AP Human Geography Chapter 6 - Religion

Define denomination.

A number of local congregations are united in a single legal and administrative body.

Define cosmogony.

A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.

Define Muslim.

An adherent of the religion of Islam. In Arabic, Muslim means "one who surrenders to God."

Define pilgrimage.

A journey for religious purpose in a place considered sacred.

Define branch.

A large and fundamental division within a religion.

Define fundamentalism.

A literal interpretation and a strict and intense adherence to what the fundamentalists define as the basic principles of a religion.

Define congregation.

A local assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.

How did migration contribute to the formation of Hinduism?

Aryan tribes from Central Asia invaded South Asia 1400 B.C. and brought their religion.

How has burial had an effect on land use in China?

Cemeteries are taking up nearly 10% of the agricultural land and is now discouraged. Cremation is encouraged instead.

START OF KEY ISSUE 1: What is the percentage breakdown of the world's largest religions?

Christianity - 31.5%, Islam - 23.2%, Unaffiliated - 16.3%, Hinduism - 15.0%, Buddhism - 7.1%, Folk religions - 5.9%, Other religions - 0.8%, Judaism - 0.2%.

Explain the process of burying the dead in Christianity.

Christians bury the dead in cemeteries, previously in the yard around the church, but it is now more difficult to find space; similarly to Muslims and Jews.

Where are most Muslims in Europe and North America distributed?

In Europe, Muslims account for 5% of the population. France has the largest Muslim population (about 4 million, legacy of immigration from predominantly Muslim former colonies in North Africa). Germany has about 3 million Muslims for the same reason (immigration primarily from Turkey). In southeast Europe, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Serbia each have about 2 million Muslims. The number of Muslims in America varies from 1 to 5 million, but the number has increased from a few hundred thousand in 1990. They come from a variety of backgrounds; 1/3 from Pakistan and other South Asian countries and 1/4 to Arab countries of Southwest Asia and North Africa, many of which immigrated during the 1990's. Another 1/4 are African Americans.

Define missionaries.

Individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion

Describe the life of Muhammad and the early spread of Islam.

Muhammad is a descendant of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. He was born in Makkah about 570. At age 40, he received his first divine revelation through Gabriel. More of these revelations revealed at later times combined to form the Quran, which is the holiest book in Islam. It was written in Arabic, which is the Muslim lingua franca. Muhammad migrated in 622 to Medinah, an event known as the Hijra, due to persecution that he suffered from preaching his message. After several years, he returned to Makkah and established Islam as its religion. By Muhammad´s death (632, age 63), Islam had spread through most of present-day Saudi Arabia.

Define syncretic.

Religions that combine several religious traditions. (E.g., Chinese traditional religions are a combination of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, etc.)

START OF KEY ISSUE 3: What is the purpose of religious structures?

Religious structures are physical anchors of religion and are often designed for a group to gather or for individual meditation.

Define locally autonomous religion.

Self-sufficient; interaction among communities is confined to little more than loose cooperation and shared ideas. Ex. Islam.

Explain the Taliban as an example of fundamentalism Islam.

The Taliban overthrew the government to impose strict laws banning western/non-Islamic leisure activities. Men are beaten for shaving, gays are killed, and thieves have their hands cut off.

Define animism.

The belief that inanimate objects such as plants and stones, or natural events such as thunderstorms and earthquakes are "animates," or have discrete spirits and conscious life.

Where are the majority of Hindus located?

The majority of Hindus are located in India (97%), with 2% in Nepal, 1% in Bangladesh, and small numbers located elsewhere. Hindus comprise over 80% of the population of India and Nepal, while about 9% live in Bangladesh. (Branches: Vaishnavism - 80%, Shaivism 2nd largest)

Define Islam.

The predominant religion of central Asia and of Southwest Asia & North Africa. It translates in Arabic to "submission to the will of God," and has a similar root to the Arabic word for "peace."

Explain why the difference between the two is important.

