SAS - Human Geography Lesson
Human Geography
Religions of the World
Religious geography is the study of the distribution of religions and their relationship to their place of origin. Religious geographers categorize religions in three ways: universal (or universalizing), ethnic (or cultural), and tribal (or traditional) religions. Universal religions include Christianity, Islam, and various forms of Buddhism. These religions attempt to gain worldwide acceptance and appeal to all types of people. They are universal in that they actively look for new members or converts. Ethnic religions appeal to a single ethnic group or culture. These religions do not actively seek out converts. Broader ethnic religions include Judaism, Shintoism, Hinduism, and Chinese religions that embrace Confucianism and Taoism. Finally, traditional religions involve the belief in some form of supernatural power that people can appeal to for help, including ancestor worship and the belief in spirits that live in various aspects of nature, such as trees, mountaintops, and streams (this is often called animism).
Major Religions of the World in 2010 and Their Respective Percentage of the World Population
The top religions by population of adherents are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.
- Buddhism is a religion or way of life based on the teachings and life of Siddhartha Gautama, who lived in what is now India/Nepal around the fifth century BCE. There are three main branches of Buddhism: southern or Theravada Buddhism, eastern or Mahayana Buddhism, and northern or Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism.
- Hinduism, a religious tradition that originated on the Indian subcontinent, is one of the oldest major religions still practiced in the world, and it may date back to as far as 2000 BCE or earlier. Unlike other world religions, Hinduism has no single founder and is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions. Hinduism has a large body of scripture, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, and epic tales such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
- Sikhism, a religion founded in the Punjab region of southern Asia, is a monotheistic religion centered on justice and faith. High importance is placed on the principle of equality between all people. The writings of former gurus are the basis for religion.
Although South Asia was the birthplace of two of the world's major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, the region has many Muslims as well. Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism are the top three religions of South Asia. While most in India align themselves with Hinduism, Sikhism is a major religion in the Punjab region, which is located on India's northern border with Pakistan. Although Pakistan and Iran are both Islamic republics, each represents a significant branch of the faith; Iran is Shia, and Pakistan is mostly Sunni. Religious differences are also evident on the eastern border of the realm, where Bangladesh (Islam) and India (Hinduism) share a border with Myanmar (Buddhist).
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest major religions still practiced today. Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations in India approximately three thousand years ago. Hinduism does not originate from a single teacher, but from many traditions. Hinduism has a vast body of written scripture that discusses theology, mythology, and philosophy as well as providing important guidance on the practice of dharma, which is religious or right living.
Hinduism follows the teachings of many gods or goddesses, frequently including a Supreme Being. While there are hundreds, if not thousands, of gods and goddesses, the three main deities and most widely venerated of the Hindu faith are Shiva the Destroyer, Vishnu the Preserver, and Brahma the Creator. Since there is no one creed or unified systems of beliefs, Hinduism has been referred to as more of a religious tradition than a religion. It has been said that Hinduism cannot be defined but is instead experienced. This understanding allows a variety of beliefs to be included in the vast array of Hindu religious practices. Religion in general is more of a tradition and lifestyle with different avenues of practice. This allows for the diversity of spiritual deities or their manifestations within one Hindu faith.
Hindus believe in:
- Dharma (code of conduct or duty)
- Samsara (reincarnation/rebirth)
- Karma (personal actions and choices)
- Moksha (salvation) by belief in God and through an individual path of faith.
Reincarnation is a cycle of death and rebirth for a soul to transmigrate through until it reaches Moksha. Karma governs how the soul is reincarnated. Basically, Hindus believe that actions in this life determine the soul's life cycle for the next life. Positive and upright works will draw one closer to God and a rebirth through reincarnation into a life with a wider consciousness or higher caste level. Evil or bad actions take the soul farther from God and into a lower form of worldly life or caste level. Yoga is often used as a practice or path for following traditions. In the Hindu faith the eternal natural law applies to all life forms. The cycle of death and rebirth for the soul is necessary to reach the goal of reaching the universal divine spirit.
Pilgrimages are common in Hindu practice. Holy sites or temples are located throughout India and are regular destinations for the Hindu faithful. Pilgrimage is not required but is routinely conducted.
Mother Ganga, as the river is referred to in Hinduism, is considered holy by many Hindu followers. Devotees ritually bathe in the river or take "holy" water from their home to ill family members. Some Hindus believe that water can cure illnesses. Others believe that bathing in the Ganges will wash away your sins. The nonspiritual truth is that the Ganges is a highly polluted waterway. The water is not considered safe for human consumption by most universal health standards.
The Hindu Caste System
The exact origins of Hinduism and the caste system are unknown, but powerful nomadic Aryan warriors appeared in northern India about 1500 BCE. The Aryans conquered most of India at the time, including the Dravidian groups of central and southern India. They organized society into separate groups or castes. Every person was born into an unchanging group or caste that remained his or her status for the rest of his or her life. All lifetime activities were conducted within one's own caste. The caste a person was born into was based on what they had done in a past life. The caste system has evolved differently in various parts of Asia. Each Hindu branch has its own levels of castes, and thousands of sublevels have been established over time. In Hinduism, the basic system originated around five main caste levels:
- Brahmin: priests, teachers, and judges
- Kshatriya: warrior, ruler, or landowner
- Vaishya: merchants, artisans, and farmers
- Shudra: workers and laborers
- Dalits (Untouchables or Harijan): outcasts or tribal groups
The Dalits (Untouchables or Harijan) traditionally worked in jobs relating to "polluting activities," including anything unclean or dead. Dalits have been restricted from entering Hindu places of worship or drinking water from the same sources as members of higher castes. They often had to work at night and sleep during the day. In many areas, Dalits needed to take their shoes off while passing by upper-caste neighbors. Dalits could leave their Hindu caste by converting to Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam.
Technically, the caste system is illegal under current Indian law. Nevertheless, the opportunities that are available to the upper castes remain out of reach to many of the lowest castes. In some areas, education and industrialization have diminished the caste system's influence. In other areas, Hindu fundamentalists have pushed for a stronger Hindu-based social structure and opposed any reforms.
Traditional socioeconomic status tends to be more important in rural areas, where the caste system is adhered to more formally. If you live in a community of millions of people, caste affiliations tend not to be important, but in a smaller, more rural community, these relationships, and the status they hold can be especially important, especially as many of the castes are associated with traditional village tasks, such as religious leaders, politicians, farmers, leather workers, or other activities.
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