religion. a. what is the purpose of religion? religions are value systems religions teach...

RELIGIONRELIGION

A. What is the purpose of A. What is the purpose of religion?religion?

Religions are Religions are value systemsvalue systems

Religions teach followers proper Religions teach followers proper ethical behaviorethical behavior

B. STATE RELIGIONSB. STATE RELIGIONS

Buddhism: Buddhism: Myanmar, Laos, ThailandMyanmar, Laos, Thailand

Islam: Islam: Pakistan, IranPakistan, Iran

Russia: Russian OrthodoxRussia: Russian Orthodox

Greece: Greek OrthodoxGreece: Greek Orthodox

Green: Islam

Blue: Christianity

Yellow: Buddhism

Conflicts along Religious BordersConflicts along Religious Borders

Interfaith BoundariesInterfaith Boundaries– Boundaries between the world’s major faiths.Boundaries between the world’s major faiths.

Intrafaith BoundariesIntrafaith Boundaries– Boundaries within a single major faith.Boundaries within a single major faith.

Interfaith Boundary in AfricaInterfaith Boundary in Africa

Partition of IndiaPartition of India

Sri LankaSri Lanka--30% Tamil (Hindu-Dravidian)

Separatist movement

--70% Sinhalese Buddhists

Armenia and AzerbaijanSoviet Union’s divide-and-diminish plan

The Former YugoslaviaThe Former YugoslaviaGenocide

Ethnic Cleansing

Israel and Israel and PalestinePalestine

C. SACRED SITESC. SACRED SITES

LakesLakes CavesCaves RiversRivers

– GangesGanges– JordanJordan

TreesTrees MountainsMountains

– ArafatArafat– FujiFuji– SinaiSinai

Sacred Sites and PilgrimageSacred Sites and Pilgrimage

Vatican City

Pope John Paul II greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square

Sacred Sites and RitualsSacred Sites and RitualsAt Saint Declan’s Holy Well in Ardmore, IrelandAt Saint Declan’s Holy Well in Ardmore, IrelandPilgrims hang scraps of clothing as offerings Pilgrims hang scraps of clothing as offerings

This practice is common at sacred sites in Far Eastern Russia

1. Jerusalem is sacred to 3 religions:1. Jerusalem is sacred to 3 religions:Judaism (Western Wall)Judaism (Western Wall)

Christianity (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)Christianity (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)

Islam (Dome of the Rock)Islam (Dome of the Rock)

2. Hindu 2. Hindu pilgrimage to pilgrimage to Ganges River Ganges River in in Varanasi, Varanasi, India India

Hindus perform morning rituals.

Swedogon Pagodo in Yangon, Myanmar

3. Eight hairs of the Buddha are preserved under the dome (chedi)

4. The Great Mosque at Mecca

D. CLASSIFICATION:D. CLASSIFICATION: Monotheism:Monotheism:

– ChristianityChristianity– IslamIslam– JudaismJudaism

Polytheism:Polytheism:

– HinduismHinduism– Japanese ShintoJapanese Shinto

1. Universalizing Religions:1. Universalizing Religions:

– ChristianityChristianity– IslamIslam– BuddhismBuddhism

2. “Ethnic” Religions:2. “Ethnic” Religions:

– JudaismJudaism– HinduismHinduism– Japanese ShintoJapanese Shinto

3. 3. “Tribal” Religions “Tribal” Religions (shamanism & (shamanism & animism)animism)

Religions of the World

Where are universalizing religions located?Where are ethnic religions located?

Sumatra

Amazon

Mali

Korea

SECULARISMSECULARISM

an indifference to or rejection of religionan indifference to or rejection of religion

agnostic?agnostic?

atheist?atheist?

Government Impact on ReligionGovernment Impact on Religion

The Soviet The Soviet Union:Union:

- Had an official Had an official policy of atheismpolicy of atheism

- Discouraged Discouraged religious practicereligious practice

- Drew boundaries Drew boundaries for political for political control that control that separated ethnic separated ethnic groups in small groups in small areasareas

Armenia and AzerbaijanSoviet Union’s divide-and-diminish plan

E. DISPOSAL OF THE DEADE. DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD Burial: Burial:

Christians, Jews, MuslimsChristians, Jews, Muslims

Cremation:Cremation:

Hinduism, BuddhismHinduism, Buddhism

HINDUISMHINDUISM

Oldest major world religion (over 4,000 years old)Oldest major world religion (over 4,000 years old)

– religiousreligious– philosophicalphilosophical– socialsocial– economiceconomic– artisticartistic

HINDUISMHINDUISM

850 million to 1 billion followers850 million to 1 billion followers

– almost all in Indiaalmost all in India– 80% of Indians are Hindu80% of Indians are Hindu

Ethical system: Ethical system: dharma (conduct in this life) andand karma(conduct in previous lives)(conduct in previous lives)

Divine Trinity of Hindu gods:Divine Trinity of Hindu gods:BrahmaBrahma the creator, the creator, VishnuVishnu the preserver, and the preserver, and ShivaShiva the destroyer. the destroyer.

