Chapter 5-3 Religion

Religion, like language is a symbol of group identity and a cultural rallying point. A binding force, if not tech advanced, set the standards for eating habits/dress codes/ and other rules of daily life. Like languages, religions change constantly with the resistance from leaders and bureaucracies Religion diffusion takes place everywhere, no cultural or language barriers

http://tikkiro.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/judaism.jpg

http://www.hyscience.com/Muslim

http://www.leisureplanetmusic.com/composer/wright/NUN.JPG

Religion and Culture• Society with value system then turn into

religion with formal/informal worship and faith in the sacred and divine.

• Value of life in religions: observation in sharia (Muslim), Torah(law of Moses), dharma (teaching) in Hindu’s book of Manu, hkalsa is Sikh’s holy community.

• Religious culture character - shrines, stupas, temple, cathedrals...Grottos, monasteries

Universalizing/Ethnic/Tribal• Universalizing - Christianity, Islam, and

Buddhism

• Ethnic - Judaism, Hinduism, Shinto

• Tribal – Animism - life exist in all objects– Shamanism - shaman in a community

• World Pattern (5.18)

• Secularism - indifference to religion

Judaism• Emerged 3000 to 4000 bp

• Dispersed to Mediterranean and other Asia area by a.d. 500 (5.21). During Middle Age, split into two branches: Sephardim(tie to N African and Babylonian Jews, Ladino language), Ashkenaizim in E. Europe later migrated to US during 19/20th centuries. Constitute 80% of Jews in the world today. equal number of Jews in Israel.

• In Middle East and N. Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, N and S America.

• Three main branches - Orthodox, Conservative and Reform

• 18 million (The Chosen, by Claim Potok)

• Figure 5.21 – Diffusion routes

Christianity• Christianity’s mission was “conversion”. – via

expansion/hierarchical/contagious and later relocation diffusion.

• Western Church - one of the very few stabilizing and civilizing forces uniting western Europe during the Dark Ages

• Eastern church based in Constantinople extended to Balkans, eastern Europe and Russia

• Protestant emerged in 15/16th century, later spread to other parts of the world.

• No success in missionary works in Asia (except in South Korea) from Catholic and Protestant where strong ethnic religious cultural system were barriers.

• Figure 5.22 – Diffusion paths of Christianity, A.D. 100-1500

Regions/Landscapes of Christianity• 80% Canadian is one of the three major denominations and

85% of Americans belong to 20 different den.. (5.24,5.25)

• Churches and cathedrals in Christianity with cemetery, issue in development of cities.

Northern Ireland• Protestant vs. Catholic

• During British dependency, Protestant (mostly from Scotland) immigrated into northeastern Ireland

• Protestant, constituting about 2/3 of the total population had all the economic and political advantages.

• It is a conflict over access to opportunities, civil rights and over political influence.

Islam - “submission to the will of God”

• Koran - holy book. There is only one god occasionally reveals himself through prophet, Jesus was such a prophet, only Allah is pure. Muhammad, born in A.D. 571, Allah chose him to be a prophet, this book contains the instructions on the conduct of human affairs. The law of brotherhood unify Arab world. “Expansion diffusion” spread Islam first later relocation diff. brought it to Indonesia,S. Africa and western hemisphere

Observe “five pillars”

• 1) Repeated expressions of the basic creed, 2) frequent prayer 3)a month of daytime fasting (compare to “Lent” – Catholic) 4) almsgiving

• 5) at least one pilgrimage to Mecca

• Other Rules: 1) No alcohol, smoking, and gambling

• 2) Polygamy was tolerated, but monogamy was preferred

Islam• Sunni (80%) recognize the first four

caliphs (successor) as Mohammed’s rightful successors. Shi’ites reject the first three and only the fourth (Ali) is recognized.

• Friday communal service for male• Orthodox Sunni

• Practicality and Earthly knowledge

• Family and community help you solve problems

• Shiite minority (13%) - Shiah centered in Iran

• Idealism and the supernatural

• Imam - sole source of true knowledge

• Mosques - elaborate, ornate, and magnificently designed

• Muslim architecture represents the unifying concept of Islamic monotheism: the perfection and vastness of the spirit of Allah

America’s Black Muslims, or Nation of Islam

• W.D. Fard built “Nation of Islam” in 30s to free American Black from white oppression

• Elijah Muhammad brought new strength to the Nation of Islam, his son Wallace Muhammad strengthened tie with African and Caribbean countries and changed name to American Muslim Mission

• Ideology of the Nation of Islam - mixture of nationalism and a modified form of Islam

• Malcom X led the Nation to a national visibility• Mosques - largest temples in New York and LA• 1995 Million Man March

Muslim Population in the US• Three types of Muslims:a)Immigrants b)Converted c) born to

the first two groups, “Muhammad Ali”Ethnic Pop(x1,000) % Def.

African Am. 2,100 42 Af.Am

S Asian 1,220 24.4 Indian/ Pakistan/ Bangladesh, Afghan

Arab 620 12.4

Africans 260 5.2

Iranians 180 3.6

Turks 120 2.4

SE Asians 100 2.0

Am Whites 80 1.6

E Europeans 40 0.8

Other 280 5.6

Total 5,000 100

Source: American Muslim Council

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http://www.sunship.com/mideast/info/maps/iraq_ethnic_religious_map.html

Prayer Circle and images from Mecca