The two types of religions tend to display different spatial characteristics, including origin, diffusion, and distribution.

What is the common theme among all of the Buddhist Shrines?

They are all places where important events in Buddha's life occurred.

Why might the followers of "folk religions" be difficult to measure?

When censuses are conducted, several choices may be omitted. In addition, statistics recorded are generally based on self-identification, and do not measure how actively an individual practices a religion. Furthermore, statistics can be controversial when adherents may feel that their religion has been under-counted and thus has less prominence in world and regional data.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam? Explain each.

a. Shahadah: frequent recitation of belief in solely God and Muhammad as his messenger. b. Salat: five daily prayers facing Mecca; direct link to God. c. Zakat: generous donations to charity; purification and growth. d. Sawm of Ramadan: fasting during month of Ramadan; self-purification. e. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca (if physically and financially able)

Define ethnic religion.

Religions that appeal primarily to one group of people living in one place.

Explain the split between Sunnis and Shiites.

- Earliest days; disagreement over the line of succession in leadership; no surviving son or established successor - Successor: Abu Bakr; father in law and caliph (successor of the prophet), then Umar and Uthman expanded Muslim territory to Egypt and Persia - Uthman was a member of a clan that had previously opposed Islam before converting. - Uthman criticized for compromising with formerly pagan families; his opponents found a leader in Ali, Muhammad's nearest male heir (in 656 after Uthman's murder) - Ali's descendants claim leadership of Islam, and Shiites support this claim, although they dispute among themselves about the precise line of succession

Explain the distribution of Christians in Europe.

47% of Christians are Roman Catholics, 18% are Protestants,and 35% are Orthodox. Roman Catholicism is most widely practiced in the southwest and east of Europe, Protestantism in the northwest, and Orthodoxy in the east and southeast.

Take notes on the following branches of Christianity: Roman Catholic Orthodox Branch Protestant Branch

All Christians: - Jesus died to make up for human sins - He was raised from the dead by God - His Resurrection provides people with hope for salvation Roman Catholic: - Accept teachings of the Bible and Church hierarchy (Pope) - Pope possesses universal authority - Church resolves theological disputes - God conveys His grace to humanity through seven sacraments: Baptism, the Eucharist, Penance, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing the Sick Orthodox Branch: - Faith and practices of several churches from the eastern Roman Empire - Split between Roman and Eastern churches since 5th century (collapse of Roman Empire led to rivalry between Pope of Rome and Patriarchy of Constantinople) finalized in 1054; Pope Leo IX condemned the Patriarch - Accept the seven sacraments but reject doctrines added since the 700s Protestant Branch: - Origin: principles of the Reformation in the 16th century - Reformation: Martin Luther posted 95 theses in the Wittenberg church on Oct. 31, 1517 - Individuals achieve salvation through communication with God; grace achieved through faith rather than sacraments

Take notes on religions with 1-10 million adherents: Baha'i Tenrikyo Janism Shinto Cao Dai Zoroastrianism

Baha'i: - Universalizing religion - Equal numbers found in: India, other Asian countries, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere - Established in Shiraz, Iran; 1844 - Grew out of Babi faith (Siyyid 'Ali Muhammad/the Bab - executed in 1850; see below) - Strong Shiite Muslim opposition - One of the disciples, Baha'u'llah, was the prophet and messenger of God - function was to establish a universal faith (arrested then exiled) -He died in 1892 and appointed his eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha to be the leader of the Baha'i community. Tenrikyo: - Originally regarded as a branch of Shinto - Woman named Nakayama Miki organized Tenrikyo as a separate religion in 1854 - God expressed divine will through Nakayama's role as the Shrine of God - 2 million; 95% in Japan Janism: - Originated around 2,500 years ago in South Asia - Importance declined with rise of Buddhism and Hinduism since 700 A.D. - Nonviolence and self-control are the means to achieve liberation -4 million; India is home to 95% Shinto: - Japan's ethnic religion; strongly rooted in Japanese cultural history - 100 million; 78% of Japanese population (only 4 million/ 3% of pop. personally identify as Shinto) - The discrepancy stated above is due to a 17th century law assigning Shinto organizations with maintaining records of Japanese; and because some Japanese believe that Shinto is a cultural feature rather than a religion Cao Dai: - Founded in Vietnam during the 1920s - Belief in God as the Supreme Being - In opposition to many rulers of Vietnam - Vietnam's Communist government granted Cao Dai legal status in 1997 - 4 million; nearly all live in Vietnam Zoroastrianism: -Prophet Zoroaster/Zarathustra founded around 3,500 years ago - More formally organized around 1,500 years ago in the Persian Empire (Iran) - State religion for several Central Asian empires - Adherents declined after implementation of Islam in Central Asia - Records show 70K in India, 25K in Iran, and 20K in the U.S. (more realistic count is between 2-3 million)

