Transcript religions
Religion Religion “a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities.” - Stoddard and Prorak “perceived ultimate priorities” often translate into a list of things a follower “should” do and ways a follower “should” behave. • Religion lies at the heart of nationalism-e.g. Middle East, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kashmir, Afghanistan, etc. • Religion in many nonwestern areas practically constitutes culture. • Religious cultural landscapes-churches, temples, mosques, shrines, cemeteries, statues, veils, turbans, beards and scars Key Characteristics of Religion • Set of doctrines or beliefs relating to a god or gods. • Structure or hierarchy of officials • Rituals for: – – – – – – Birth Death Reaching adulthood Marriage Prayer Routine services on a Fri, Sat. or Sun. • Impact of religioncalendars, holidays, architecture, place names, slogans on coins or flags. • A major forces in combating social ills and promoting – Education – Medicine and health care – The arts • But also – – – – Blocked scientific study Oppressed dissidents Supported imperialism Kept women inferior Religions are divided into • Branches-a large and fundamental division within a religion-such as Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox branches of Christianity. • Denomination-a division or a branch that unites a number of local congregations into a single administrative bodyBaptist, Lutheran, Methodist denominations of Protestantism • Sect-has several meanings– A relatively small group that broke away from an bigger group or – An organized ecclesiastical body or – A dissenting or schismatic religious body or – A religious denomination-such as sects of Islam Classifications of Religions • Universalizing (Evangelical) religions – religions that actively seek converts because members believe they offer belief systems of universal appropriateness and appeal. Christianity/Islam/Buddhism • Ethnic (Cultural) religions – religions whose adherents are born into the faith and whose members do not actively seek converts. Hinduism/Judaism Classifications of Religions • Monotheistic religions – worship a single deity. • Polytheistic religions – worship more than one deity, even thousands. • Animistic religions – belief that inanimate objects posses spirits and should be revered. Religious Typology • Monotheistic-belief in 1 god • Polytheistic-belief in many • Animistic-objects have spirits-trees, mountains, rivers • Global or Universal-found all over the world-seek converts-aim to be universal Religions of the World • Shamanism – a community faith tradition in which people follow their shaman, a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary. Shamanism & Traditional Religions • Community faith and traditional religion which centers around a shamanreligious leader, healer, visionary. • Small isolated groups in Africa, SE Asia, East Asia and Native America • Traditional religions in Africa believe in a god creator and provider as well as spirits and an afterlife. Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage • Sacred Sites places or spaces people infuse with religious meaning. • Pilgrimage purposeful travel to a religious site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site. Religious Landscapes in the United States Rise of Secularism • Secularism – indifference to or rejection of organized religious affiliations and ideas. - Where is secularism on the rise and why? The Rise of Secularism • World wide 4/6 billion adhere to a religion • Separation of Church & State a new concept • Today in the Developed World religion has declined in importance • Secularism is most common in urban, industrialized nations • Anti-religious ideologies like communism discouraged organized worship Religious Fundamentalism & Extremism • Religious fundamentalism – a return to the basics of their faith. found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam • Religious extremism – fundamentalism carried to the point of violence. found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam Islamic Extremists and Jihad an Islamic holy war against the West The End