Cultural Geography
Religions of the World
Religion (The Basics)
Religion is a belief in a supernatural power or
powers that are regarded as the creators and
maintainers of the universe.
Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and
practices, world views, sacred texts, holy
places, ethics and societal organization that
relate humanity to what an anthropologist has
called "an order of existence.”
Types of Religions
Universalizing religions are religions
that appeal to a broad group of people
regardless of ethnicity.
Ethnic religions are religions that mainly
appeal to certain ethnic groups.
Proselytic religions actively seek new
members and have the goal of
converting humankind.
Types of Religions
Monotheistic religions believe in one
god.
Polytheistic religions believe in many
gods.
Animistic or traditional religions often
believe that different aspects of
nature have divine powers.
Religions
Some examples of universalizing
religions are:
A. Christianity
B. Islam
C. Buddhism
Religions
Some examples of ethnic religions are:
A. Hinduism
B. Judaism
C. Shintoism
D. Confucianism
E. Taoism
Religions of the World:
Distribution
Religions of the World:
Christian and Islamic Distribution
Red = Christianity, Green = Islam
Religions of the World:
Relative Numeric Size
Religion Followers
Christianity 2,376 million
Islam 1,66 million
Hinduism 1 billion
Buddhism / Chinese Folk 950 million
Sikhism 26 million
Judaism 14 million
Religions of the World:
Relative Numeric Size
Religions of the World:
Relative Spatial Size
Southwest Asia
The three religions that began in
Southwest Asia are:
A. Judaism (2000 BCE)
B. Christianity (26-36 CE)
C. Islam (610 CE)
Judaism
Some of the major beliefs of Judaism are:
A. Monotheism - There is one god who is all
powerful and all knowing.
B. This god made a special covenant or
agreement with Abraham, who is the father
of the Jewish people.
C. God revealed his laws to his people
through Moses and the Ten
Commandments.
Judaism
One of the central beliefs of Judaism is
that God promised the Jewish people a
land of their own called Canaan, which is
in the modern state of Israel.
The Jewish people built a special temple
in Jerusalem where they put the Ark of
the Covenant, a container that held the
Ten Commandments.
Judaism
The Old Testament of the Bible was written
by Jewish people and is called the Tanakh.
The first five books of the Tanakh are called
the Torah.
The Tanakh contains many restrictions and
rules that Jewish people must follow.
The Tanakh is often interpreted by learned
Jewish scholars called rabbis.
Judaism
Holy days and life events:
A. Yom Kippur - A total day of rest and
fasting and the 10th day of the seventh
month (Hebrew Calendar)
B. Bar Mitzvah - Passage from childhood to
adulthood (bat mitzvah for daughters)
C. Hanukkah - Eight day holiday that
commemorates the rededication of the
second temple in Jerusalem
Judaism
Diaspora - In 70 CE, Jerusalem was
captured by the Romans, who destroyed
the Jewish temple. Jewish people
migrated to other parts of the world and
formed small communities. However,
there was always the hope that they
would be able to return to Jerusalem and
rebuild the temple.
Judaism: Western Wall
remnant of the ancient wall of the Temple courtyard, a
sacred site of Jewish prayer and pilgrimage ... Wailing Wall
Judaism: Star of David
the Star of David in the
oldest surviving complete
copy of the Masoretic the yellow badge: the Star of
text, the Leningrad Codex, David with the word Jude
dated 1008 (German for Jew) inscribed
Christianity
Christianity was heavily influenced by
Judaism. Some of the major beliefs of
Christianity are:
A. Monotheism - There is one god who
is all powerful and all knowing.
B. Jesus Christ, the human son of God,
died for the sins of humankind.
C. Salvation comes from faith in God.
Christianity
Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ,
who was born into a Jewish family in
Palestine. Some thought the teachings of
Jesus challenged the authority of Rome and
of Jewish leaders and he was arrested and
crucified.
According to Christians he rose from the
dead three days later and ascended to
heaven.
Christianity
Christians believe the Old and New
Testaments of the Bible are holy books.
The first four books of the New
Testament were written by followers of
Jesus and they are based on his life and
teachings.
Christianity
Christianity slowly spread throughout
the Roman Empire and became the
major religion.
Christianity split into branches and
denominations. A branch is a major
division of belief and a denomination is a
minor division of belief.
Christianity
Some branches of Christianity are:
Roman Catholicism, Protestantism,
and Eastern Orthodox.
Protestantism has many
denominations such as Baptist,
Methodist, Presbyterianism,
Calvinism, Anglicanism and
Lutheranism.
Christianity
States and areas of the world that are
primarily Christian are:
A. The US and Canada (Protestant)
B. Latin America (Catholic)
C. Sub-Saharan Africa (Protestant)
D. Europe (Catholic and Protestant)
E. The Philippines (Catholic)
F. Russia (Eastern Orthodox)
Christianity: Eastern
Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox:
Saint Basil’s
Eastern Orthodox: Icons
Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion that
developed in Saudi Arabia in the early
600s. Islam is directly related to
Judaism and Christianity.
Islam was founded by the Prophet
Muhammad who lived from 570 to
632 in Saudi Arabia.
Islam
Islam
Followers of Islam believe that
Muhammad was a prophet of God
(Allah) in the same vein as Abraham,
Moses and Noah. They also believe
Jesus was a prophet of God, but they do
not believe that he was the son of God.