START OF KEY ISSUE 4: Explain the conflict between Hinduism and social equality.

British colonial administrations tried to enforce their social and moral concepts on the population. The caste system divided people into 4 groups, form highest to lowest class: Brahmans (priests and top administrators), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (merchants), and Shudras (agricultural workers and artisans). There were limited social interactions between the classes. Beneath the four castes were the Dalits (social outcasts). This system has split into thousands of sub-castes; and has relaxed slightly.

Explain the distribution of Christians in the Western Hemisphere.

Christianity is by far the most widely practiced religion in the Western Hemisphere - 86% of the population, including 90% of Latin America and 77% of North Americans. Roman Catholics comprise 18% of Christians in Latin America and 32% in North America, whereas Protestants comprise 18% of Christians in Latin America and 63% in North America. Roman Catholics comprise 29% of the U.S. population, with Protestants making up 55%.

START OF KEY ISSUE 2: Where did Christianity originate from?

Christianity was founded upon the teachings of Jesus, who was born (8-4 B.C.) in Bethlehem and died (A.D. 30) in Jerusalem. He was raised as a Jew and gathered some disciples to preach his message. Gospels (Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John) state that he was betrayed by Judas in the third year of his mission and put to death after the Last Supper (Passover Seder). His tomb wasw found empty on the third day after his death.

Take notes on the migration patterns of Christians, Muslims and Jews. Where are they coming from; where are they going?

Christianity: - Destinations of Christian migrants do not match the distribution. - North America - 12% of world's Christians, destination for 34% of migrating Christians (30% U.S., 4% Can.) - Europe - 26% of world's Christians, destination for 38% of migrating Christians. - Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa attract few Christians compared to their share of Christians. - Largest migration flows of Christians are in and out of Russia and the United States. - Most U.S. immigrants are Christian (61%). - Canada and the U.S. have Protestant majorities because their early colonists came primarily from Protestant England. - Regions are predominantly Roman Catholic because of immigration from Roman Catholic countries (Mexico and other Latin American countries) - Mormons settled at Fayette, NY, near their founder Joseph Smith; eventually migrated to the Salt Lake Valley under leadership of Brigham Young - Roman Catholics form a majority in Quebec, a legacy of its settlement by French migrants in the 1600s. Islam: - Southwest Asia and North Africa: origin of 20% of Muslims; attracts 34% of migrants. - Saudi Arabia is the country that attracts the largest number of Muslim migrants; 10% of world total. (Egypt sends largest amt. of migrants there) - Europe - home to 3%, attracts 34% of Muslim migrants. - Russia, Germany, and France attract the most Muslims. - Largest patterns: Turkey to Germany; Algeria to France - South Asia - home to 30%, attracts only 6%. (similar situation to Central and Southeast Asia) - Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India - 43% of Muslims, attract 6% (4% = Pakistan) Judaism: - Israel: destination for 73% of Jewish migrants. (U.S. 105, Canada 4%) Pull factor: creation of State of Israel; pulled back after Romans forced them to disperse A.D. 70 - Most migrated from eastern Mediterranean to Europe - Forced to live in depressing and crowded Jewish ghettos - Holocaust survivors migrated to Israel. - Now: 14 million Jews; 15% Europe compared to 90% 100 years ago.