HINDU BELIEFS:HINDU BELIEFS:

No single doctrineNo single doctrine No central organizationNo central organization

Core beliefs:Core beliefs:

– divinity of the souldivinity of the soul

– reincarnationreincarnation

– unending cycle of birth and deathunending cycle of birth and death

– pilgrimages to the Ganges Riverpilgrimages to the Ganges River

CASTE SYSTEM:CASTE SYSTEM:

All creatures are rankedAll creatures are ranked

Caste (birth) indicates spiritual statusCaste (birth) indicates spiritual status

– priestspriests– warriorswarriors– farmersfarmers– servantsservants– ““untouchables” (about 20%)untouchables” (about 20%)

HINDU TEMPLESHINDU TEMPLES

BUDDHISMBUDDHISM Started as a Hindu reform Started as a Hindu reform

movementmovement Founded by Prince Siddhartha Founded by Prince Siddhartha

Gautama Gautama

Buddhism (2,600 years old):Buddhism (2,600 years old):

““Buddha” means enlightened oneBuddha” means enlightened one About 300-400 million followers (India, About 300-400 million followers (India,

China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, S.E. Asia)China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, S.E. Asia)

pagodas– symbolize peace

bodhi tree where Siddhartha reached enlightenment…

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:

1.1. Existence Involves SufferingExistence Involves Suffering

2.2. Suffering is the Result of DesireSuffering is the Result of Desire

3.3. Pain Ends When Desire is DestroyedPain Ends When Desire is Destroyed

4. Cycle of births and deaths ended (Nirvana)4. Cycle of births and deaths ended (Nirvana)

JUDAISMJUDAISM

Judaism was founded about 4,000 years ago (Abraham)Judaism was founded about 4,000 years ago (Abraham)

over 20 million followersover 20 million followers Ethical Teachings: Ethical Teachings: Torah and TalmudTorah and Talmud

word of god (Yahweh) said to be revealed in the Torah (Old word of god (Yahweh) said to be revealed in the Torah (Old Testament of the Bible)Testament of the Bible)

Branches of Judaism:Branches of Judaism:

– Sephardim (20%)Sephardim (20%)

Iberian Peninsula – expelled 15th c.Iberian Peninsula – expelled 15th c. ties to North Africa & Babylonian Jewsties to North Africa & Babylonian Jews

– Ashkenazim (80%)Ashkenazim (80%)

W. & C. Europe (Poland, Lithuania, Russia)W. & C. Europe (Poland, Lithuania, Russia) most Jewish migrants to U.S.most Jewish migrants to U.S.

ISRAELISRAEL

Zionism – Zionism –

belief in the need for an independent Jewish state in Israel.belief in the need for an independent Jewish state in Israel.

synagoguesynagogue: Jewish temple: Jewish temple

Western Wall, JerusalemWestern Wall, Jerusalem

Jewish neighborhoods in European Cities Jewish neighborhoods in European Cities the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, the Czech Republicthe Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, the Czech Republic

CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY

JesusJesus– was Jewishwas Jewish

spread through the Roman Empire by hierarchical and contagious spread through the Roman Empire by hierarchical and contagious diffusiondiffusion

Ethical system:Ethical system: Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments

over 1 billion Christians worldwide (most are Roman Catholic)

denominations: Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Protestants, Baptists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, Born Again, Mormons

CHRISTIAN LANDSCAPE:CHRISTIAN LANDSCAPE:

ColonizationColonization

MissionariesMissionaries

ImmigrationImmigration

ISLAMISLAM Islam: Islam: submission to the will of submission to the will of AllahAllah over 1 billion followersover 1 billion followers world’s fastest growing religionworld’s fastest growing religion

the prophet Mohammed said to receive the holy book of the the prophet Mohammed said to receive the holy book of the Koran Koran from Allah (god) in about A.D. 610from Allah (god) in about A.D. 610

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM:FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM: belief in one god

prayer 5 times daily facing Mecca

month of fasting (Ramadan)

almsgiving

pilgrimage to Mecca

BRANCHES OF ISLAMBRANCHES OF ISLAM

Sunnis (80-85%)Sunnis (80-85%)

Shi’itesShi’ites

– Majority in IranMajority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen

ISLAMIC LANDSCAPE:ISLAMIC LANDSCAPE:

MosquesMosques

CONFUCIANISM:CONFUCIANISM:

K’ung Fu-tzuK’ung Fu-tzu

– Compiler of traditional wisdomCompiler of traditional wisdom

No Churches or ClergyNo Churches or Clergy

Ancestor WorshipAncestor Worship

Basis for imperial Chinese Basis for imperial Chinese social controlsocial control

Confucian templeConfucian temple

TAOISM:TAOISM:

First taught by Lao-tsu First taught by Lao-tsu in 6in 6thth c. B.C. c. B.C.

Tao – “The Way”Tao – “The Way”

– happiness lies in naturehappiness lies in nature– religion and philosophyreligion and philosophy– deplore passion and govt.deplore passion and govt.

JAPANESE SHINTO:JAPANESE SHINTO: traditional religion traditional religion

of Japanof Japan

worship of nature worship of nature & ancestors& ancestors

Shinto – “The Way Shinto – “The Way of the Gods”of the Gods”

Spirits (Spirits (kamiskamis)—)—family, rivers, trees, family, rivers, trees, animals, mountains, animals, mountains, sun, moonsun, moon

ToriiTorii – ceremonial – ceremonial gateway archesgateway arches

torii arches

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