Chapter 5

Chapter 6ReligionDistribution of ReligionsUniversalizing religions- attempt to appeal to allChristianityIslamBuddhism

Ethnic religions- tends to primarily appeal to one group in one locationHinduismOther ethnic religionsWorld Distribution of Religions

Fig. 6-1: World religions by continent. World Population by Religion

Fig. 6-1a: Over two thirds of the worlds population adhere to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. Christianity is the single largest world religion.Christian Branches in the U.S.

Fig. 6-3: Distribution of Christians in the U.S. Shaded areas are counties with more than 50% of church membership concentrated in Roman Catholicism or one of the Protestant denominations. Variations in Distribution of ReligionsOrigin of religionsOrigin of universalizing religions- Christianity, Islam, and Judaism originated in the Middle East and claim to descend from Abraham. Buddhism originated in India/Nepal with Siddhartha GuatamaOrigin of Hinduism- Aryan Tribes North of India invaded and spread the race South into South Asia

Diffusion of religionsDiffusion of universalizing religionsLack of diffusion of ethnic religionsDiffusion of Universalizing Religions

Fig. 6-4: Each of the three main universalizing religions diffused widely from its hearth.Diffusion of Christianity

Fig. 6-5: Christianity diffused from Palestine through the Roman Empire and continued diffusing through Europe after the fall of Rome. It was later replaced by Islam in much of the Mideast and North Africa. Diffusion of Islam

Fig. 6-6: Islam diffused rapidly and widely from its area of origin in Arabia. It eventually stretched from southeast Asia to West Africa.Diffusion of Buddhism

Fig. 6-7: Buddhism diffused gradually from its origin in northeastern India to Sri Lanka, southeast Asia, and eventually China and Japan. Shintoism & Buddhism in Japan

Fig. 6-8: Since Japanese can be both Shinto and Buddhist, there are many areas in Japan where over two-thirds of the population are both Shinto and Buddhist. Variations in Distribution of ReligionsHoly placesHoly places in universalizing religionsChristianity/Judaism/Islam- IsraelIslam- Most holy Mecca and MedinaHoly places in ethnic religions

The calendarThe calendar in ethnic religionsThe calendar in universalizing religions

Holy Sites in Buddhism

Fig. 6-9: Most holy sites in Buddhism are locations of important events in Buddhas life and are clustered in northeastern India and southern Nepal. Mecca, Islams Holiest City

Fig. 6-10: Makkah (Mecca) is the holiest city in Islam and the site of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims each year. There are numerous holy sites in the city. Makkah during the Haj Pilgrimage

The Kaba stands at the center of the Great Mosque (al-Haran al Sharif) in Makkah. Hindu Holy Places

Fig. 6-11: Hierarchy of Hindu holy places: Some sites are holy to Hindus throughout India; others have a regional or sectarian importance, or are important only locally.Ritual Bathing in the Ganges River

Hindu pilgrims achieve purification by bathing in the Ganges.The Golden Temple in Amritsar

The Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) in Amritsar, India is the holiest structure for Sikhism.