Take notes on religious structures: Religion, name of structure, notes

Christianity: -Churches: Expression of religious principles Greek for "lord," "master," and "power" Attendance extremely important Often the largest building in city/town center Conception of church reflects architecture; as well as building materials Islam: -Mosques: Arabic for "place of worship" Pulpit faces Makkah Courtyard for people to pray and worship Minaret; tower where muezzin announces prayer Sikhism: - Gurdwara Identified by Sikh flag Houses holy books - holiest: Guru Granth Sahib Harmandir Sahib/Golden Temple in Amritsar, India - holy Imitate layout of Golden Temple Judaism: -Synagogue: Greek for "assembly" Unknown origin Place of study, worship, and prayer Baha'i: -Houses of Worship Dramatize status of universalizing religion First House of Worship - 1908 in Ashgabat, Russia Required to be built in a nonagon shape Holy places related to Prophet Baha'u'llah located in Israel Buddhism: -Pagodas: Individual worship; not congregational Are believed to have a part of Buddha's body or clothes Tall, many-sided towers; complicated architecture Hinduism: -Temples: Brings people closer to the gods Important functions take place at home within family Unknown origin Size and number determined by local preferences

Which groups are statistically more likely to migrate than their share of the population would indicate?

Christians comprise 1/3 of world population but make up 1/2 of international migrants. Muslims and Jews also make up higher percentages of the world's migrants than their share of the world's population. Jews are most likely to migrate internationally. 25% of Jews have made at least one migration in their lifetime. (only 3% of world population have done the same) 5% of Christians, 4% of Muslims

Takes notes on: Confucianism Taoism

Confucius (551-479 B.C.) was a philosopher and teacher in Lu, a Chinese province. His sayings stressed the importance of the ancient tradition of li (correct behavior, decorum). Confucianism specified ethical principles for daily life (traditions, obligations, ways to treat others). Lao-Zi (604-531 B.C.) founded Taoism. He was a government administrator, and his writings emphasized the mystical and magical aspects of life, as opposed to Confucianism focusing on public service. Tao translates to the way/path, and stresses the importance of studying nature to find one's place in the world instead of trying to change it.

Explain the differences in the types of places that ethnic and universalizing religions consider holy.

Ethnic: less widespread, close to the hearth. Holy places derive from distinctive physical features. Universalizing: widespread, follow founders' life. Holy places do not need to be close or related to physical environment.

Explain the primary difference between the calendars of universalizing and ethnic religions.

Ethnic: more clustered; holidays based on homeland's physical geography; celebration of seasons - agriculture Universalizing: major holidays based on founder's life

Define hierarchical religion.

Has a well-defined geographic structure and organized territory into local administrative units.

What are the major holidays in Judaism based on?

Holidays are based on events in the agricultural calendar of the religion's homeland in present-day Israel.

Explain how Hinduism is connected to the physical geography of where it is found.

Holy places in Hinduism are many riverbanks and coastlines, such as the Ganges River. Hindus believe that they achieve purification by bathing in holy rivers. The Ganges is the holiest river in India because it springs forth from the hair of Shiva, one of the main deities. Hardawar is the most popular location for bathing in the Ganges.

Takes notes on the diffusion of Islam and Buddhism.

Islam: - Extensive area of Africa, Asia, and Europe - Within 100 yrs. of Muhammad's death, Muslims controlled Palestine, Persian Empire, much of India (non-Arabs to Islam; intermarriage) - North Africa; crossed Strait of Gibraltar to get to Spain until 1492 - southeastern Europe and Turkey during this time. - Relocation diffusion; missionaries to parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia - Indonesia (world 4th most pop.) home to most Muslims because Arab traders brought the religion in the 1200s. Buddhism: - Diffused slowly from northeastern India - Most responsible: Asoka, emperor of Magadhan Empire. Became a Buddhist at height of power. - Sent missionaries to neighboring territories - Sri Lanka has practiced Buddhism for the longest - 1st century; merchants from India introduced Buddhism to China - Lost original base of support in India - Practiced Buddha's social principles

Since 1973, what are the differences in the perspectives of Israelis and Palestinians over the disputed territory?

