aphg chapter 7: religion -...

APHG

CHAPTER 7:

RELIGION

KQ #1: WHAT IS

RELIGION, AND

WHAT ROLE

DOES IT PLAY IN

CULTURE?

(5 slides)

KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT

ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?

• Religion & language are the foundations for

culture

– Both reflect identity the most

• The cultural landscape is marked by religion

– Churches, mosques, cemeteries, shrines,

statues, symbols, toponyms, etc.

• Evidence in modes of dress (veils, turbans) and

personal habits(ritual scars, beards, etc)



• Great definition of religion:

– System of beliefs and practice that attempts to order

life in terms of cultural perceived ultimate priorities

• “Perceived ultimate priorities” is expressed in the

terms of “should”

–Should I say this?

–Should I do this?

–Should I eat this?

–Should I wear this?



• In many religions, the idea that a “good” life has

rewards and that “bad” behavior risks punishment

has an enormous influence on culture, behavior and

how people perceive & evaluate the behavior of

others

• Religion manifests itself in many ways

– Some worship natural objects (mountains,

animals, trees), some worship a living person with

supernatural powers, some worship a deity or

deities



• Rituals and prayers are common

–May mark important events (birth, death,

attainment of adulthood, marriage, etc)

–Expressed at regular intervals or certain

times of day/days of the week/times of the

year/holidays/astronomical events/etc



• Secularism prevails in some societies

– In these places, religion has become less

significant in the lives of most people

– But even in secular societies, religion

permeates art, history, customs, beliefs,

architecture, dress, etc

• Religion is still one of the most complex---and

controversial---aspects of humanity

KQ #2: WHERE DID

THE MAJOR

RELIGIONS OF THE

WORLD ORIGINATE,

AND HOW DO

RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?

(5 slides)

KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS

ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?

• Three categories of religion

– Monotheistic---single deity

– Polytheistic---more than one deity(even

thousands)

– Animistic---belief that inanimate objects possess

spirits and should be revered

• Throughout most of human history, virtually all

religions were either animistic or polytheistic (or

even both)



• Development of Zoroastrianism in the Middle East

around 3500 years ago changed all of that

– Some believe Judaism, Christianity & Islam can be traced

to Zoroastrian beliefs

– The diffusion of these religions transformed the world

theologically

• By 500 BC, there were 4 major hearths of religion &

philosophy



• Hearth of Greek philosophy: along the

northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea

• Hearth of Hinduism: along the Indus River

valley

• Hearth of Judaism: along the eastern

Mediterranean

• Hearth of Chinese philosophy: along the

Huang He River valley



• Many other philosophies & religions

originated from these hearths

• Christianity & Islam originated in the Judaism

& Greek regions

• Dominant religions by region can be found

on pages 198-199



• Religion can be looked at in two ways

– UNIVERSALIZING: followers actively seek

converts because they view themselves as

offering systsems of universal appropriateness &

appeal

• Christianity, Islam, Buddhism

– ETHNIC: adherents are born into the faith and

converts are not actively sought

• Hinduism, Judaism

HINDUISM (4 slides)

HINDUISM

• Ranks third in # of adherents behind Christianity &

Islam (900 million)

• Began in Pakistan (although Pakistan is Muslim

today); found mainly in India today (90% of all

Hindus); spread along trade routes (just like

Buddhism)

• Dates back over 4,000 years

• No single founder, no single theology

• Ancient practices include ritual bathing &

reincarnation

– Most sacred place is the Ganges River

HINDUISM

• Many gods (although Hindus consider Hinduism to be

monotheistic)

• Major god is Brahma---other gods are various

expressions of Brahma

• Considered to be ethnic---but Hindus have migrated

into Southeast Asia & Africa and spread their faith

• No administrative or bureaucratic structure

• No prophet; no single book of scripture

• The Vedas (four texts that are sacred) are the most holy

scriptures

HINDUISM

• Fundamental doctrine is “karma”, the transferability of the soul

– Makes reincarnation important, as Hindus try to move up in the hierarchy

• Contradiction to this is the “caste system”, a social class system where people are locked in their place

• Brahma is the major deity (the creator)

• Shiva is another (the destroyer of evil)

• Vishnu is another (the preserver)

– Together they make up the “Triumvirate”; keep the earth in balance

HINDUISM

• Most temples are devoted to Shiva or Vishnu

– Those who worship Vishnu believe that when he is reincarnated the end of the world is near (most believe he was a cattle herder)

– Shiva’s wife keeps him from destroying good---keeps him in balance

• Another major figure is Shakti (represents femininity)

BUDDHISM (6 slides)

BUDDHISM

• 400 million followers(most in East & Southeast Asia)

• Splintered from Hinduism over 2,500 years ago

– First appeared as a reaction to questions about Hinduism’s teachings

• Prince Siddartha Guatama, heir to a kingdom in what is now Nepal, founded Buddhism

– Came to be known as Buddha, the enlightened one

– Was very much against the Indian caste system

BUDDHISM

• He believed enlightenment or “nirvana” comes through knowledge(specifically self-knowledge)

• Eliminations of greed, craving, and desires were necessary; along with complete honesty and never hurting another person or animal

• As Buddhism spread eastward into East & Southeast Asia, it began to die out in India

BUDDHISM

• Consists of the “Four Noble Truths” and the “Eightfold Path”

• FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

–All living beings suffer

–Suffering leads to a desire or will to live

–The ultimate goal is to leave the suffering of the Earth behind

–To find this enlightenment, one must follow the “Eightfold Path”

BUDDHISM

• EIGHTFOLD PATH

– Involves doing the right thing in terms of:

• Views

• Aspirations

• Speech

• Conduct

• Livelihood

• Endeavor

• Mindfulness

• Meditation

BUDDHISM

• Today there are many forms of Buddhism –Mahayana and Therevada Buddhism are

the most popular • Therevada Buddhists: salvation is achieved through

good behavior and religious activities(including possibly being a monk or nun)…big in Burma, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

• Mahayana Buddhists: look at Buddha as being a divine savior, spend lots of time in meditation, don’t serve as monks…big in China, Japan, Korea & Vietnam

BUDDHISM

• Other popular forms include Zen Buddhism & Lamaism(found in Tibet)

• Communist influences in China, Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam have decreased the number of adherents

aphg chapter 7: religion -...

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