Variations in Distribution of Religions (2)

• Holy places– Holy places in universalizing religions– Holy places in ethnic religions

• The calendar– The calendar in ethnic religions– The calendar in universalizing religions

Holy Sites in Buddhism

Most holy sites in Buddhism are locations of important events in Buddha’s life and are clustered in northeastern India and southern Nepal.

Mecca, Islam’s Holiest City

Makkah (Mecca) is the holiest city in Islam and is the site of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims each year. There are numerous holy sites in the city. Medina & Jerusalem are also important holy cities.

Hindu Holy Places

Hierarchy of Hindu holy places: Some sites are holy to Hindus throughout India; others have a regional or sectarian importance, or are important only locally.

CalendarIn universalizing religions, holidays relate to events in the life of

the founder rather than the changing seasons of one place.– Christianity- Catholics & Protestants observe the Gregorian

Calendar while Orthodox Christians observe the Julian Calendar, which makes Easter on a different day.

– Islam- Lunar Calendar, so holidays arrive in different seasons across different generations.

– Buddhism- Birth, Enlightenment, and Death are celebrated.– Baha ‘I– Sikhism- celebrate the birth and death of the 10 Gurus.

CalendarAn ethnic religion typically has a more clustered distribution

than a universalizing one b/c its holidays are based on the distinctive geography of the homeland.

Religious celebrations are seasonal and based on agriculture, typically.

– Animism- Winter & Summer Solstice are celebrated.– Confucianism – Daoism – Shinto – Hinduism– Judaism- Lunar Calendar

• Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) come in the fall planting season of Israel.

Organization of Space• Places of worship

– Christian worship– Places of worship in other religions

• Sacred space– Disposing of the dead– Religious settlements– Religious place names

• Administration of space– Hierarchical religions– Locally autonomous religions

Place Names in Québec

Fig. 6-12: Place names in Québec show the impact of religion on the landscape. Many cities and towns are named after saints.

Places of Worship

– Christianity- Churches or Basilicas ARE Sanctified.

– Islam- Mosques are NOT sanctified and are for the community.

– Buddhism- Pagodas house relics for pilgrimmages and observance.

– Baha ‘I- 7 Houses of Worship exist for services.

– Sikhism- Golden Temple is a holy place.

Places of Worship– Animism- informal and local– Confucianism- temples for ancestor worship – Daoism- no temples, become one with nature – Shinto- pagodas jot the landscape– Hinduism- temples are local, house dieties, and

are NOT for service. Mt. Kailas is where Siva lives.

– Judaism-