Israeli: - Israel is a small country with a Jewish majority, surrounded by hostile neighbors; this makes them vulnerable to attack - Some wish to retain some of the West Bank and some wish to make compromises with the Palestinians in return for formal recognition and a stable peace. Palestinian: - Not satisfied with either the territory or the power they have received thus far, though Israel has permitted the organization of a limited form of gvt. called the Palestinian Authority (located in much of the West Bank and Gaza) - Some willing to recognize the State of Israel with its Jewish majority in exchange for all territory taken by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. - Others want to continue fighting for control of the entire territory - Hamas Party (U.S. considers this party a terrorist organization)

Explain the Hajj.

It is a pilgrimage every Muslim is expected to take if physically and financially able. They travel to Makkah/Mecca; and everyone dresses in plain white robes to emphasize common loyalty to Islam and equality. A precise set of rituals is practiced. Roughly 80% of Hajj visitors come from Southwest Asia and North Africa, and 20% from elsewhere in Asia.

How is the city of Jerusalem divided today?

It is divided into four quarters. Islam, Christianity, Jewish, and Armenian quarters are not equal in size but all stake a claim in their right to Jerusalem.

What are the three main branches of Buddhism?

Mahayana (56%, primarily in China, Japan, and Korea), Theravada (38%, mostly in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand), and Vajrayana (6%, primarily in Tibet and Mongolia).

What is the holiest city in Islam? Why is it significant?

Mecca, because it is the birth place of Muhammad.

Explain the Catholic hierarchy.

Pope (also bishop of Diocese of Rome) Archbishop (province; several dioceses); reports to pope; also bishop to a specific diocese Bishop (diocese)l reports to archbishop Priest (parish); report to bishops

Explain Primal-Indigenous religions.

Several hundred million follow primal-indigenous religions. Most of them reside i n Southeast Asia or on South Pacific islands, especially in Vietnam and Laos. Followers of these religions believe that everything in nature is spiritual because God dwells in all things. Narratives concerning nature are specific to the physical landscape where they are told. Two examples of these religions are Shamanism (invisible spirits affect the living) and Paganism.

Explain the origin of Buddhism.

Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism and son of a lord, was born in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) 563 B.C. He witnessed pain and suffering and went to see a monk who taught him about withdrawal from the world (meditation).

Takes notes on the following religions with 14-25 million adherents: Sikhism Juche Spiritism Judaism

Sikhism: 23 million Sikhs; 3 million are clustered in the Punjab region of India. The founder, Guru Nanak (1469-1538) lived in a village near Lahore, in present-day Pakistan. God was revealed to him as the Creator. Nanak traveled widely around South Asia; his followers became known as Sikhs (Hindu for disciples). Nine other gurus succeeded Guru Nanak. In 1604, Arjan, the fifth guru, compiled the Guru Granth Sa-hib (Holy Granth of Enlightenment), which became the book of Sikh holy scriptures. Juche: Most North Koreans follow Juche (Korean for self-reliance). It was organized by Kim Il-Sung, North Korean leader from 1948-1994. It is regarded by other sources as a government ideology or philosophy rather than a religion. Spiritism: the belief that the human personality exists after death and can communicate with the living by use of a medium or psychic. Most Spiritists live in Brazil. Judaism: 14 million Jews; 2/5 live in the U.S. and another 2/5 in Israel. The name Judaism derives from Judah (one of the patriarch Jacob's 12 sons). The Tanakh recounts the ancient history of the Jewish people and the laws of the Jewish faith. Tanakh is an acronym for Torah (Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). Judaism is the first religion to adopt monotheism (belief that there is only one God). This was a sharp contrast to polytheism (belief in a collection of gods), which was practiced by neighboring people. Christianity and Islam find some of their roots in Judaism.

