KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Religion & language are the foundations for
culture
– Both reflect identity the most
• The cultural landscape is marked by religion
– Churches, mosques, cemeteries, shrines,
statues, symbols, toponyms, etc.
• Evidence in modes of dress (veils, turbans) and
personal habits(ritual scars, beards, etc)
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Great definition of religion:
– System of beliefs and practice that attempts to order
life in terms of cultural perceived ultimate priorities
• “Perceived ultimate priorities” is expressed in the
terms of “should”
–Should I say this?
–Should I do this?
–Should I eat this?
–Should I wear this?
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• In many religions, the idea that a “good” life has
rewards and that “bad” behavior risks punishment
has an enormous influence on culture, behavior and
how people perceive & evaluate the behavior of
others
• Religion manifests itself in many ways
– Some worship natural objects (mountains,
animals, trees), some worship a living person with
supernatural powers, some worship a deity or
deities
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Rituals and prayers are common
–May mark important events (birth, death,
attainment of adulthood, marriage, etc)
–Expressed at regular intervals or certain
times of day/days of the week/times of the
year/holidays/astronomical events/etc
KQ #1: WHAT IS RELIGION, AND WHAT
ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN CULTURE?
• Secularism prevails in some societies
– In these places, religion has become less
significant in the lives of most people
– But even in secular societies, religion
permeates art, history, customs, beliefs,
architecture, dress, etc
• Religion is still one of the most complex---and
controversial---aspects of humanity
KQ #2: WHERE DID
THE MAJOR
RELIGIONS OF THE
WORLD ORIGINATE,
AND HOW DO
RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
(5 slides)
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Three categories of religion
– Monotheistic---single deity
– Polytheistic---more than one deity(even
thousands)
– Animistic---belief that inanimate objects possess
spirits and should be revered
• Throughout most of human history, virtually all
religions were either animistic or polytheistic (or
even both)
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Development of Zoroastrianism in the Middle East
around 3500 years ago changed all of that
– Some believe Judaism, Christianity & Islam can be traced
to Zoroastrian beliefs
– The diffusion of these religions transformed the world
theologically
• By 500 BC, there were 4 major hearths of religion &
philosophy
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Hearth of Greek philosophy: along the
northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea
• Hearth of Hinduism: along the Indus River
valley
• Hearth of Judaism: along the eastern
Mediterranean
• Hearth of Chinese philosophy: along the
Huang He River valley
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Many other philosophies & religions
originated from these hearths
• Christianity & Islam originated in the Judaism
& Greek regions
• Dominant religions by region can be found
on pages 198-199
KQ #2: WHERE DID THE MAJOR RELIGIONS
ORIGINATE, AND HOW DO RELIGIONS DIFFUSE?
• Religion can be looked at in two ways
– UNIVERSALIZING: followers actively seek
converts because they view themselves as
offering systsems of universal appropriateness &
appeal
• Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
– ETHNIC: adherents are born into the faith and
converts are not actively sought
• Hinduism, Judaism
HINDUISM
• Ranks third in # of adherents behind Christianity &
Islam (900 million)
• Began in Pakistan (although Pakistan is Muslim
today); found mainly in India today (90% of all
Hindus); spread along trade routes (just like
Buddhism)
• Dates back over 4,000 years
• No single founder, no single theology
• Ancient practices include ritual bathing &
reincarnation
– Most sacred place is the Ganges River
HINDUISM
• Many gods (although Hindus consider Hinduism to be
monotheistic)
• Major god is Brahma---other gods are various
expressions of Brahma
• Considered to be ethnic---but Hindus have migrated
into Southeast Asia & Africa and spread their faith
• No administrative or bureaucratic structure
• No prophet; no single book of scripture
• The Vedas (four texts that are sacred) are the most holy
scriptures
HINDUISM
• Fundamental doctrine is “karma”, the transferability of the soul
– Makes reincarnation important, as Hindus try to move up in the hierarchy
• Contradiction to this is the “caste system”, a social class system where people are locked in their place
• Brahma is the major deity (the creator)
• Shiva is another (the destroyer of evil)
• Vishnu is another (the preserver)
– Together they make up the “Triumvirate”; keep the earth in balance
HINDUISM
• Most temples are devoted to Shiva or Vishnu
– Those who worship Vishnu believe that when he is reincarnated the end of the world is near (most believe he was a cattle herder)
– Shiva’s wife keeps him from destroying good---keeps him in balance
• Another major figure is Shakti (represents femininity)
BUDDHISM
• 400 million followers(most in East & Southeast Asia)
• Splintered from Hinduism over 2,500 years ago
– First appeared as a reaction to questions about Hinduism’s teachings
• Prince Siddartha Guatama, heir to a kingdom in what is now Nepal, founded Buddhism
– Came to be known as Buddha, the enlightened one
– Was very much against the Indian caste system
BUDDHISM
• He believed enlightenment or “nirvana” comes through knowledge(specifically self-knowledge)
• Eliminations of greed, craving, and desires were necessary; along with complete honesty and never hurting another person or animal
• As Buddhism spread eastward into East & Southeast Asia, it began to die out in India
BUDDHISM
• Consists of the “Four Noble Truths” and the “Eightfold Path”
• FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
–All living beings suffer
–Suffering leads to a desire or will to live
–The ultimate goal is to leave the suffering of the Earth behind
–To find this enlightenment, one must follow the “Eightfold Path”
BUDDHISM
• EIGHTFOLD PATH
– Involves doing the right thing in terms of:
• Views
• Aspirations
• Speech
• Conduct
• Livelihood
• Endeavor
• Mindfulness
• Meditation
BUDDHISM
• Today there are many forms of Buddhism –Mahayana and Therevada Buddhism are
the most popular • Therevada Buddhists: salvation is achieved through
good behavior and religious activities(including possibly being a monk or nun)…big in Burma, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
• Mahayana Buddhists: look at Buddha as being a divine savior, spend lots of time in meditation, don’t serve as monks…big in China, Japan, Korea & Vietnam