Human Geography Ch. 6

Pagan

Definition: A follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times. Example: A pagan typically lived outside of the city/town Application: Pagans were shunned by Christians during ancient times

Pilgrimage

Definition: A journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes. Example: Crusade/Pilgrimage to Mecca by a muslim Application: Pilgrimages greatly impact economies of sacred areas.

Branch

Definition: A large and fundamental division within a religion Example: Protestant from Christianity Application: Branches allow for an expansion of a religion. In some ways they offer unity in that all branches have a trunk, but in other ways there is now a distinct barrier.

Sect

Definition: A relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination Example: Reformed church of the Latter Day Saints Application: A sect of a denomination is not very powerful and does not typically spread, but then again maybe the Protestant church started as a sect

Hierarchical Religion

Definition: A religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control. Example: Church of Latter-day saints. Application: Hierarchical religions are very powerful because one authority can lead that religion into certain circumstances--The mormon authorities send the young men into missions around the world-no questions asked.

Universalizing Religion

Definition: A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location. Example: Christianity--accepts everyone Application: Universalizing religions have the capability of spreading very quickly because they accept every no matter how sinful.

Autonomous religion

Definition: A religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas and cooperates informally. Example: Islam in local environments Application: Autonomous religions are example of unity, which is an important aspect of

Ethnic Religion

Definition: A religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are likely to be based on the physical characteristics of the particular location in which its adherents are concentrated. Example: Hinduism-very concentrated in India Application: Ethnic religions are very communal and carry a certain power/strength because of the majority it can hold in an area

Cosmogony

Definition: A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe. Example: Chinese ethnic religions such as Confucianism and Daoism believe that the universe is made up of two things: Yin and Yang, that create a balance Application: Cosmogony is important because there are lots of different beliefs about how the universe was created, which creates tension between apposing religions

Missionary

Definition: An individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion. Example: Young Mormon men on a mission Application: Missionaries are important because they are one way that religion(s) are spread across the world

Solstice

Definition: Astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme and resulting in the shortest and longest days of the year. Example: uh.... The winter Solstice Application: The solstice has a special significance in some ethnic religions--pagans celebrate the winter solstice

Polytheism

Definition: Belief in or worship of more than one god Example: Ancient Romans and Greeks were polytheistic Application: Polytheism is a small minority when dealing with the large amount of Monotheistic followers found in Christianity and Islam

Animism

Definition: Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life. Example: Found in Ethnic African religions Application: This is important because because of the sheer numbers of people that are animist--in 1980 over 200 million africans were atheist

Ghetto

Definition: During the middle Ages, a neighborhood in a city set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews; now used to denote a section of a city in which members of any minority group live because of social, legal, or economic pressure. Example: Jewish Ghettos during Holocaust OR poor african american neighborhood. Application: Jewish Ghettos at the beginning of the Holocaust were the first step of Jewish Persecution

Fundamentalism

Definition: Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect). Example: Radical Muslims are extreme fundamentalists Application:As seen in the application, Fundamentalist can be scary, and are very serious about what they believe.

Caste

Definition: The class or distinct hereditary order into which a Hindu is assigned according to religious law. Example: Brahman are the highest caste in Hindu society Application: The caste system is important because it is a clear division between people that classes that is linked with religion so there is an obligation for people to "behave"

Monotheism

Definition: The doctrine or belief of the existence of only one god. Example: Christianity Application: Monotheistic religions make up a large part of religion in the world

Denomination

Definition: a division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body Example: Baptist is a part of the Protestant Branch of Christianity Application: In some ways demoninations offer unity in that all denominations have a uniting branch, but in other ways there is now a distinct barrier.