AP Human Geography

Religion

Religion Regions

Religion Terms•R

eligion: a cultural system of beliefs, traditions and practices often centered around the worship of a deity or deities (god/gods)

•Universalizing Religions: Religions that seek to convert nonbelievers to their ranks (Christianity/Islam)

•Ethnic Religions: religions that are associated with a particular ethnic group (Hinduism, Judaism)

•Monotheism: Belief in on Supreme Being

•Polytheism: belief in multiple gods

•Syncretic religions: the process of combining multiple beliefs and practices into one system

•Traditional Religions: a subset of ethnic religions. These faiths are practiced by small groups of people who largely live in isolated or developing areas of the world (tribal groups in Africa, Native American tribal groups)

•Animism: the belief that souls and gods inhabit all or most objects, especially natural objects such as trees, stones and bodies of water

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Commonalities in Major Religions:•R

eligions have a tendency to splinter•H

ave a founder or key figure •H

ave scriptures•H

ave rituals•H

ave structures for prayer or religious rituals•T

each a form of the Golden Rule•P

reach Peace

Religions Jigsaw Activity •G

roups will each be assigned to read one section from the Chapter on Religions8C: Hinduism 8D: Buddhism 8E Judaism 8F: Christianity 8H: Islam

•As you read, you must find the following information: •Origin of the religion (background story/history) •Classification of religion – monotheistic, polytheistic, universalizing, etc.•Branches or divisions of religion •Basic beliefs•Key figures of worship, important people within the religion •Scared writings•Places of worship •Where is it practiced today?•How many people practice the religion?

Judaism

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Judaism•1

4 million adherents•M

onotheistic (claims to the oldest one)•B

ased on covenant with Abraham•S

criptures: Torah – 5 books of the “Law”•Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

•Sects•Orthodox, Conservative, Reform

•Israel – More Jews in New York City than in Israel•Homeland for Jewish people•Created 1948•Conflict between Israel and Palestine

Christianity

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Christianity

•Emerged from Judaism – Jesus was a Jew!

•Official religion of Roman Empire – 312 CE•Facilitated geographical spread•Model for its bureaucratic structure

•Significant growth in Africa, Asia and Latin America

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Christian Fundamentals

Areas of almost complete agreement:•Sacraments of Baptism & Matrimony•Monotheism involving one God in a trinity of persons

(referred to as a mystery)•Blessing and sharing bread and wine at least in memory

of Jesus sacrifice• Jesus was/is 100% God and 100% human•Salvation comes from belief in and acceptance of Jesus

as one’s savior•There will be a second coming at the end of time

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Christian Denominations: Sects•E

astern Orthodox•Greek, Serbian, Russian, Armenian, etc.

•Roman Catholic – Latin Rite & Greek Rite• Largest single denomination in the USA

•Protestant – hundreds of denominations• Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, etc.

•Peripheral – significant differences from the mainstream Christian denominations•Mormon, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.

Islam

Islam

•Muhammad, prophet

•Allah (word for God)

•Monotheistic

•Major Sects: Sunni – 85% and Shiite – 15%

•Qur’an, the holy book, is sufficient to direct all aspects of life, seen as direct word of god, as told to Muhammad.

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Five PillarsFive Pillars of Islam1. Belief in one God2. Five daily prayers facing Mecca3. Generous alms (help to poor)4. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)

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Hinduism

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Hinduism•Most ancient religious tradition in Asia (world?)•Vedas – Hindu sacred texts•May be viewed as polytheistic•Castes•Brahman, priestly•Kshatriya, warrior/ruler•Vaisya, tradesman and farmer•Sudra, servant and laborer•Untouchables (5th caste)

•Central belief is in reincarnation

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Characteristics of Hinduism

•No clergy or religious requirements –

•No real splintering or sects•Can be practices in many ways & at many levels so there

was no need to “split off.”•E

ach individual is seeking to comprehend the ultimate reality while living out his/her dharma (duty) with the goal of union with Brahman once the cycle of reincarnation is ended.

Buddhism

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Buddhism•S

iddhartha Gautama/Buddha – Enlightened One•F

our Noble Truths•Life involves suffering•Cause of suffering is desire•Elimination of desire ends suffering•Right thinking and behavior eliminate desire

•Diffused from India

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Buddhism•N

irvana•Buddhism is a way of living that achieves release from reincarnation and suffering

•God is not knowable, so is, therefore, not a major concern in Buddhism

•Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) rejected the caste system

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Buddhism

•Scriptures: Vinaya (discipline) – expanded later

•Branches:•Theravada (south) – monk seeks own deliverance•Mahayana (north) – role ritual•Tibetan Lamaism – example of syncretism

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Branches of Buddhism

Confucianism•C

onfucianism: A Chinese folk religion or philosophy that began about 2,500 years ago and that emphasizes proper social relationships and individual morality.

•Confucius lived from 551-479 BC in China

•Importance of loyalty to one’s parents, family and government

•Supports an orderly state (strong government)

Taoism •T

aoism: An ancient Chinese philosophy or religion focused on individual morality, self-restraint, and humility

•Much more mystical compared to Confucianism

•Focuses more on the individual

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Sikhism•S

ikhism: Monotheistic religion founded in South Asia in the late 15th Century as a reaction to perceived problems with the teachings of Islam and Hinduism•Offshoot of Hinduism•Centered around the Punjab area•Guru Nanak (founder)

Baha’i•B

aha’i: A universalizing religion founded in the 19th Century in present day Iran and Iraq. It is practiced today in nearly every country.

•Main message is that all peoples are the same regardless of background or religion

•Seeks to unite all people of the world

Shintoism •S

hintoism: The traditional animistic religion of Japan •B

elievers acknowledge that kami are present in natural objects •P

eople pray and honor the kami to ensure that good fortune falls on them.

•Kami = not god or gods; spirits that are concerned with human beings

Jainism •J

ainism: developed about the same time as Buddhism as a reaction to Hinduism (6th Century BC)

•Jains believe that the only way to escape the cycle of rebirth is to cease all activity that might accumulate bad karma

•Thus, monastic living is the only true way to salvation: monks and nuns renounce all possessions, wandering by foot for much of their lives, begging for food and trying not to harm any living thing.

African Tribal Religions•A

frican Tribal Religion: A catch all term that refers to many individual religions in Africa that have some things in common.

•Most are forms of animism

•Focus is on maintaining order in society and life, not on eternal salvation

•Failure to respect the gods might bring a bad harvest or infertility

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Religion & Politics•F

reedom of religion•Historically the exception rather than the “rule.”

•Theocracy•Church rules directly – government based on “scriptures.”

•Separation of church and state• Islamic fundamentalists oppose it – favor theocracy• Instituted by United States Constitution to preserve religious

freedom.•T

errorism – unacceptable resort of those who feel marginalized – usually more about power than it is about religion (emotional excuse for violence)

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Social Impact of Religion•G

ender roles•Women’s rights, duties, obligations, opportunities, etc.• Patriarchal or matriarchal societies

•Diet and food preparation restrictions• Kosher – rule related to how acceptable food is prepared• Pork – forbidden to Jews & Muslims• Beef – unacceptable to Hindus – many are vegetarians• Alcohol – forbidden to Muslims

•Ethics and morals• Guidelines for the “good” life

•Schools and social and medical institutions

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Religion and Environment•B

urial practices•O

rigin of the world •All have some creation story which usually indicates the

place of humans in that creation

•Relationship with nature• Exploitive approach – Christianity in practice rather in

teaching•Adaptive approach – Animism and most “Eastern”

religions