Download Ethnic Asian Religions

Religion
Universalized and Ethnic Religion
Religion
• A set of beliefs
– an explanation of the origins and purpose of
humans and their role on earth
– existence of a higher power, spirits or god
– Which involves rituals, festivals, rites of
passage and space (religious landscapes)
Classification of Religion
• Monotheistic- the belief in one god.
• Polytheistic- the belief in multiple gods
• Ethnic Religions-born into a faith, and little or
no effort put forth to convert ‘outsiders’
• Universalizing Religions- actively try to expand
religion through conversion.
• Proselytic faith- another name for
universalizing religion
Alternatives to religion
• Atheists- those who do not believe in any god
or god like figures
• Secularist- separation of religion from all other
aspects like government and governmental
functions. Believes there is no god, or if there
is, doesn’t care.
• Jainism- religion based on nonmaterialism but
ultimately is a form of atheism.
Religious Divisions
• Branch: A large and fundamental division
within a religion.
• Denomination: A division within a branch
of a religion.
• Sect: A relatively small denominational
group that has broken away from an
established church.
Top 5
• There are five primary religions:
– Buddhism and Hinduism (originating in India)
– Christianity, Islam and Judaism (originating in the
Middle East)
Universalizing Religions
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The three main U.R are:
Christianity
Buddhism
Islam
• Traced to actions and teaching of a man
• Diffused from specific hearths by followers
/ missionaries
Major Beliefs
Christianity
Christianity
• 2 Billion followers
• Most widely spread religion
• Practiced namely in North and South
Americas, Europe, Australia as well as some
countries is Asia and Africa.
• Three Branches: Roman Catholic, Protestant
and Eastern Orthodox
Architecture
Foundational Beliefs
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Centered around the life of Jesus Christ
Lived, died and was resurrected.
He died for the sins of people.
Some believe you can only be saved through the
belief in him where others believe that good work
and repentance will save you.
• Main text-Bible, two parts, Old Testament and
New Testament.
• Trinity- God, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Structure
• Church leadership
– Varies by denomination
– Catholic: Pope, Priest, cardinals, bishops
– Protestant: Pastor or Minister
– Orthodox: Patriarch
Distribution and Diffusion
• Conversion is the cornerstone of Christianity.
• Relocation diffusion- colonization and
missionaries.
• Contagious diffusion- people in the town or
village would practice it.
• Hierarchal diffusion- imperialism and empires
Branches of Christianity
• Roman Catholics- 52% (Southwest and East
Europe)
• Protestants-21% (Northwest Europe)
• Eastern Orthodox 10% (East and Southeast
Europe)
• Christian Religious Branch followers vary
sharply regionally. (your location has a lot to
do with your religion)
Islam
Islam
• 1.3 Billion followers
• Thought to be mostly practiced in the Middle East
(Northern Africa to Central Asia)
• Half however live in parts of Indonesia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and India.
• Islam in Arabic means “submission to the will of God”
• Believe in what are referred to as the “Five Pillars of
Faith”
• France has largest Islam population outside of “Islamic
countries”.
Architecture
Foundational Beliefs
• Five Pillars of Islam
– There is only one God, Allah (Shahadah)
– Pray five times a day facing Mecca (Salah)
– Taxes must be paid directly to poor or needy, or
mosque (Zakat)
– Fast during Ramadan (Sawm)
– Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
Structure
• The leader of the mosque is an imam.
• Imam leads prayer and is in charge of the
individual mosque.
Distribution and Diffusion
• Began in present day Saudi Arabia and
extended along the trade routes reaching S.E
Asia in the Middle Ages.
• Northern Africa is also Islamic
• Expansion occurred due to relocation and
hierarchical diffusion.
• Expansion into S.E Asia and East Africa was
due to trade relationships (relocation and
contagious)
Denominations
• Two fundamental branches:
– Shiites or Shiahs (15%)
– Sunni (85%)
– Shiites are more conservative, literal
interpretation of Koran. Live in Iraq and Iran
– Sunnis, more liberal, take liberty with
interpretation of the Koran as it applies to todays
world. Occupy most of the other Islamic regions
Buddhism
Architecture
Buddhism
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400 Million followers
Found in China and Southeast Asia
Focus on elimination of unwanted desires through meditation.
