Chapter 7

Religion

What is religion and what role does it play in culture?

• Religion- set of beliefs and practices that order your life– Creates ideas of good and bad, has rules on

eating, prayer, dress…

• Secularism- belief in religion but not an organized church (increasing)

Where did major religions start?

• Monotheistic- belief in one god

• Polytheistic- belief in many gods

• Animistic- belief that inanimate objects have power (god of wind)

• Theory that the first monotheistic religion was Zoroastrianism, but no proof yet…first monotheistic Jewish

• First four major religions: Hinduism, Judaism, Greek mythology, Chinese philosophy

• Universalizing religions: actively seek converts; trying to grow (Christian, Islam, Buddhism)

• Ethnic religions: based on a ethnic belief, do not seek converts; usually isolated (except Judaism)

Hinduism• Oldest of all major religions; 4,000 years

ago started in Indus River valley

• Beliefs: reincarnation, karma (actions done in this life affect your next life); escaping the cycle of life through good deeds

Hinduism cont’d• Caste system- India social class system

based in Hindu hierarchy. Born into your caste and can not move up or down

• Lowest caste is the “untouchables”

• Caste system relaxed some for modern times

• spread by adopting teachings of other religions and appealed to Christians and Muslims – often creating new religions (Sikhism)– Mainly isolated in SE Asia (India) and lost

many followers when Buddhism emerged

Hinduism cont’d

Buddhism

• Began in India as a reaction to the harsh rules of Hinduism

• Founded by Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) a prince in India who wanted to improve the poor

• Known as the enlightened one, he ended Caste system

Buddhism cont’d

• Enlightened through: self knowledge, elimination of greed and desire; honesty, and kindness

• Followed the four noble truths; reincarnations, and nirvana (heaven)

Buddhism cont’d• Spread after Buddha’s death by Emperor

Asoka (India) who spread religion throughout the empire and other areas with missionaries

• Hinduism took over India, Buddhism east and south Asia

• Religion divided based on strictness

Chinese religions

• Taoism (Daoism)- founded by Lao Tsu– Philosophy on harmony with nature (Feng

Shui)– Anti government interference– Goal is to search for the path of virtue

Chinese religions

• Confucianism- founded by Confucius– Ethical behavior and respect– Practiced throughout China

Chinese religions

• Shintoism- worship of animals and nature's power – Practiced in Japan

Judaism• Began 2000BC with

Moses and their history has constant wars

• Monotheistic with origin of Abraham

• Divided into many branches from strict to liberal

Judaism cont’d• Scattered by Romans through Diaspora,

spread the religion throughout Europe and Africa– Ashkenazim- Europe– Sephardim- North Africa and Southern Europe

Judaism cont’d• Persecuted early for their religion and

continued

• Wanted a central homeland (Israel) and created Zionism- belief to secure Israel at all costs

Christianity• From Jewish who

believed that Jesus would lead them to freedom and salvation

• Faced persecution by Romans until 312 (emperor Constantine)

• Roman Catholic church (Rome) Eastern Orthodox Church (East Europe/Russia)

Christianity cont’d• 1600s Martin Luther broke from Catholic

Church and est. Lutherans (Protestant)

• Contagious diffusion throughout Europe

• Worldwide diffusion with colonialism

Islam

• 571 AD founded by Muhammad a prophet of Allah (God)

• Holy book Koran; monotheistic; Holy city Mecca

Islam cont’d• Five pillars: No God but Allah; give to

charity; pray 5 times a day towards Mecca; fast during daylight hours of Ramadan; pilgrimage to Mecca

• Koran rules: no alcohol; no pork; no gambling; allowed equal polygamy for men

Islam cont’d• Sunni- majority branch,

elect the religious leader

• Shiite- minority, believe leader must be related to Muhammad

• Diffused though traders (Hierarchical diffusion)

• Conflict with Christians

Cultural landscape

• Sacred sites- places that have religious meaning to people; protect these spaces and are encouraged to visit or pilgrimage

Jerusalem• Holds the western wall

(last standing wall of the original Jewish temple)

• Christian burial site of Christ (Church of the Holy Sepulcher)

• Where Muhammad ascended into heaven (Dome of the Rock)

• Creates lots of fighting between the three religions

Hindu /Buddhist• Hindu- many temples

erected in their landscape; ritual bathing keeps temples near water; mainly in India (Ganges river)

• Buddhism- Bodhi tree (Tree of enlightenment) bell shaped temples, pagodas

• Crematoriums

Christianity• Medieval cathedrals

with steeples, towers, spires

• Catholic sacred bond with the Vatican and pope

• Modern churches• Cemeteries

Islam

• Mosques and minarets

• Mecca the holy city

Interfaith boundaries- fighting between two faiths

– Nigeria (Christian South v. Muslim North)– Sudan (Muslims v. Christians) – Ethiopia- (Muslims v. Christian) war 1991

creating Eritrea– Former Yugoslavia- (Muslim v. Christian)

ethnic cleansing; new countries formed

Palestine v. Israel• Interfaith• Jewish wanted a

homeland and began to move to Israel after WWII

• Arabs resented being told to move

• UN said divide in half, Jewish fought and won the whole

• Never lost a war (Israel)• Still fighting

Intrafaith- fighting within a religion• North Ireland (Catholics v. Protestants)

Catholics discriminated against in N. Ireland

• Islamic countries (Sunni V. Shiite) Iran/Iraq war

Religious fundamentalism• Return to basic beginnings of faith

• Anti modernization (birth control, alcohol, clothing

• Shari’a law strict Muslim law

• Religious extremism- when plans become violent

• Jihad- holy war