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Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationality

Religion is often closely linked to ethnicity,

membership in a group of people who share characteristics such as ancestry, language, customs, history, and common experience

Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Nationality describes people’s connection to a particular country
Ethnicity based upon group cultural traits

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Christianity in the U.S.

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Regional Patterns in U.S. Religion

Congregationalists are strong in New England - where English ancestors settled in the 1600s

Baptists and Methodists are most common the Southeast - by traveling preachers

Lutherans live mostly in the Midwest - German/Scandinavian forebears who immigrated in the late 1800s could find good farmland

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Regional Patterns in U.S. Religion

Mormons live in/near Utah - religious persecution drove them out of Missouri and Illinois

Roman Catholics are most common in urban areas in the Northeast and Southwest

Jews, Muslims, Hindus live most often in urban areas, the traditional home to immigrants

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Cultural Variation by Place & Region

Every religion includes followers who practice fundamentalism

Attempt to follow a literal interpretation of a religious faith

Fundamentalists believe people should live traditional lifestyles similar to those prescribed in the faith’s holy writings.

Some traditions, women are likely to leave school at a young age, live in an arranged marriage, and avoid working outside the home
Enforce strict standards of dress, personal behavior, often through laws

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Cultural Variation by Place & Region

Fundamentalism diminishes with greater distance from the religious hearth

Ensure fundamentalism by the role of sharia law - the Islamic legal framework of the country
Sharia law is strongest in Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Some theocracies are run by religious leaders through the use of religious laws
Fundamentalists often clash with those who wish to follow religious traditions more loosely or to live a more secular lifestyle

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LEARNING OBJECTIVE (3.C.2)

By the end of this section, you will be able to

Describe the ethnic distribution of the largest ethnic religions

Describe the origin of universalizing religions

Describe the process of universalizing religions

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Globalization and Religion

How can advances in communication (printing, television, and Internet) erode traditions? Religion? How can it improve religious ties?

Some people respond to globalization with neolocalism, the process of re-embracing the uniqueness and authenticity of a place

Example: A neighborhood in a large city might hold a festival to honor the religious, cuisine, and history of the migrants who settled the community

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Religious Hearths and Diffusion

Religions diffuse outwardly from their hearths
The spread of religious settlements, both locally and globally contributes to the sense of place and belonging of each religious group
Religious practices can influence both culture and cultural landscape

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Religious Hearths and Diffusion

Religion	Hearth	Types of Diffusion
Hinduism	Along Indus River in India	Contagious diffusion, across INdian subcontinent
Buddhism	South Asia in India	Contagious diffusion as teachings spread throughout East and Southeast AAsia Relocation diffusion throughout the world
Judaism	Eastern Mediterranean and southwestern Asia	Relocation diffusion throughout North Africa and Europe forced by the Romans beginning around 70 CE
Christianity	Eastern Mediterranean and southwestern Asia	Contagious diffusion through the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia Hierarchical diffusion through conversion of rulers who then forced their followers to adopt the faith Relocation diffusion throughout the world
Islam	Southwest Asia	Contagious by trade and conquest to Spain, Africa, and much of Asia Relocation diffusion throughout the world

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Diffusion of Religions

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Ethnic and Universal Religions

Universal Religion actively seeks converts to its faith regardless of their ethnic backgrounds

Universalizing religions have spread far from their original hearths because existing members feel a mandate to spread their beliefs to others

Missionaries perform charitable works and convert non-believers

Two largest universalizing religions

Christianity and Islam spread from their hearths through conquest and colonization (sometimes violently)

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Universalizing: Christianity

2.4 billion adherents
Founded, Jesus - son of God and savior of humans

Emphasis on love, faith, and peace

Distribution

Spread outward from Middle East to become the dominant religion in Europe, and then o america and other parts of the world

Branches:

Roman Catholic
Protestant
Eastern Orthodox
Other?

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Diffusion of Christianity

“Christianity first diffused from its hearth in Palestine through relocation diffusion. Missionaries – individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion – carried the teachings of Jesus around the Roman Empire.” (p.196)

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Universalizing: Islam

1.3 billion – 2^nd largest, fastest growing
50% outside Middle East – Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India
Allah revealed his teachings through prophets - Muhammad
Islam - “Submission to the will of God”
Muslim – “one who surrenders

to the will of God”

Five Pillars (tenets) of Islam
Texts: Qur’an

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Diffusion of Islam

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Distribution of Islamic denominations

Traditional branches

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Branches of Islam

Sunni (orthodox) – 83%
Shiite / Shia (sectarian) – 16% - mostly in Iran, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Iraq
Europe – 5% of population; result of immigration and guest worker programs – France & Germany
U.S. and Canada – 5 million – “Nation of Islam” or Black Muslims; a sect led by Elijah Muhammad calling for a separatist movement
Sect split in 1960s – Malcolm X converted to Sunniism – Organization of Afro-American Unity

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Makkah (Mecca)

The most sacred place in Islam is the Ka'ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'ba is a mosque (built by Abraham) built around a black stone. The Prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction (qibla) in which all Muslims should offer their prayers.