Why must figure 6-5 on page 187 be viewed with caution?

The map of religions is in reality more complex, especially at global and regional scales. The figure does not display the variety of other religions found in most countries in addition to the most numerous one, nor does it account for regional variations within individual countries. Furthermore, many faiths are divided into branches that have distinctive spatial distributions.

Since the creation of Israel there have been several wars. Describe them.

a. 1948-1949 Independence War: 5 Arab states; day after Israel declared independence. Israel survived, and they signed an armistice in 1949. Boundaries were extended; Jordan gained control or the West Bank and East Jerusalem (holy places), and Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip. b. 1956 Suez War: Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, a key shipping route between Europe and Asia, that had been controlled by France and the U.K. Egypt also blockaded international waterways that Israeli ships were using. Israel, France, and the U.K. attacked Egypt and reopened the waterways, although Egypt retained control of the Suez Canal. c. 1967 Six-Day War: Israel's neighbored blocked Israeli ships from using international waterways. Israel then launched a surprise attack and captured territory from Jordan (land gained in the Independence War), Syria (the Golan Heights) , and Egypt (the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula) d. 1973 Yom Kippur War: A surprise attack was launched on Israel by its neighbors on the holiest day of the Jewish year. The war ended without any land being lost or gained.

What are the Four Noble Truths?

a. All living beings must endure suffering b. Suffering (due to desire to live) leads to reincarnation c. Goal is to escape suffering and the endless cycle of reincarnation into Nirvana (complete redemption); self-purification d. Nirvana is attained through an Eightfold Path: rightness of belief, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, and meditation

What are three other means for disposing of the dead?

a. Cremation; free the soul from the body, purification b. Exposure (scavenging birds and animals); Zoroastrians did this so as not to contaminate the sacred elements. c. Disposal at sea; was regarded as safeguard from contamination

Make notes on the diffusion of Christianity: a. Relocation Diffusion Expansion diffusion: b. Hierarchical diffusion c. Contagious diffusion

a. First spread from its hearth in Judea. Missionaries traveled through Roman Empire. b. Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity in 313, and Emperor Theodosius named it the official religion in 380. (Subsequent centuries; conversion of elite figures) c. Migration and missionary activity by Europeans. Established Christianity as the dominant religion in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. Conversion of indigenous people and intermarriage.

Explain the beliefs about the origins of the universe for: a. Christianity/Islam b. Chinese traditional religions c. Primal-indigenous religions

a. God/Allah created the universe, including Earth's physical environment and human beings. b. Two forces (yin - earth, darkness, female, cold, depth, passivity and life; and yang - heaven, light, male, heat, height, activity, and life) exist in everything and must achieve balance and harmony; imbalance is disorder and chaos. c. Powers of the universe are mystical, few people on Earth can harness these powers, and gods/spirits may be calmed through prayer and sacrifice. Natural events are normal and unavoidable to them.

Take notes on the calendars of universalizing religions: a. Islam b. Christianity c. Buddhism d. Sikhism e. Baha'i

a. Islam: - Lunar calendar - 30-year cycle; 19 years with 354 days and 11 years with 355 - Holidays arrive in different seasons b. Christianity: - Solar calendar - Life of Jesus - Holidays associated with seasonal variations c. Buddhism; - Buddha's birthday, death, enlightenment; branches celebrate them on different days d. Sikhism: - Births and deaths of gurus - Ex. Day when Holy Granth was insalled as spiritual guide e. Baha'i: - established by the Bab and confirmed by Baha'u'llah - 19 months with 19 days; four extra days - Nineteen Day Feast; first of each month - Begins first day of spring, March 21st

