Unit 3 Flashcards
What are the 4 largest religions in the world?
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, & Buddhism. These religions account for 78% of the world’s population.
What are the 3 largest groups of folk religions?
Chinese traditional, Primal-Indigenous, & African traditional.
What percentage of the world’s population adheres to ‘other religions’?
1% of the world’s population adheres to ‘other religions’, with the top 4 being Juchte, Judaism, Sikhism, & spiritism.
What percentage of the world’s population is not affiliated with religion?
16% of the world’s population is not affiliated with religion.
What are universalizing religions?
Religions that attempt to be global and appeal to all people.
What are ethnic religions?
Religions that appeal to one ethnic or cultural group.
What is atheism?
The belief that God does not exist.
What is agnosticism?
The belief that the existence of God cannot be proven nor disproven empirically.
Which religions are considered universalizing religions?
Christianity, Islam, & Buddhism.
Which religions are considered ethnic religions?
Hinduism and folk religions.
In most countries, which religions are most popular?
Christianity or Islam.
What percentage of the world’s population lives in a country where their religion is the minority?
27% of the world’s population.
What percentage of Latin Americans identify as Christians?
90% of Latin Americans identify as Christians.
What percentage of Europeans and North Americans identify as Christians?
Less than 70% of Europeans & North Americans identify as Christians.
What is the predominant religion in Central Asia, Southwest Asia, & North Africa?
Less than 90% of the population in these regions are Muslim.
What is the religious affiliation in East Asia?
Less than half of the people are unaffiliated with a religion.
What is the religious composition in South Asia?
2/3 of people are Hindus & 1/3 are Muslims.
What is the religious composition in Southeast Asia?
40% are Muslim, 23% are Buddhists, and 23% are Christians.
What is the religious composition in Sub-Saharan Africa?
2/3 are Christian & 1/3 are Muslim.
What is cultural relativism?
Analyzing the values, knowledge, and behavior of a culture from that culture’s perspective.
What is ethnocentrism?
Judging someone else’s culture based on one’s own values or beliefs.
What are types of centripetal and centrifugal forces?
Language, Religion, Ethnicity.
Where are more foreign residents found, NYC or Japan?
There are more foreign residents in NYC than all of Japan.
What is contagious diffusion in language learning?
Learning a language through direct contact with native speakers.
What is hierarchical diffusion in language learning?
Learning a language in an area with a leader or government-enforced language.
What is stimulus diffusion?
Stimulating a language once moved, though it doesn’t stay the same.
What is relocation diffusion?
Moving, not adding or losing speakers, but just moving the language.
What is one cause of language diffusion?
Colonialism.
What are the languages of trade and international relations?
English, Swahili, and French.
What affects cultural practices at the local scale?
Changes tend to be slower & urbanization alters local practices.
What affects cultural practices at a large scale?
Globalization leads to quicker changes.
How are many religions divided?
Into Congregations, Denominations, & Branches.
What is a congregation?
A local assembly of people brought together for worship.
What is a denomination?
Unites congregations into a single body or subsection of branches.
What is a branch in religion?
A large and fundamental division within a religion.
What are the 3 branches of Christianity?
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox.
What percentage of the world’s Christians are Catholic?
50% of the world’s Christians are Catholic.
What percentage of Christians in Europe are Roman Catholic?
47% of Christians in Europe are Roman Catholic.
What percentage of Christians in Europe are Protestant?
18% of Christians in Europe are Protestant.
What percentage of Christians in Europe are Orthodox?
35% of Christians in Europe are Orthodox.
What is the religious segregation in Belfast, Ireland?
Roman Catholics & Protestants are very segregated.
What percentage of the Western Hemisphere practices Christianity?
Christianity is the most practiced religion in the Western Hemisphere, comprising 87% of that population.
Why were historically Black churches established?
They were established post-slavery due to blacks being uncomfortable in white churches.
Where is Islam predominant?
In Central Asia, Southwest Asia, & North Africa.
Where is Buddhism predominant?
In East Asia & Southeast Asia.
What are the 3 major branches of Buddhism?
Mahayana, Theravada, & Vajrayana (also known as Lamaists and Tantrayanists).
What does ‘Islam’ mean in Arabic?
‘Submission to the will of God.’
Where are most Muslims located?
In Indonesia, Pakistan, India, & Bangladesh.
How is Islam divided?
Into 2 branches: Sunni & Shiite (also known as Shia).
What percentage of Muslims are Sunnis?
Sunnis comprise 88% of Muslims.
Where do most Shiites live?
Around 40% live in Iran, 15% in Pakistan, 12% in India, & 10% in Iraq.
Which country has the largest Muslim population?
indonesia
What is the ethnic religion with the most followers?
Hinduism, with 1.2 billion adherents.
What are the two most popular portions of Hinduism?
Vaishnavism & Shaivism.
What percentage of Hindus are in India?
97% of Hindus are in India.
What percentage of the population in India and Nepal are Hindus?
Hindus comprise 80% of the population in India & Nepal.
Where are most Primal-Indigenous ethnic religions found?
In Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands, especially Vietnam & Laos.
What do followers of Primal-Indigenous religions believe?
They believe that because God dwells in all things, everything in nature is spiritual.
What does ‘Pagan’ refer to?
The practices of ancient peoples, such as Greeks & Romans, who had numerous gods with human forms.
What is syncretism?
The combination of several traditions.
What are Chinese traditional religions known for?
They are syncretic, combining Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, & other traditional Chinese practices.
What does Confucianism teach?
It follows the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing orderly daily conduct and ‘correct behavior’ or ‘li.’
What does Taoism focus on?
It focuses on the mystical aspects of life and emphasizes studying nature to find one’s place in the world.
What is animism?
The belief that elements of the natural world are ‘animated’ or have discrete aspects of life.
What are the cultural changes attributed to?
Media, technological changes, politics, economics, and social relationships.
What is time-space convergence?
It reshapes & accelerates interactions among people.
What is a mentifact?
Non-material culture.
What is associated with Hinduism & Buddhism?
Lotus flavor.
What are some things associated with religion?
Role of women, clothing, days of the week, burial, sacred locations, use of technology, and prayer times.
What is humanism?
Believing in reason, science, and human fulfillment.
What is Marxism?
A classless society without religion.
What is atheistic belief?
No religious belief.
Does the US have a stated religion?
No, the US does not have a stated religion (Freedom of Religion).
What is the highest group in religion?
Religion itself (e.g., Judaism, Christianity, etc.).
What is the highest level of division within a religion?
Branch (e.g., Sunni, Shia, Catholicism, Orthodox).
What is a denomination?
A subdivision of a branch (e.g., Methodist, Mennonite, Presbyterian).
What is a sect?
A breakaway group from a religion, branch, or denomination.
How do universalizing religions differ from ethnic religions?
Universalizing religions have dispersed while ethnic religions have remained clustered.
Where are the hearths of the 3 largest universalizing religions?
In Asia: Christianity & Islam in Southwest Asia, Buddhism in South Asia.
What is the point of origin for Buddhism?
Northeastern India.
Who was responsible for the spread of Buddhism?
Ashoka, emperor of the Magadhan Empire from 268-732 B.C.E.
How did Buddhism diffuse to China?
Through trade routes in the 1st century C.E.
How did Islam diffuse rapidly?
From its point of origin in present-day Saudi Arabia, through military conquest and intermarriage.
How did Christianity diffuse?
Through relocation (migration) & expansion (additive effect).
What was the first phase of relocation diffusion in Christianity?
It spread from its hearth in Judea, carried by missionaries.
What is the role of missionaries in religion?
Individuals who help transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion.
What was the dominance of Christianity through the Roman Empire?
It happened in the 4th century through hierarchical & contagious diffusion.
What was hierarchical diffusion in Christianity?
Happened when Emperor Constantine embraced the religion in 313 C.E.
What has been happening since 1500 C.E. in Christianity?
Contagious diffusion through migration, missionary activity, & European conquest.
What type of religious majority exists in Canada (except Quebec) & the USA?
Protestant majorities.
Which country attracts the most Islamic migrants?
Saudi Arabia, with 10% of the world’s Muslims.
What are the 4 countries with the highest Islamic populations?
Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, & India (43% of Muslims).
What is the destination for 73% of Jews who migrate internationally?
Israel.
Where do Jews trace their land of origin?
Back to the land of Israel, established by King David.
What is the diaspora?
The dispersion of Jews from their land of origin after the Romans gained control.
What are ghettos?
City neighborhoods set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews.
What is Jewish nationalism known as?
Zionism.
What has been a source of conflict in Asia?
Disputes regarding religions, particularly between Jews, Christians, & Muslims.
What is fundamentalism?
A literal interpretation and strict adherence to the basic principles of a religion.
When did fundamentalism begin as a term?
In the 19th century for the fundamental principles held by Protestants in the USA.
How has fundamentalism been used recently?
To refer to groups that mix politics with aspects of their religion.
What challenges has South Asian Hinduism faced?
It has been forced to react to secular ideas from the West.
What challenges does East Asian Buddhism face?
It is being challenged by communist perspectives.
What was the most vulnerable aspect of Hinduism in the 1800s?
Its rigid caste system.
What are the four castes in Hinduism?
Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), & Shudras (agricultural workers).
What are Dalits in the caste system?
They are the ‘broken/scattered’ and do work considered too dirty for other castes.
What percentage of India’s population do Dalits comprise?
16%.
What affects the type of religion practiced?
It depends on an individual’s caste.
How have original castes changed over centuries?
They have split into thousands of subcastes.
What was the government plan regarding untouchables in India?
To devise a quota system to give untouchables more places in universities.
How do people looking to marry advertise their caste?
They specify their caste and the castes they are willing to marry.
What challenges did organized religion face in the 20th century?
It was challenged by communist regimes that discouraged religious belief & practice.
What did Karl Marx call religion?
‘The opium of the people.’
What became the official doctrine of the Soviet Union?
