Download Where are Religions Distributed?

Where are
Religions
Distributed?
Chapter 6: Religion
Key Issue #1
Universal vs. Ethnic Religions
 Universal
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Global
Appeal to all people
Ex. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
Divide into branches, denominations, sects
 Ethnic
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
Regional/local
Specific group of people
Ex. Judaism, Hinduism, Confucianism
Christianity
 Basic

Beliefs:
Jesus Christ is the son of God and the Savior
of all mankind
 The
sins


messiah that atoned (paid) for all mans’
Believe in the teachings of Jesus and his
apostles (New Testament)
Believe in the teachings of the old
testament, predicting the appearance of
Christ
Christianity Stats

More than 2 billion “members”
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Most widespread and practiced religion
Branches:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, & Orthodox
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In order of number of “members”
Map of Branches in Europe (p. 171)
W. Hemisphere
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Latin Am. – 93% Roman Catholic
US map pg. 172
Outside the three main branches

Smaller groups but influential

Ex. Mormons (Latter-day Saints)
Origins of Christianity

Christianity originated with the teachings of
Jesus in the middle of the 1st Century
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Differences in Christian branches are over which
set of doctrines (rules made after the death of
Jesus) to adhere to
Teachings of the Bible and Apostles
Began in present day Middle East (Israel)
Roman Catholics – headed by Pope
Orthodox – disagreement between Popes &
Patriarchy of Constantinople
Protestant – Martin Luther about 1517
Diffusion of Christianity

Hearth of Christianity was Palestine (Israel)

First diffused through relocation diffusion

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Missionaries spread it through much of the
Roman Empire
Contagious, expansion diffusion spread around
countryside
Hierarchical, expansion diffusion happened
when Roman Emperors Constantine &
Theodosius accepted Christianity
Relocation diffusion continued through
missionaries and European colonization

Diffusion in US relates to immigrant settlements
Cosmogony
 Religious
belief concerning the origins of
the Universe
 Christianity – God created Universe FOR
humans


God is greater than natural laws
Natural disasters can be seen as
punishments
Christian Calendar
Easter
– Resurrection of
Christ
Christianity has been
infused into Thanksgiving
Christmas – Jesus’ Birth
Christian Churches
 Churches
function as the center of
religious practice

Regular attendance
 Church
architecture communicates a lot
of information

Denomination, values, etc.
 Social
aspect of religion
Leadership in Christianity
 Roman
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Catholic – Hierarchical
Pope – head of the religion
Archbishops – lead provinces
Bishops – lead a diocese
Priests – lead parishes
 Protestant

– Autonomous to hierarchical
Pastors – head of the church