Topic 3.7 Diffusion of Religion

Question 1

Ethnic Religion

Answer 1

appeals to a certain group; does not actively try to convert people

Question 2

Universalizing Religion

Answer 2

appeals to a variety of people; actively seeks to convert people (proselytize), often through missionart work

Question 3

Syncretic Religion

Answer 3

religion that combines several traditions

Question 4

Buddhism

(universalizing)

Answer 4

Doctrine – The Middle Way/Eightfold Path; reincarnation leads to nirvana (enlightenment)
Hearth – present-day Nepal, then spread throughout Asia
Types of diffusion –
Relocation – Asian immigrants
Expansion – missionaries carried religion throughout Asia, where it tended to blend with local faiths

Question 5

Christianity

(universalizing)

Answer 5

Doctrine – salvation through sacraments and faith; 3 main branches: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant
Hearth – Present-day Israel; Jesus Christ preached, followers became known as Christians
Types of diffusion –
Relocation – colonialism; Christian immigrants
Expansion – hierarchical through work of missionaries (converted kings, who then made it the official religion of their realm)

Question 6

Islam

(universalizing)

Answer 6

Doctrine – Five Pillars; submission to will of God; 2 major branches: Shi’a and Sunni
Hearth –present-day Saudi Arabia; founded by Muhammad
Types of diffusion –
Relocation - Muslim immigrants
Expansion – growth of empire throughout Southwest Asia and North Africa due to religious conquest; missionaries sent to Philippines, Indonesia, and China

Question 7

Sikhism

(universalizing)

Answer 7

Doctrine – Follow teachings of Guru; acts of service and charity; goal is to merge with God. Syncretic as it merges aspects of Hinduism and Islam
Hearth – Punjab region of Indian subcontinent; founded by Guru Nanak
Types of diffusion –
Relocation - migration of Sikhs
Expansion – initially hierarchical (taught by the Gurus), then contagious as many are attracted to the tenets of the faith

Question 8

Hinduism

(ethnic)

Answer 8

Doctrine – goal is to reach nirvana, which can be achieved through reincarnation
Hearth – Punjab region of Indian subcontinent. Form a majority in Nepal, India, and Mauritius
Type of diffusion –
Relocation – Hindu immigrants

Question 9

Judaism

(ethnic)

Answer 9

Doctrine – God’s chosen people; Ten Commandments
Hearth – present-day Israel
Type of diffusion–
Relocation –Jewish Diaspora refers to centuries-long migration of Jewish people from their homeland

Question 10

Language Family

Answer 10

a group of language that share a common ancestry

Examples: Indo-European (conquest), Sino-Tibetan (sheer numbers)

Question 11

Dialect

Answer 11

a regional variation of a language

Example: pop vs. soda

Question 12

Pidgin Language

Answer 12

a trade language, characterized by a very small vocabulary derived from language of at least two or more groups in contact

Question 13

Creole Language

Answer 13

a combined language that has a fuller vocabulary than a pidgin language and can eventually become a native language