The Ka'ba is believed to be the first place that was created on earth {2} and the place at which heavenly bliss and power touches the earth directly.

Medina (2^nd most holy place) – birthplace of Muhammad

Jerusalem (3^rd most holy place) – site of Muhammad's ascension to heaven

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Universalizing: Buddhism

400 million adherents – China and Southeast Asia
# of adherents difficult to count; exclusivity not required
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama – 500 B.C.E.
Four Noble Truths – the path to enlightenment (Nirvana)
Eight Fold Path
Texts: Tikipata & Sutras
3 Branches

Theravada – (38%)“little raft” – renounce material world
Mahayana – (56%) “big raft” – life of compassion
(Vajrayana) Tantrayana – (6%) – Tibet & Mongolia; Dalai Lama

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Diffusion of Buddhism

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Origin and Diffusion of Universalizing Religions

Buddhism – Sidhartha Gautama (500 BCE)

Christianity – Jesus of Nazareth

( 0 CE)

Islam – Muhammad (600 CE)

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Ethnic and Universal Religions

Ethnic religions are belief traditions that emphasize strong cultural characteristics among their followers

Most cases, born or adopted into it
Shared historical experience or struggle

What is non-evangelical?

Often spread because of relocation diffusion

Examples

Hinduism
Judaism
Confucianism
Daoism (Taoism)
Shintoism

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Ethnic and Universal Religions

Two most widespread ethnic religion:

Hinduism
Judaism

The Jewish Diaspora

Global migration of Hindus from India are examples of such relocation diffusion

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Ethnic: Hinduism

Hinduism – largest – 860 million – 3^rd largest religion in the world; 90% in India
Most concentrated in India and Nepal
Henotheistic
Atman
Dharma, Karma, and Reincarnation

Caste System

- Sects: Shaivism, Vaishnava, Shaktism, Smarta

Texts: Vedas

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Distribution: Hinduism

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Holy Places in Hinduism

Mount Kailas and The Ganges River

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Holy Places in Hinduism

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Ethnic: Judaism

Judaism everywhere (diaspora) 15 million – 1^st monotheistic religion – Canaan – Palestine - Israel
Most concentrated in the United States and Israel
Established covenant with God - special group of people
10 Commandments
Kosher

Types: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative

Texts: Torah & Talmud

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Ethnic: Shintoism

Shintoism in Japan - merged with Buddhism

Cultural hearth is Japan
Distribution: Some parts of China, US & Europe as some Japanese have relocated

Emphasizes honoring one’s ancestors and the relationship between people and nature
Kami & Ritual
Impure vs. Pure (not good vs. evil)

Funerals held in Buddhist style

Texts: None

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Diffusion of Shintoism

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ENDURING UNDERSTANDING (3.C)

Essential Question

How do religious and ethnic groups both reflect and influence the geography of places at different scales?

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Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationality

Religion is often closely linked to ethnicity,

membership in a group of people who share characteristics such as ancestry, language, customs, history, and common experience

Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Nationality describes people’s connection to a particular country
Ethnicity based upon group cultural traits

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Gender, Race, & Ethnicity

Urban colonies aka ethnic enclaves (a form of racial segregation)

→ some people can voluntarily choose to live near people of their own race or ethnicity for social reasons.

What are some of these social reasons?

Ex: Chinatown, Little Italy

Greek Town.

Ethnic enclaves may eventually disappear...why?

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Regional Patterns in U.S. Religion

Congregationalists are strong in New England - where English ancestors settled in the 1600s

Baptists and Methodists are most common the Southeast - by traveling preachers

Lutherans live mostly in the Midwest - German/Scandinavian forebears who immigrated in the late 1800s could find good farmland

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Regional Patterns in U.S. Religion

Mormons live in/near Utah - religious persecution drove them out of Missouri and Illinois

Roman Catholics are most common in urban areas in the Northeast and Southwest

Jews, Muslims, Hindus live most often in urban areas, the traditional home to immigrants

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Cultural Variation by Place & Region

Every religion includes followers who practice fundamentalism

Attempt to follow a literal interpretation of a religious faith

Fundamentalists believe people should live traditional lifestyles similar to those prescribed in the faith’s holy writings.

