouped and control parts of Pakistan. Religious wars in Middle East Conflict in the Middle East is among the world’s longest standing. Jews, Christians, and Muslims have fought nearly 2,000 years to control the same small strip of Land in the Eastern Mediterranean. Religion vs. Religion Judaism: special claim to the territory it calls the Promised Land where major events in the development in the religion occurred. Islam: Muslim army conquered this land in seventh century A.D. Jerusalem is the third holiest city to Muslims, because it is believed to be where Muhammad ascended into heaven. Christianity: considers it the Holy Land and Jerusalem the Holy City, because the major events in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection occurred there. Palestinians: Ethnic group Arabs(mostly Muslim, some Christian) Zionism: Jewish movement back to their homeland Allowed Jewish migration after WWI Escaping persecution in Germany-forced into ghettos 1939- Britain halted Jewish Immigration After WWII Jews settled in Palestine United Nations Supported a Jewish Nation State Palestine cut into Two states Arabs state and Arab state Arabs disagreed Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia attack Israel. Jewish troops fought back-With US help 1950’s firmly established as a nation. PLO-Palestine Liberation Organization Created to support the Palestine Arabs Refugees forced into UN made camps Palestinians can have: West Bank and Gaza Strip Hamas(Gaza Strip)-terrorist group Six-Day War 1976-Israel controlled all of Jerusalem