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Human Geography
By James Rubenstein
Chapter 6Key Issue 1
Where are religions distributed?
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Most religious people pray for peace, but religious
groups may not share the same vision of how peace
will be achieved.
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Geographers See that the process by which
one religion diffuses across the landscape may conflict with the distribution of others.
Observe that religions are derived in part from elements of the physical environment, and that religions, in turn, modify the landscape.
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Appeal of Religion Some have universal appeal.
Some have geographically limited appeal.
Often adopting a global religion means rejecting local traditions.
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Universalizing Religions
Attempt to be global, to appeal to all people,
wherever they may live in the world, not just to those of one culture or
location.
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Universal Religions Christianity Islam Buddhism
- Divided into Branches Denominations Sects
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Branch
A large and fundamental division
within a religion.
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Denomination
A division of a branch that unites a number
of local congregations.
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Sect
A relatively small group that has broken away from an established
denomination.
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Christianity
With 2 billion adherentsMore than any other world
religionWith the most widespread
distribution.
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Branches of Christianity
Roman Catholicism Protestant Eastern Orthodox.
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Eastern Orthodox A collection of 14 self-governing
churches in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
40% are Russian Orthodox established in 16th century
20% are Romanian Orthodox 3% are from Constantinople,
Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem and trace their origins to the beginning of Christianity
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Christianity in the Western Hemisphere
90% are Christian 95% of Latin America are
Roman Catholic 40% of North America are
Protestant, most of which are- Baptist- Methodist- Pentecostal
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Christianity in the Western
Hemisphere
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Christianity in Europe Roman Catholicism is the dominant
Christian branch in the southwest and east.
Protestantism in the northwest Eastern Orthodoxy in the east and
southeast. The regions of Roman Catholic and
Protestant majorities frequently have sharp boundaries, even when they run through the middle of countries.
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Smaller Branches of Christianity
Developed independently of the three major branches
- Egyptian Coptic Christians - Ethiopian Church - Armenian Church - Maronites in Lebanon
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IslamWith 1.2 billion people.
Predominant religion of the Middle East, Central Asia,
and North Africa.½ of the Muslim population live in Indonesia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, and India.
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Branches of Islam Sunni - Arabic word for orthodox- 83% of all Muslims
Shiite – pronounced “Shia” - Arabic word for sectarian
- 16% of all Muslims
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Islam in North America and Europe
Increased rapidly in recent years through immigration.
- France Muslims are a legacy to former colonies in North Africa
- Initial U.S. presence is connected to the foundation of the Nation of Islam (Black Muslims) in 1930, renamed to the American Muslim Mission.
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BuddhismAbout 350 million in China and
Southeast Asia.Three main branches.
- Mahayana- Theravada- Tantrayana
In China and Japan, Buddhism coexist with ethnic religions.
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Other Universalizing Religions
Sikhism’s (C.E. 1469-1538) a blend between Hinduism and Islam.
Baha i was founded in Iran in 1844 by Siyyid ‘ Ali Muhammad, known as Bab (Persian for Gateway).
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Ethnic Religion
Appeals to one group of people living in one
place.
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HinduismAbout 900 million
adherents.The world’s third largest
religion.97% of Hindus are
concentrated in India.2% of Hindus are in Nepal.
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Forms of Hinduism Hinduism does not have a central
authority or a single holy book. 70% worship Vishnu, a loving god
incarnated as Krishna. 25% worship Siva, a protective
and destructive god. Shaktism is a worship dedicated
to the female consorts of Vishnu and Siva.
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ConfucianismConfucius (551-479 B.C.E.)
was a philosopher and teacher in the Chinese
province of Lu. Confucianism prescribed a series of ethical principles for the orderly conduct of
daily life in China.
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Daoism (Taoism)Lao-Zi (604-531? B.C.E.)
organized Daoism.Taoists seek Dao ( the way or
path).Dao cannot be comprehended
by reason and knowledge.
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ShintoismThe distinctive ethnic religion
of Japan.Forces of nature are divine.
Deceased emperors and other ancestors became
more important deities than natural features.
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Judaism6 million Jews live in the
United States.4 million Jews live in Israel.2 million Jews live in former
Soviet Union republics.2 million live elsewhere.
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Ethnic African Religions
10% of Africans follow animism.
African animism is based on monotheistic concepts of a supreme being assisted by personifications of natural
phenomena.