Some traditions, women are likely to leave school at a young age, live in an arranged marriage, and avoid working outside the home
Enforce strict standards of dress, personal behavior, often through laws

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Cultural Variation by Place & Region

Fundamentalism diminishes with greater distance from the religious hearth

Ensure fundamentalism by the role of sharia law - the Islamic legal framework of the country
Sharia law is strongest in Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Some theocracies are run by religious leaders through the use of religious laws
Fundamentalists often clash with those who wish to follow religious traditions more loosely or to live a more secular lifestyle

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Religion’s Impact on Laws and Customs

While no highly industrialized countries have fully adopted religious laws, their legal codes often show clear influence of religion

Blue laws, laws that restrict certain activities

Sale of alcohol on Sundays
Colorado, car dealerships closed on Sundays

Restrictions on food, eating, drinking, clothing, hairstyle

Many Hindus do not eat beef
Many Jews and Muslims do not eat pork

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Religion’s Impact on Laws and Customs

Religion is the source of daily, weekly, and annual practices:

Many Muslims pray 5 times a day & many Hinduists and Buddhists engage in meditation
Religious Services:

Muslims - Fridays, Jews - Fridays/Saturday Mornings, Christians - Sundays

Celebration of religious holy days, such as Holi (festival of colors for Hindus) and Vesak (celebrating birth of Buddha)

Many secularized holidays have roots in religion

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Religion and the Landscape

By the end of this section, you will be able to

Describe how human activities (religion) influences the organization and use of space

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The Physical Landscape

Natural features have religious significance

Shinto view certain mountains and rocks as the homes of spirits
Mt. Sinai is honored by Jews, Christians, Muslims

Other religious sites: Jerusalem (Israel) Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Lhasa (Tibet)

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The Cultural Landscape

Memorial spaces to the dead, located close to worship places
Restaurants/food markets cater to particular religious groups by offering religious approved food
Signs are written in the language/alphabet that reflects the ethnic heritage

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Cultural Landscape: Christianity

Burial Practices

Most Christians bury the dead in cemeteries.
Physical meets cultural: New Orleans, cemeteries are above ground

Architecture

Style often influenced by the environment
Closer to the hearth, more likely to resemble original architecture

Orthodox Greek Church: Closer to the eastern Mediterranean, churches will have a traditional dome shaped roof

Church in Norway: Churches in Northern Europe have steep-pitched roofs designed for snow to slide off

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Cultural Landscape: Hinduism

Sacred Sites

Ganges River: site of pilgrimage for people to bathe in for purification

Burial Practices

Cremation of the dead.
Physical meets Cultural: Shortage of wood? Ashes thrown into the Ganges, what potential issues?

Architecture

Many temples and shrines are located near rivers and streams

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Holy Places in Hinduism

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Cultural Landscape: Judaism

Burial Practices

Burial of dead sundown following the day of death

Architecture

Worship in synagogues or temples

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Cultural Landscape: Islam

Burial Practices

Burials are in the cemeteries, done as soon as possible

Architecture

Mosque is the place of worship, usually in the center of town
Mosque surrounded by a few minarets (Arabic for beacon)

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Cultural Landscape: Shinto

Cultural hearth in Japan, emphasizing relationship between people and nature

Architecture

One common landscape feature: Impressive, the torii, to mark transition from the outside world to a sacred space

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HOW RELIGION & ETHNICITY SHAPE SPACE

The 1st group to establish cultural & religious customs in a space, charter group
Example: Native Americans were the original charter group in America

Name influence: Mt. Denali in Alaska to Miami, Florida
Charter groups show their heritage

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Urban Ethnic Neighborhoods

In rural areas, ethnic concentrations form ethnic islands

Ethnic islands are in rural areas and have less interactions with other groups than do groups in cities, they maintain a strong and long-lasting sense of cohesion

Example: Germanic ethnic islands of people who fled religious persecution in the past continue to exist in the U.S. (the Pennsylvania Dutch and the Amish), Canada (Mennonites in Alberta), and scattered locations in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe

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New Cultural Influences

Ethnic groups move in and out of neighborhoods and create new cultural imprints on the landscape in a process geographers call sequent occupance
Ex: In Chicago, Pilsen heavily Hispanic, but the name comes from a time when it was home for predominantly German & Czech immigrants
Ex: Harlem:

Jews from Eastern Europe (late 1800s)

Cultural Landscape: Former Jewish synagogues

African Americans from the South (1910s)
Cultural Landscape: Names after black leaders, Marcus Garvey Park
Puerto Ricans (late 20th century)

Cultural Landscape: Street names honoring Puerto Rican leaders, Luis Munoz Marin Boulevard

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Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage, a religious journey taken by a persn to a sacred place of his or her religion

Over 20 million Hindus journey to the Ganges River

Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca (a pilgrimage known as a hajj)

Muslims, Jews, and Christians visit Jerusalem’s many holy sites

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Influences of Colonialism, Imperialism, & Trade

Colonialism, imperialism, and trade have played a powerful role in spreading religion and culture
Two waves of European colonialism:

1500s to 1800s, Europeans colonized the Americas and South Asia
1800s to mid-1900s, european powers colonized most of Africa & Southwest Asia

The European colonizers imposed their cultural traits on the local populations

Ex: Most religions practiced by natives in Africa & North America were forms of animism, the belief that non-living objects, such as rivers or mountains, have a spirit

Europeans forced many of their colonial subjects to adopt the Christian
The Spanish and French spread Roman Catholicism and Dutch spread forms of Protestantism in their colonies
The English, Belgians and Dutch spread forms of Protestantism in their colonies