ReligionReligionChapter 7Chapter 7

ReligionReligion

“a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities.”

- Stoddard and Prorak

“perceived ultimate priorities” often translate into a list of things a follower “should” do and ways a follower “should” behave.

• Religion lies at the heart of nationalism-e.g. Middle East, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kashmir, Afghanistan, etc.

• Religion in many non-western areas practically constitutes culture.

• Religious cultural landscapes-churches, temples, mosques, shrines, cemeteries, statues, veils, turbans, beards and scars

Key Characteristics of ReligionKey Characteristics of Religion

• Set of doctrines or beliefs relating to a god or gods.

• Structure or hierarchy of officials

• Rituals for:– Birth

– Death

– Reaching adulthood

– Marriage

– Prayer

– Routine services on a Fri, Sat. or Sun.

• Impact of religion-calendars, holidays, architecture, place names, slogans on coins or flags.

• A major forces in combating social ills and promoting– Education– Medicine and health care– The arts

• But also– Blocked scientific study– Oppressed dissidents– Supported imperialism– Kept women inferior

Religions are divided intoReligions are divided into• Branches-a large and fundamental division within a

religion-such as Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox branches of Christianity.

• Denomination-a division or a branch that unites a number of local congregations into a single administrative body-Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist denominations of Protestantism

• Sect-has several meanings-– A relatively small group that broke away from an bigger group

or

– An organized ecclesiastical body or

– A dissenting or schismatic religious body or

– A religious denomination-such as sects of Islam

Classifications of ReligionsClassifications of Religions

• Universalizing religions – religions that actively seek converts because members believe they offer belief systems of universal appropriateness and appeal.

• Ethnic religions – religions whose adherents are born into the faith and whose members do not actively seek converts.

Classifications of ReligionsClassifications of Religions

• Monotheistic religions – worship a single deity.

• Polytheistic religions – worship more than one deity, even thousands.

• Animistic religions – belief that inanimate objects posses spirits and should be revered.

Religious TypologyReligious Typology• Monotheistic-belief in 1 god• Polytheistic-belief in many• Animistic-objects have

spirits-trees, mountains, rivers

• Global or Universal-found all over the world-see converts-aim to be universal

• Evangelical-religions that seek new converts

• Cultural religion-limited to a national culture or a single region-Shinto, Daoism, etc.

Religions of the WorldReligions of the World

• Shamanism –a community faith tradition in which people follow their shaman, a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary.

Where did the Major Religions Where did the Major Religions of the World Originate, and of the World Originate, and How do Religions Diffuse?How do Religions Diffuse?

From the Hearth of South AsiaFrom the Hearth of South Asia

• Hinduism –originated in Indus River Valley over 4000 years ago.

* ritual bathing, karma, reincarnation

sacred text: Vedas

sacred sites: Ganges River

social manifestation: caste system

diffusion: through South Asia and into Southeast Asia

HinduismHinduism• Ranks next in size after

Islam, but it the oldest organized religion.

• No bureaucracy-but does have holy men.

• Vedas or stories, but not a book like the Qu’ran, Bible or Torah.

• Concentrated in South Asian hearth.

• Polytheistic-thousands of gods-many cults-much fragmentation.

From the Hearth of South AsiaFrom the Hearth of South Asia

• Buddhism –splintered from Hinduism 2500 years ago. Originated in a region from Nepal south to the Ganges River area.

* anyone can achieve salvation, reach enlightenment

founder: Siddartha (the Buddha)sacred sites: stupasdiffusion: most strongly into Tibet in the

north and into East Asia

BuddhismBuddhism• Originated in India as a

reform movement of Hinduism.

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha in 5th cent. BC.

• A strongly regional faith-it remains strong in SE Asia, China and Japan, but died out in India.

• Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path are the guiding principles.

Shinto Shrine In Kyoto, Japan, this Shinto shrine is visible after walking through a torii – a gateway usually formed by two wooden posts and topped by two horizontal beams.