Take notes on locally autonomous religions and explain their autonomy: a. Islam b. Protestant Christianity c. Ethnic Religions

a. Islam: - Neither a religious hierarchy not formal territorial organization - Prayers are private and are of equal participation - However, governments in some Muslim countries employ people who administer Islamic institutions - Strong unity; high degree of communication and migration b. Protestant Christianity: - Varies in structure - Sometimes led by bishops; some have self-governing congregations (establish form of worship, selects leadership) - Presbyterian - intermediate autonomy c. Ethnic religions: - Hinduism highly autonomous; worship done alone or in house - Share ideas through pilgrimage and reading traditional writings - No centralized structure of religious control

Explain the conflict in southwest Asia among the three major monotheistic religions: a. Judaism b. Christianity c. Islam

a. Judaism: - Special claim to the "Promised Land" - Where major events in development of Judaism happened - Land belongs to descendants of Jacob's sons - Romans gained control of the land b. Christianity: - Palestine = Holy Land; Jerusalem = Holy City - Where major events in the story of Jesus happened - Most inhabitants accepted Christianity after adopted by Roman Empire c. Islam: - Most widely practiced religion in Palestine after conquest - Third-holiest city (after Makkah and Madinah) because Muhammad ascended to heaven there

Describe the religious diversity in each of the following regions: a. East Asia b. South Asia c. Southeast Asia d. Sub-Saharan Africa

a. More than 50% of the population is unaffiliated with any religion. Most of the other 50% are divided about equally between Buddhism and folk religions. b. Around 2/3 of the people are Hindus, and 1/3 Muslims. However, adherents are sharply divided by country; India is 80% Hindu, whereas Bangladesh and Pakistan are more than 90% Muslim. c. Around 40% are Muslims, 24% Buddhists, and 21% Christians. Indonesia is 80% Muslim, Cambodia and Thailand are over 90% Buddhist, and the Philippines is over 90% Christian. d. 2/3 are Christian and 1/3 are Muslim.

Take notes on each of the following branches of Buddhism: a. Theravada b. Mahayana c. Vajrayana

a. Oldest branch; closer to Buddha's original approach; good Buddhist becomes a monk; self-help and years of reflection; wisdom. b. Split from Theravada 2K years ago; less demeaning - help more people; 56% of Chinese population; China, Japan, and Korea; teaching and helping others; compassion. c. 6% of population; Tibet, Mongolia; practice of rituals/Tantras, which Buddha practiced; others think that it evolved from Mayahana

Take notes on: a. Sunni b. Shiite

a. Sunnis comprise 88 percent of Muslims and are the most numerous branch in most Muslim countries in Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. They follow various schools of thought and religious law. Some of these include the Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi'i. b. Shiites are the largest branch in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Nearly 40% of all Shiites live in Iran, 15% in Pakistan, 12% in India, and 10% in Iraq. Shiite Islam is divided into three main schools of thought, based on disputes over leadership after the Prophet Muhammad. The largest is known as Ithna Ashari and is the most widely followed tradition in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.

How many people follow animism? Where?

27 million Africans (2% of the continent's population) follow animism.

Define solstice.

An astronomical event that happens twice a year when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the sun; longest or shortest days of the year.

What is a Utopian settlement?

An ideal community built around a religious way of life.

How is the origin of Hinduism different from that of the other major religions?

It has no specific founder, and existed before recorded history.

Where are most Buddhists located?

Most Buddhists are located in East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Explain the conflict between communism and religion generally.

Organized religion was challenged in the 20th century by the rise of Communism in Europe and Asia. Communist regimes generally discouraged religious belief and practice.

Give two examples of Jewish holidays that are related to the above question.

Passover: a Jewish festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Shavuot: Feast of Weeks; end of grain harvest. Date during the wandering when Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

Define universalizing religion.

Religions that 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.

What is the best example of a long-lasting one?

Salt Lake City, Utah (Mormons). Began in 1848.

Explain the Mormon hierarchy.

Territory organized into wards: 750 people Stakes: combination of wards; 5,000 people Highest authority, board and president, frequently redraws boundaries in rapidly growing areas to reflect ideal population standards.