Title: Human Geography By James Rubenstein
1Human Geography By James Rubenstein
- Chapter 6
- Key Issue 2
- Why do religions have different distributions?
2Origins of Religions
- Universalizing religions have precise places of
origin, based on events in the life of a man. - Ethnic religions have unknown or unclear
origins, not tied to single historical
individuals.
3Universalizing Religions
- Buddhism goes back 2500 years.
- Christianity goes back about 2000 years.
- Islam goes back 1500 years.
- Sikhism and Bahái were founded more recently.
4Origins of Buddhism
- Sidhartha Gautama, born about 563 B.C.E. in
Nepal. - Withdrew from a privileged life to become the
Buddha (the enlightened one). - Preached his views across India for 45 years.
5Branches of Buddhism
- Theravada, the oldest and largest, believe that
one must renounce worldly goods and emphasizes
self-help. - Mahayana, about 2000 years old, is less
demanding and emphasizes teaching and helping
others.
6Origins of Christianity
- Founded on the teachings of Jesus, a Jew, who
preached the coming of the Kingdom of God. - Was referred to as Christ, from the Greek word
for messiah (anointed). - Christians believe that Jesus resurrection from
the dead provides hope for salvation.
7Roman Catholicism
- Accept the teachings of the Bible, as well as
the interpretation of the teachings by the
Church hierarchy. - Believe that God conveys His Grace directly to
humanity through seven sacraments.
8Eastern Orthodoxy
- Split from the Roman Catholic in the 5th
century. - A collection of 14 self-governing churches in
the East. - Accept the seven sacraments, but reject
doctrines that the Roman Catholic Church added
after the 8th century.
9Protestantism
- Originated with the principles of the
Reformation in the 16th century. - Movement began with Martin Luther, who suggested
that individuals are responsible for achieving
personal salvation through direct communication
with God.
10Origins of Islam
- Muslims trace their story through Ishmael son of
Abraham and Hagar. - Based on the teachings of Muhammad, a descendent
of Ishmael. - Islam began in Makkah about C.E. 610.
11Islamic Leadership
- Sunnis believe that leadership should go to
whoever has the greatest ability. - Shiites believe that leadership should go to a
descendant of Ali, Muhammads cousin. - Shiites disagree about the precise line of
succession of Ali to modern times.
12Origins Sikhism
- Guru Nanak preached a new faith around 500 years
ago. - Sikks is Hindi for disciple.
- The 5th Guru compiled and edited the book of
Sikh holy scripture in C.E. 1604.
13Origins Bahái
- In 1863 a Persian nobleman known as Bahá'u'lláh
preached the unification of the world through
peace. - Bahái means follower.
- The center of the religion is the Seat of
Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel.
14Seat of Universal House of Justice
15Origins of Hinduism
- An Ethnic Religion.
- Originated in the 6th century B.C.E. India as the
religion of the Aryans. - Earliest surviving Hindu documents dated around
1500 B.C.E.
16Diffusion of Religions
- Universal Religions diffused from specific
hearths to other regions of the world. - Ethnic Religions typically remain clustered in
one location.
17Diffusion of three major Universalizing Religions
18Diffusion of Christianity
- First spread through relocation diffusion by
missionaries, such as Paul of Tarsus. - Later spread through hierarchical diffusion when
it became the Roman Empires official religion in
C.E. 380.
19Missionaries
- Individuals who help to transmit a universalizing
religion through relocation diffusion.
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21Extension of Christianity Beyond The Roman Empire
- As Europeans explored the world starting in the
1500s, they spread Christianity to the regions in
which they came into contact.
22Diffusion of Islam
- Muslim armies spread Islam to Palestine, Persia,
and part of India within 100 years of Muhammad's
death. - Next came North Africa and most of Spain.
- Traders and missionaries spread Islam to
Southeast Asia in C.E. 1300.
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24Diffusion of Buddhism
- About 257 B.C.E., Emperor Asoka of in South Asia
became a Buddhist and missionaries were sent to
neighboring states. - Traders exported the religion to China in the
1st century C.E. - In the 4th century C.E., the religion diffused
to Korea and 2 centuries later to Japan.
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26Diffusion of Bahái
- Bahái spread to other regions in the late 19th
century under the leadership of the prophets
son. - It spread more rapidly in the late 20th century,
when a temple was constructed in every continent.
27Diffusion of Sikhism
- Sikhs gained control of the Punjab region form
the Muslims in 1802. - Most Sikhs migrated to East Punjab after the
British divided the state between Pakistan (in
the West) and India (in the East).
28Lack of Diffusion of Ethnic Religions
- Ethnic religions lack missionaries dedicated to
converting people from other religions. - The diffusion of universalizing religions often
comes at the expense of ethnic religions.
29Mingling of Ethnic and Universalizing Religions
- In Africa, traditional ideas have merged with
Christianity. - In Japan, Shintoism has embraced Buddhism.
- The island of Mauritius include Hinduism,
Christianity, and Islam, all from migrants.
30Shintoism Buddhism in Japan
31Judaism, An Exception
- In C.E. 70, Rome dispersed the Jews throughout
the empire. - Jews lived among other nationalities, but
maintained their traditions. - Jews were persecuted, and forced to live in
ghettos. - After World War II, many Jews returned to Israel.