Buddhism Buddhism is mixed with local religions in some places. In Japan, Buddhism is mixed with the local religion, Shintoism.

ShintoismShintoism• A Japanese ethnic religion

based on animism and shamanism.

• Was modified by introduction of Buddhism-closely related today-many Japanese practice both.

• Reverence for nature and the land-emperor seen as divine.

• Belief in kami or spirits• Used by militants as a

nationalistic religion in 1930s to unify the country in war time.

From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) From the Hearth of Huang He (Yellow) River ValleyRiver Valley

• Taoism –originated in China more than 2500 years ago

* oneness of humanity and nature

founder: Lao-Tsu

sacred text: “Book of the Way”

social manifestation: Feng Shui

diffusion: East Asia

Chinese ReligionsChinese Religions• Confucianism-mainly a

philosophy of life founded by K’ung Fu-tze in 6th cent. BC

• Became a state religion of China-emphasized duty, social order and respect of others

• Daoism or Taoism “the Way” founded by Lao Zi, a reverence and harmony with nature-easily co-existed with Confucianism and Buddhism

From the Hearth of the From the Hearth of the Eastern MediterraneanEastern Mediterranean

• Judaism –originated in Southwest Asia about 4000 years ago.

* first major monotheistic religion, covenant between God (one God) and Abraham (the chosen people) sacred text: Torah founder: Abraham

sacred sites: Jerusalem (Western Wall), land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River

social manifestation: Zionism diffusion: into European cities during the diaspora, into N. America during WWII, into Israel over

last 50 years

JudaismJudaism

• One of the world’s oldest religions

• Monotheistic religion that evolved in Southwest Asia

• 3 branches-Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed

• Not evangelical-does not seek converts

• Concentrated in Israel, but widely scattered in Middle East, North Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the Americas

Shamanism & Traditional ReligionsShamanism & Traditional Religions

• Community faith and traditional religion which centers around a shaman-religious leader, healer, visionary.

• Small isolated groups in Africa, SE Asia, East Asia and Native America

• Traditional religions in Africa believe in a god creator and provider as well as spirits and an afterlife.

From the Hearth of the Eastern From the Hearth of the Eastern MediterraneanMediterranean

• Christianity –originated in Southwest Asia about 2000 years ago.

* monotheistic religion, follow teachings of Jesus toachieve eternal lifesacred text: Biblefounder: Jesus (son of God)sacred sites: Bethlehem, Jerusalemsplit in the church:

* split into Eastern Orthodox and RomanCatholic churches in 1054

* Protestant sect split off in 1400s and 1500sdiffusion: into Western Europe, and then world wide

during colonialism and after.

ChristianityChristianity• It has the largest number of

followers and is the most widely dispersed with 1.6 billion or 40% of the population

• Roman Catholicism is the largest segment and is found in Europe, North American and Latin America.

• Protestantism dominates in Northern Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

• Eastern Orthodox is found in Eastern Europe, Russia and Ethiopia.

First Split in Christianity, 1054 CEFirst Split in Christianity, 1054 CE Western Roman empire = Roman CatholicismEastern Roman empire = Eastern Orthodox

•The Eastern Orthodox Church makes up 14% of Christianity and is a loose collection of 14 self-governing churches in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.•To the right are the spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral in the Kremlin of Moscow.Notice the Orthodox cross on the onion-domed spire.

•The Cathedral of the Assumption, Moscow

From the Hearth of the Eastern From the Hearth of the Eastern MediterraneanMediterranean

• Islam –originated on Arabian peninsula about 1500 years ago.

* monotheistic religion, revelations Muhammadreceived from Allah, Five Pillars.

sacred text: Qu’ran founder: Muhammadsacred sites: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalemsplit in the church:

* shortly after Muhammad’s death, split into Sunni Muslims (great majority)Shi’ite Muslims (concentrated in Iran)

diffusion: across Arabian peninsula, across NorthAfrica, into Spain and also east into Southeast Asia

The Diffusion of IslamThe Diffusion of Islam

IslamIslam• Islam is the 2nd largest

and fastest growing religion with 1 billion followers.

