Religion is defined as a system of beliefs and practices that seeks to order life in terms of culturally perceived priorities. It often includes established symbols, rituals, and sacred texts that explain the origin of life, the universe, or the meaning of life. The document then provides overviews and examples of different types of religions including universalizing versus ethnic religions, examples of orthodox and syncretic religions, cultural hearths where major religions originated, and maps showing the diffusion and current distribution of adherents to major world religions. It also discusses concepts like fundamentalism, extremism, indigenous religions, and the rise of secularism.

1. Religion

2. Religion is…• A difficult concept to define
• A system of beliefs & practices that seeks to order
life in terms of culturally perceived priorities
• Often includes an established set of symbols,
rituals, and sacred texts that explain the origin of
life, the universe, or the meaning of life.

3. Overview of Five Major Religions
• TED Talk

4. Classification of Religion

5. Examples of Universalizing and
Ethnic Religions

6. Example of an Ethnic Religion:
Judaism
• At its most basic, a Jew is anyone born of a Jewish
mother. Though a person can convert to Judaism, it
is a complex process that has traditionally been
discouraged.
• Sex and the City clip - Charlotte wants to
convert

7. Examples of orthodox and
syncretic religions
• Syncretism
– The merging of different religions
– Umbanda, a religion practiced in parts of Brazil, blends elements of
Catholicism with a reverence for the souls of native people, wise
men, and historical Brazilian figures
– One view of Sikhism is that it is a syncretism of Hinduism
(particularly the Bhakti movement) and Islam (particularly Sufism)
• Orthodox
– Adhering to the accepted or traditional faith
– Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam have orthodox strains

9. Note: There are many
denominations NOT
listed.

11. Cultural Hearths
• Zoroastrianism – Persia
• Hinduism & Buddhism – South Asia
(India/Nepal)
• Judaism & Christianity – Eastern
Mediterranean
• Islam – Arabian Peninsula
• Shinto – Japan
Reminder:
Cultural hearth is
where ideas,
innovations, or
cultures first
emerge

12. Diffusion of 3 Major Religions

13. Spread of Religions
• Diffusion of major world religions video
• As you watch, pay attention to cultural
hearths and diffusion.
• What slowed or sped up the diffusion of
the major religions?

14. Look @ that __________________ map projection.

15. How is the map (presented at this scale) an
incomplete representation of the geography of
religion?
• The map doesn’t show small areas where
other religions dominate.
• The map masks much “diversity” and
“variation” in religions.
• The map overgeneralizes.

16. Adherents to Major
World Religions
Religion Number of
Adherents
Percent of Total
Global Adherents
Christianity 2.1 billion 41.79%
Islam 1.34 billion 26.67%
Hinduism 950 million 18.91%
Buddhism 347 million 6.9%
Traditional
beliefs
250 million 4.97%
Sikhism 24 million 0.48%
Judaism 13 million 0.26%

18. Read the article regarding
the use of the hijab, or
head scarf, in Iran.
Answer the questions
regarding religious
clothing on the sheet
provided.

19. Orthodoxy vs. Fundamentalism
• Fundamentalism:
– movement to return to the founding principles of the
religion, which can include literal interpretation of sacred
texts
– Often attempts to follow the ways of the religious founder
closely
– Can be intolerant of other religions
– Can be intolerant of fellow believers who are not following
the “proper” ways.
• Orthodoxy: Also a desire to return to the founding
principles of a religion; however, many who consider
themselves orthodox are tolerant of other beliefs.

20. Fundamentalist vs. Extremist
• Why do People become Religious Extremists?
• Read the handout called “Religious
Fundamentalism.”
• Answer the questions at the end of the
article.

21. Indigenous Religions
Yellow: Widely diffused
traditional, indigenous
beliefs
Green: Traditional,
indigenous beliefs exist in
pockets
Orange: Widely diffused
Chinese indigenous religion
Red: Widely diffused
Shintoism
Look @ that __________________ map projection.

22. Indigenous Religions
• Indigenous
religions
– Local in scope
– Usually have a
reverence for nature
– Passed down through
family units and
groups (tribes) of
indigenous peoples.
– No central tenet can
be ascribed to all
indigenous religions.

23. Shamanism
• Shamanism
– A community faith in
which people follow
their shaman
– The shaman is a
• religious leader
• teacher
• healer
• visionary
– Shamanist faiths are
small and
comparatively
isolated.

24. The Rise of Secularism
• Secular: indifference to or rejection of
organized religious affiliation & ideas, non-
religious

25. Read the article regarding
the Pew Research Study on
religion in the U.S.
On a sheet of paper,
describe the growth of
secularism in the United
States.
•What are the causes?
•Why is it reflected in the
younger generation?
•How has increasing
diversity impacted
Christianity in the U.S.?

26. Secularization – another view
• Does Science Argue for or Against God?
• Discussion:
– In your opinion, have scientific ideas reduced the
number of religious followers?