32Ghetto
- Defined as a city neighborhood set up by law to
be inhabited only by a specific ethnic group
(Jews in Europe). - Term originated during the 16th century in
Venice, Italy.
33Holy Places
- Holy places in ethnic religions derive from the
distinctive physical environment of its hearth
(the Ganges River). - Universalizing religions endow places associated
with the founders life (Jerusalem, and Mecca)
34Pilgrimage
- A journey for religious purposes to a place
considered sacred. - Hindus and Muslims are encouraged to visit
specific places with recommended itineraries.
35The Locations of the Eight BuddhistShrines
36Four Most Important Buddhist Shrines
- Lumbini, where Buda was born.
- Bodh Gayã, where Buddha reached perfect wisdom.
- Deer Park, where Buddha gave his first sermon.
- Kusinagara, where Buddha died at age 80 and
passed into nirvana.
37Bodh Gayã, where Buddha reached perfect wisdom.
38Holy Places in Islam
- Makkah (Mecca) is the birthplace of Muhammad.
- Madinah (Medina) is where Muhammad received his
first support and the site of his tomb. - Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem) where Muhammad
ascended into heaven in a dream.
39Makkah (Mecca)
40The Great Mosque at Makkah
41The Kaba
42The Kaba
- In the center of the Great Mosque of Makkah.
- Traditionally the first house of worship of God,
originally built by Adam. - Traditionally rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael.
- Cleared of idols and rededicated to Allah by
Muhammad.
43The Hajj
- One of the Five Pillars of Islam.
- A pilgrimage to Makkah.
- Healthy Muslims with adequate financial
resources must make this trip at least once in
their lifetime.
44The Golden Temple at Amritsar in Punjab
Holy Place of Sikhism
45Holy Places in Hinduism
- The importance of shrines is established by
tradition. - The Ganges is considered the holiest river and
Hindus believe in bathing in it for purification. - Mt. Kailãs in the Himalaya is located at the
source of the Ganges.
46Hindu Holy Places
47Bathing in the Ganges
48Cosmogony
- A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin
of the universe. - Example is in the ethnic religions of
Confucianism and Daoism, the universe is made up
of the yin and the yang.
49Yin and Yang
- Belief that two forces in constant change make
up the universe. - The yin earth, darkness, female, cold, depth,
passivity, and death. - The yang heaven, light, male, heat, height,
activity, and life. - Imbalance results in chaos.
50Christian and Islamic Cosmogony
- God created the universe, Earth, human beings.
- God is more powerful than nature.
- Christians believe that God left humans to
finish creation. - Muslims believe that only God is responsible for
creation.
51Animists and Cosmogony
- Gods powers are mystical.
- Only a few people on Earth can harness the
mystical powers of medical reasons. - God can be placated through prayer and
sacrifice. - Environmental hazards may be accepted as normal
and unavoidable.
52The Calendar of Ethnic Religions
- A prominent feature is the celebration of the
seasons. - - Knowledge is critical to successful
agriculture. - - Rituals are tied to the environment.
53The Jewish Calendar
- Major holidays are based on events in the
agricultural calendar of the religions homeland. - The autumn is a time of hope and worry over
whether the winter rains will be sufficient. - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are celebrated in
the Autumn.
54The Exodus Celebrations
- Sukkot, celebrated final gathering of fruits, is
related to wandering in the wilderness. - Pesach, the offering of first fruits, recalls
the freedom from Egyptian slavery. - Shevuot, at the end of the grain harvest, is
related to the receipt of the 10 Commandments.
55The Lunar Calendar
- Israel uses the lunar calendar, instead of the
solar calendar. - Since lunar months are only 29 days long, the
350 day year gets out of sync with the
agriculture season. - The Jewish calendar adds an extra month seven
out of 19 years.
56Solstice
- The Winter Solstice is a major holiday in some
pagan religions. - December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and
June 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
57Pagan
- A follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient
times.
58Solstice Aligned Buildings
- Stonehenge is a pagan structure that is aligned
so the sun rises between two stones on the
Solstice. - The U.S. Capital is aligned with the Summer
Solstice. - Will future archaeologist think that the capital
building was part of a religious ritual?
59Stonehenge in Southern England
60The Calendar in Universalizing Religions
- The principal purpose is to commemorate events in
the founders life.
61Islamic and Bahái Calendars
- Islam has a strict lunar calendar of 19 years of
354 days and 11 years of 355 days. - The Bahai calendar is divided into 19 months of
19 days with 4 intercalary days (5 days in leap
years).
62Christian Calendar
- Easter and Christmas are the major holidays.
- Easter is celebrated at different times by
virtue of the calendar used (Gregorian vs.
Julian). - Christmas (the birth of Jesus) isnt celebrated
by all Christians.
63Buddhist Calendar
- All Buddhist celebrate the birth, Enlightenment,
and death of Buddha. - Buddhist in different parts of the world
celebrate these events on different days.
64Sikh Calendar
- Commemorate historical events.
- The major holidays are the births and deaths of
the religions ten gurus. - A major holiday celebrates when the holy
scriptures were installed as the religions guide.