• It has 2 main sects or divisions-Sunni, the majority and Shiite centered in Iran & Iraq.

• It is dominant in North Africa, Southwest Asia and extends into Central and Southeast Asia

Nation of IslamNation of Islam• Founded in 1930s as an African-

American modified form of Islam.

• Ideology of nationalism and modified Islam founded on the principle of freeing blacks from white oppression.

• 1950s –60s Malcolm X his militant speeches increased followers

• Over 7 m. Muslims in the US, about 1 million are Nation of Islam Muslim.

• Louis Farrakhan’s anti-semitism brought negative attention.

Government Impact on ReligionGovernment Impact on Religion

The Soviet Union:- Had an official

policy of atheism- Discouraged

religious practice- Drew boundaries

for political control that separated ethnic groups in small areas

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

Disposition of the Deceased - Each religion approaches the disposition of the deceased in different ways, and cultural landscapes reflect the religious traditions.

Hindu crematorium

in Mombasa,

Kenya

Antwerp, Belgium

Religion’s impact in history and culture is

evident in its centrality in many places

Hearths of Religion and Philosophy by 500 BCEHearths of Religion and Philosophy by 500 BCE

Hindu Temple –Angkor Wat, Cambodia. This temple suffers from neglect and destruction now, as Buddhism has supplanted Hinduism in most of Cambodia.

Buddhist Stupas -72 stupas, each containing a sculpture of the Buddha in meditation were built around 800 CE and still stand in Borobudur, Indonesia.

Western Wall, Jerusalem

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

Switzerland concentrations of Catholics and Protestants by canton and commune

Minaret (for call to prayer)stands on the Sabah State Mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Diffusion of Islam into Europelarge mosque in Paris, France

Rise of SecularismRise of Secularism

• Secularism –Secularism –

indifference to or rejection of organized indifference to or rejection of organized religious affiliations and ideas.religious affiliations and ideas.

- Where is secularism on the rise and - Where is secularism on the rise and why?why?

The Rise of SecularismThe Rise of Secularism

• World wide 4/6 billion adhere to a religion

• Separation of Church & State a new concept

• Today in the Developed World religion has declined in importance

• Secularism is most common in urban, industrialized nations

• Anti-religious ideologies like communism discouraged organized worship

Migration plays a large role in the diffusion of religions, both universalizing and ethnic. As Europe becomes more secular, migrants from outside of Europe continue to settle in the region. Imagine Europe 30 years from now. Predict where in Europe secularism will be the most prominent and where religious adherence will strengthen.

How is Religion seen in the Cultural Landscape?How is Religion seen in the Cultural Landscape?

Sacred Sites and PilgrimageSacred Sites and Pilgrimage

• Sacred Sites

places or spaces people infuse with religious meaning.

• Pilgrimage

purposeful travel to a religious site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site.

Sacred Sites and PilgrimageSacred Sites and PilgrimageVatican City-Pope John Paul II greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square

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

This practice is common at sacred sites in Far Eastern Russia

Sacred Sites of JerusalemSacred Sites of JerusalemJerusalem is sacred to three major religions:Judaism (Western Wall)

Christianity (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)

Islam (Dome of the Rock)

Sacred Landscapes of HinduismSacred Landscapes of HinduismHinduism – pilgrimages follow prescribed routes, and

rituals are followed by millions.

Varanasi, India on the Ganges River where Hindus perform morning rituals.

• The Ganges is a sacred river to Hindus, a symbol of life without end. Pilgrims come from all over to bathe in its holy waters.

• As Shiva destroys the Universe with fire, Hindus cremate their dead.

Sacred Sacred Landscapes of Landscapes of

BuddhismBuddhism

Swedogon Pagodo in Yangon, Myanmar

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

• Buddhism came to Tibet from India in the 8th century. Tibetan Buddhism is a mixture of Tantric and other Mahayana teachings developed further by spiritual leaders or monks called lamas.

• A prayer wheel contains a mantra, a prayer or chant that is repeated many times. Each turn of the wheel counts as a prayer said and merit gained.