Its foundation is based on a concept known as the “Four Noble
Truths”
• Split into branches---because of a disagreement in the
interpretation of their leader (Siddhartha Gautama)
• The three branches are Mahayana, Theravada and Tantrayana.
• The true number of followers can be difficult to count because only
monks participate in a formalized religious Buddhist institutions and
Eastern Buddhists can chose to participate in more than one
religion where Christianity and Islam are exclusive to one.
Ethnic Religions
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Hinduism
Confucianism
Daoism (Taoism)
Shintoism
Judaism
Hinduism
Hinduism
• Worlds 3rd largest religion whose followers are clustered in India and
Nepal. (97%)
• You can practice the religion but cannot be a ‘hindu’ unless you are born
to Hindu parents
• Believe in an individuals interpretation of the “right way to worship” (no
rules in worship)
• Believe in “Paths” for reaching God.
• You are the only one responsible for your actions.
• Does not have a central authority or a single guiding book.
• Many deities ex: god Brahma- created universe. Vishnu—loving god
preserver of earth, Siva—protective and destructive god.
• Almost no diffusion with the exception of possible relocation diffusion.
• Reincarnation
Architecture
Judaism
• Origin and Diffusion
 2000 BCE – Abraham formed covenant
with God as patriarch of Israelites
 Moses led people out of Egypt
Diaspora: In 70 A.D., Romans forced Jews
to disperse throughout the world.
 Ghetto: During the Middle Ages, a
neighborhood in a city set up by law to be
inhabited only by Jews.
• Basic Precepts
– Belief in One God
– Torah - original 5 chapters of Christian Bible
– Coming of the Messiah still to come
– Atonement accomplished by sacrifices,
penitence & good deeds
– Differing opinions on afterlife
– Lead by a rabbi on Saturdays-holy day
Judaism
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14 Million followers
Majority reside in Israel (5 million)
Believe in one God.
Consider themselves the “chosen people” to
follow God’s commandments strictly.
• Demoninations include- orthodox, Haredi
(ultra-orthodox)
Architecture
Ethnic Asian Religions
Taoism – The Path or Way
– Founder: Lao Tze
– 500 BCE
– 20 million followers, mainly in China
– Sacred Text: Tao Te Ching
– philosophy of harmony & balance: Tao
– After life: change from being to non-being
Ethnic Asian Religions
• Confucianism
– 6-5th century BCE
– moral code taught by Confucius
• Humanity and striving for perfection
– 5-6 million adherents, most refer
to themselves as more than one
faith
• Most influential in China
Ethnic Asian Religions
Shintoism
– Japanese traditional religion
– No founder or origin known
– 3-4 million followers
– Beliefs
• Worship and offerings to kami at shrines and at home
• Simple and harmonious life with nature and people
• Many practices tied with Buddhism
Ethnic Asian Religions
Jainism
– 550 BCE
– Founder: Mahavira
– Indian traditional religion
– 4 million followers
– Basic Principles:
• Reincarnation to attain perfection and liberation
• Non-violence-Cause no harm to any being
Ethnic: African
Animism (Shamanism) - the belief that all
objects, animals, and beings are “animated” or possess
a spirit and a conscious life. Also called shamanism
because of the prominence of a Shaman.
• Such beliefs are common among hunter-gatherers and
folk cultures.
• 10% of Africans follow such traditional ethnic religions.
• These beliefs are losing ground to Christianity and
Islam throughout Africa.
Nigerian Shaman
Other Universalizing
• Sikhism
– Formed as a rejection to the Indian caste system.
– All people are created equal.
– Located in the Punjab region of India
– 24 million followers
– Men wear turbans
Other Universalizing Religions
• Baha’i
– Practiced in many parts of Asia and Africa
– Similar to Sikh faith
– No class distinction
– Extends to race and religion
Mormonism
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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Joseph Smith founder
Continued by Brigham Young
Book of Mormon- text
Polygamy- practiced by founder, not accepted
today.
• Considered to be Christian faith but distinct
differences between them