Islam
The five pillars or central teachings of Islam
are:
A. A statement of faith
B. Prayer (five times a day in the direction of
Mecca)
C. Charity
D. Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your
lifetime (called the Hajj)
E. Fasting (during the month of Ramadan)
Islam
The teachings of Muhammad were
collected into a book called the Koran.
Muslims worship in buildings called
mosques. It is forbidden to make
pictures or statues of Allah or
Muhammad so most mosques are
decorated with ornate tile work or
passages from the Koran.
Islam
States or parts of the world that are
Islamic are:
A. North Africa
B. The Middle East (except Israel)
C. Central Asia
D. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia
Islam
In some Muslim states the legal system
is not separate from the religion. These
states have Shari'a (way, path) Law, or
law based on the Koran.
Islam: Dome of the Rock
Islam: Mecca
Islam: Crescent and Star
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions
in the world. It is a polytheistic religion
that originated in South Asia, present
day India, around 2500 BCE.
Hinduism has no founder and is based
on traditions that developed over a
long period of time.
Hinduism
Atman is the spirit or soul of a person, which
most Hindus believe is eternal.
Brahman refers to a supreme spirit but it can
also mean an infinite and unchanging reality.
Hindus believe that the goal of life is to
realize that your atman is the same as
Brahman and thereby reach moksha, or
liberation.
Hinduism
Hindus believe in reincarnation and
karma. A person dies, then lives again,
until they finally reach moksha.
Hindus have several holy books which
are collections of teachings, epic
poems and stories. These books are
called Vedas, Upanishads and the epics
Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Hinduism
The caste system is a system of social
organization in India. When a person is
born they are born into one of four
castes or as a Dalit. This system has led
to discrimination and has been outlawed
in India. Hindus still debate whether the
caste system is part of Hinduism or an
outdated social custom.
Hinduism
The castes are:
A. Brahmins: teachers and priests
B. Kshatriyas: warriors, nobles and
kings
C. Vaishyas: farmers, merchants and
businessmen
D. Shudras: servants and laborers
Hinduism: Goddess Lakshmi
Hinduism: Sacred Symbol Aum
Buddhism
Buddhism is related to Hinduism and
shares many of the same basic beliefs.
The relationship between Buddhism and
Hinduism is similar to the relationship
between Christianity and Judaism.
Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by a man
named Siddhartha who was born
around 500 - 400 BC in Nepal.
The religion quickly spread to other
parts of Asia and was a major religion
in India for a time. Most people are
Hindus in India today.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a major religion in Southeast
Asia and is practiced in China, Korea and
Japan. States that are predominantly
Buddhist are:
A. Thailand
B. Laos
C. Cambodia
D. Myanmar
Buddhism
Buddhism: A Dharma Wheel
The eight spokes of the wheel symbolize the Noble
Eightfold Path set out by the Buddha in his teachings.
The wheel also represents the endless cycle of rebirth that
can only be escaped by means of the Buddha's teachings.
Buddhism: Longmen
Grottoes in China
Housing tens of
thousands of statues of
Buddha and his
disciples, Longmen
Grottoes are among the
finest examples of
Chinese Buddhist art.
Taoism
Taoism is a religion or philosophy that
began in China around 500 - 400 BC.
Tradition says that Taoism is based on
the teachings of Lao Zi.
The Tao Te Ching is a collection of
Lao Zi’s teachings.
Taoism
Lao Zi taught of a naturalistic path to life
centered on the three jewels of the Taoist
faith:
compassion
moderation
humility
The wu wei or non-action was also born of
this faith.
Taoism
The Tao is called the Great Mother.
Empty yet inexhaustible,
it gives birth to infinite worlds.
It is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.
Taoism: Tajitu
Taoism: Lao Zi
Confucianism
Confucianism is a philosophy that
began in China around 500 - 400 BC.
It is based on the teachings of
Confucius.
Confucianism is concerned mainly with
social organization. It emphasizes
respect for elders and education.
Confucianism: Ancestor Worship
One ancient belief that has been
incorporated into many religions in
Asia, including Confucianism, is the idea
of worshipping and respecting one’s
ancestors.
Confucian Ancestor Worship
Symbol for Confucianism
Confucianism: Confucius
Other Religions
There are many, many other and less
widespread religions in the world. A list,
although by no means comprehensive,
follows.
Other Religions
Animism Paganism
Bahá'í Faith Raja Yoga
Brahma Kumari Rastafarian
Celtic Paganism Santería
Church of Jesus Christ of Scientology
Latter Day Saints Seventh Day Adventism
Druidism Shinto
Druze Sikhism
Gnosticism Traditional African Church
Hare Krishna Unification Church
Heathenism Unitarianism
Jain Voodoo
Jehovah's Witnesses Wicca
Mennonite Zoroastrianism
Defining Religion
The very attempt to define religion, to find some
distinctive or possibly unique essence or set of
qualities that distinguish the "religious" from the
remainder of human life, is primarily a Western
concern.
An increasing number of scholars have expressed
reservations about ever defining the "essence" of
religion. They observe that the way we use the
concept today is a particularly modern construct that
would not have been understood through much of
history and in many cultures outside the West.
The End