Sacred Sacred Landscapes of Landscapes of ChristianityChristianity

Catholic Churches

Are often located in the center of European cities, with spires reaching far above the other buildings.

Spanish Catholic names are found in the South West

French Catholicnames arecommon inQuebec

Sacred Sacred Landscapes of Landscapes of ChristianityChristianity

Protestant Churches

This church in Singapore is a Church of England church in city surrounded by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims

• Roman Catholicism is the largest branch of the Christian faith. The Vatican in Rome is the headquarters of the Papacy and a powerful symbol to Catholics around the world.

• European cities were dominated by the spires of great cathedrals and churches until the 20th century.

Day of the Dead Altar in Notre Dame de Chicago.

United KingdomOf Great Britain

England’s Cross of St. George Scotland’s cross of St. Andrew

•.

The cross of St. George on The flags of Denmark,Norway and Finland.

Religious Landscapes in the United StatesReligious Landscapes in the United States

Protestant & Catholic Landscapes in the United Protestant & Catholic Landscapes in the United StatesStates

Scandinavian Lutheran Church St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Store front church in Toronto, Canada

A public bus in Port-au-Prince,Haiti

Sacred Landscapes of IslamSacred Landscapes of IslamMuslim Mosques-Dome of this mosque in Isfahan, Iran demonstrates the importance of geometric art evident in Muslim architecture.

The HajjThe Hajj-Pilgrims circle the holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.

•.

The Dome of the Rock, with its gilded dome and octagonal base, stands in Jerusalem.After the Great Mosque at Mecca and the Prophet’s tomb at Medina, it is Islam’s third holiest site.According to Muslim tradition, the rock at its center was the point from which the Prophet Muhammad visited heaven one night in 619.

The Dome of the Rock

Review states of the Middle East & North Africa Before the Test

•The crescent, seen on top of many mosques, originally signified the waxing of the moon. It is associated with special acts of devotion to God.•The star and crescent appear on many flags of countries that are mainly Muslim.

Pakistan Turkey

Saudi Arabia

What Role does Religion play in Political What Role does Religion play in Political Conflicts?Conflicts?

Conflicts along Religious BordersConflicts along Religious Borders

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

• Intrafaith Boundaries– Boundaries within a single major faith.

Interfaith Boundary in AfricaInterfaith Boundary in Africa

Israel & PalestineIsrael & Palestine

Landscapes of SettlementsIsraelis have had a policy of building settlements for Jews in the Occupied Territories

Landscape of the Gaza Strip, 2005Landscape of the Gaza Strip, 2005In 2005, the Israeli government pulled out of the Gaza Strip, burning down Jewish settlements and handing control over to Palestinians.

The West BankThe West Bankwith a the proposed security

wall, parts of which the Israeli government has

already built.

The Horn of AfricaThe Horn of Africa

Amharic (Coptic) Christianity is in central Ethiopia

Islam diffused into the Horn of Africa

Indigenous religions remain in pockets

The Former YugoslaviaThe Former Yugoslavia

Genocide & Ethnic Cleansing

Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandIdentities are tied to Religion, but are deepened by: Economic- colonial experiences & activity spaces (segregation) Boal’s studies in Northern Ireland demonstrate that solving a religious conflict is typically not about theology; it is about identity

Religious Religious Fundamentalism & ExtremismFundamentalism & Extremism

• Religious fundamentalism –a return to the basics of their faith.

found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

• Religious extremism – fundamentalism carried to the point of violence.

found in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

Islamic Extremists and JihadIslamic Extremists and Jihadan Islamic holy war against the West

Boal’s studies in Northern Ireland demonstrate that solving a religious conflict is typically not about theology; it is about identity. You are assigned the potentially Nobel Prize-winning task of “solving” the conflict either in Northern Ireland or in Israel and Palestine. Using Boal’s example, determine how you can alter activity spaces and change identities to create the conditions for long-lasting peace in one of these major conflict zones.

The EndThe End