Marxism, sharply reducing the role of religion in Soviet life.
What happened to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1721?
Czar Peter the Great made it a part of the Russian Government.
What happened after the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe?
There was a religious revival, especially where Roman Catholics are most prevalent.
What is the religious composition of countries in Central Asia that were once part of the Soviet Union?
They are now predominantly Muslim.
What is the conflict in China regarding Buddhism?
There is acute conflict between the doctrine of communism & the authority of Buddhist religious leaders.
What is Tibet known for?
It is the traditional home of the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama.
What happened to Tibet in 1950?
China invaded Tibet and named it Xizang Province.
What do Tibetan Buddhists believe about the Dalai Lama?
They believe that when the Dalai Lama dies, his spirit enters the body of a child for reincarnation.
What happened after the unsuccessful rebellion against Chinese rule in Tibet?
Tens of thousands of Tibetans died, and many were forced to immigrate.
What has been a long-standing conflict in the Middle East?
Jews, Christians, & Muslims have fought for centuries to control the region.
What do tensions between Jews, Christians, & Muslims stem from?
Their shared heritage.
Why is the land of Israel considered holy in Judaism?
It is the origin of Judaism, with Jerusalem as its holiest city.
What historical event occurred around 3,000 years ago in Israel?
David established the Kingdom of Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital.
What happened after the Romans gained control of the Kingdom of Israel?
They expelled Jews, allowing only a minority to live there until the 20th century.
Why is the Middle East considered holy in Christianity?
Due to the events in Jesus’ life & death occurring there.
What happened in the 7th century C.E. in the Middle East?
Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula captured most of the region, including Palestine.
What were the Crusades?
Military campaigns launched by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from Islamic conquerors.
What was the outcome of the Crusades?
They ended when Muslims defeated Christians at Acre in 1291.
What empire controlled Palestine between 1516 & 1917?
The Islamic Ottoman Empire.
What happened after escalated violence post-WWII in Palestine?
The British announced their withdrawal.
What did the U.N. vote in 1947 regarding Palestine?
To partition the U.K. Palestine Mandate.
What was the impact of the Crusades?
Military campaigns launched by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from Islamic conquerors, lasting about 200 years. Ended when Muslims defeated Christians at Acre in 1291.
When did the Islamic Ottoman Empire control Palestine?
Between 1516 and 1917.
What did the U.N. vote in 1947 regarding Palestine?
The U.N. voted to partition the U.K. Palestine Mandate into two states, which was enforced in 1948.
What happened during the 1948-1949 war?
On the day after Israel gained independence, five Arab states began a war. Israel survived, and combatants signed an armistice in 1949, extending Israel’s boundaries and giving Egypt control of the Gaza Strip.
What was the outcome of the 1956 Suez War?
Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and blockaded international waterways. Israel, France, and the U.K. fought to regain control of the waterways, but Egypt remained in control of the Suez.
What occurred during the 1967 Six-Day War?
Israel launched an attack on troops blocking its waterways and captured territory in Jordan, Syria, and Egypt.
What was significant about the 1973 Yom Kippur War?
A surprise attack on Israel by its neighbors occurred on the Jewish holiest day of the year, but nothing changed.
What was the Peace Treaty signed in 1979?
Egypt’s president and Israel’s Prime Minister signed a Peace Treaty, where Israel withdrew from Gaza and returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, leaving it in full Palestinian control.
What geographical factors affect Israel’s vulnerability?
Israel is small, with nearly all Israelis living within 12 miles of an international border, making them vulnerable to attack.
What are the three physical regions Israel considers when assessing its neighbors?
The coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea, a series of high hills, and the Jordan River valley.
What territories does Israel still control?
Israel still has control over the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
What is the demographic composition of the West Bank?
Jews comprise 20% of the West Bank’s population, and Palestinians see this immigration as a hostile act.
What is the purpose of the borders set up by Israel around the West Bank?
To deter Palestinian suicide bombers.
How do Israelis and Palestinians refer to the West Bank border?
Israelis call it ‘a security fence,’ while Palestinians call it a ‘racial segregation wall.’
Who considers themselves Palestinian?
People living in West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem territories; Arab Israelis; those who fled Israel after the 1948-1949 war; those who fled West Bank or Gaza after the 1967 Six-Day War; and some citizens of other countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
What are the main political factions among Palestinians?
Fatah, which is willing to recognize the State of Israel in exchange for land, and Hamas, which does not recognize Israel and wants to continue fighting for territory.
What is the significance of Jerusalem to Jews?
Jerusalem is home to the Jewish Temple, their center of life and worship.
What is the Western Wall?
A wall built around Jerusalem’s second Temple, also known as the ‘Wailing Wall’ by Christians and Muslims. Jews were allowed to visit it only once a year to lament the Temple’s destruction.
What is the Dome of the Rock?
The most important Muslim structure in Jerusalem, completed in 691 C.E. Muslims believe it is where Muhammad ascended to heaven and where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.
What is located south of the Dome of the Rock?
The al-Aqsa Mosque, built on top of the Temple Mount, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims.
