Unit 3: Chapter 7 Vocab

Question 1

religion

Answer 1

Defined by geographers Robet Stoddard and Carolyn Prorak in the book Geography in America as “a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ulitamate priorities

Question 2

secularism

Answer 2

The idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life on earth, not to accommodate the prescriptions of a deity and promises of a comfortable afterlife. A secular state is the opposite of a theocracy

Question 3

monotheistic religion

Answer 3

Belief system in which one supreme being is revered as creator and arbiter of all that exists in the universe

Question 4

polytheistic religion

Answer 4

Belief system in which multiple are revered as creatosr and arbiters of all that exists in the universe

Question 5

animistic religion

Answer 5

The belief that inanimate objects, such as hills, trees, rocks, rivers, and other elements of the natural landscape, possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts on Earth

Question 6

universalizing religion

Answer 6

A belief system that espouses the idea that there is one true religion that is universal in scope. Adherents of unviversalizing religious systems often believe that their religion represents universal truths, and in some cases great effort is undertaken in evangelism and missionary work

Question 7

ethnic religion

Answer 7

A religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people. Unlike universalizing religions, adherents of ethnic religions do not actively seek converts through evangelism or missionary work

Question 8

Hinduism

Answer 8

One of the oldest religions in the modern world, dating back over 4000 years, and originating in the Indus River Valley of what is today part of Pakistan. Hinduism is unique among the world’s religions inn that it does not have a single founder, a single theology, or agreement on its origins

Question 9

caste system

Answer 9

The strict social segregation of people-specifically in India’s Hindu society-on the basis of ancesry and occupation

Question 10

Buddhism

Answer 10

Religion founded in the 6th century BCE and characterized by the belief that enlightenment would come through knowledge, especially selfknowledge; elimination of greed, craving, and desire; complete honesty; and never hurting another person or animal. Buddhism splintered from Hinduism and a reaction to the strict social hierarchy maintained by Hinduism

Question 11

Shintoism

Answer 11

Religion located in Japan and related to Buddhism. Shintoism focuses particularly on nature and acestor worship

Question 12

Taoism

Answer 12

Religion believed to have been founded by LaoTsu and based upon his book entitled TaoTeaching or Book of the Way Laotsu focused on the proper form of poilitcal rule and on the oneness of humaity and nature

Question 13

Zionism

Answer 13

The movement to unite the Jewish people of the diaspora and to establish a national homeland for them in the promised land

Question 14

Sunni

Answer 14

Adherents to the largest branch of Islam, called the orthodox or traditionalist. They believe in the effectiveness of family and community in the solution of life’s problems, and they differ from the Shi’ites in accepting the traditions (Sunna) of Muhammad and authoritative

Question 15

Shi’ite

Answer 15

Adherents of one of the two main divisions of Islam. also known as Shiahs, the Shi’ites represent the Persian (Iranian) variation of Islam and believe in the infallibility and divine right to authority of the Imams, descendants of Ali.

Question 16

religious fundamentalism

Answer 16

Religious movements whose objectives are to returm to the foundations of the faith and to influence state policy

Question 17

religious extremism

Answer 17

Religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence

Question 18

jihad

Answer 18

A doctrine within Islam. Commonly translated as “Holy War”, Jihad represents either a personal or collective struggle on the part of Muslims to live up to the religious standards set by the Qu’ran

Question 19

Islam

Answer 19

The youngest of the major world religions, Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad, born in Mecca in 571 CE. according to Islamic teaching, Muhammad received the truth directly from Allah in a series of revelations during which Muhammad spoke the verses of the Qu’ran, the Islamic holy book

Question 20

Indigenous religions

Answer 20

Belief systems and philosophies practiced and traditionally passed from generation to generation among people within an indigenous tribe or group

Question 21

Shamanism

Answer 21

Community faith in traditional societies in which people follow their shaman-a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary. at times, an especially strong shaman might attract a regional following. however, most shamans remain local figures

Question 22

pilgrimage

Answer 22

Voluntary travel by an adherent to a scared site to pay respects or partiipate in a ritual at the site

Question 23

scared sites

Answer 23

Place or space people infuse with religious meaning

Question 24

Confucianism

Answer 24

A philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on the writings of Confucius and traditionally though of as one of the core elements of Chinese culture

Question 25

Interfaith boundaries

Answer 25

boundaries between the world’s major faiths

Question 26

Intrafaith boundaries

Answer 26

boundaries within a single major faith

Question 27

ethnic cleansing

Answer 27

The systematic killing or extermination of an entire people or nation

Question 28

activity space

Answer 28

The space within which daily activity occurs

Question 29

Eastern Orthodox Church

Answer 29

One of three major branches of Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with the Roman Catholic Church, a second of the three major brances of Christianity, arose bu tof the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian into four governmetnal regions: two western regions centered in Rome, and two eastern regions centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul, turkey). in 1054 CE, Christianity was divided along that same line when the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered in Constantinople; and the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, split.

Question 30

Christianity

Answer 30

Religion based on the teachings of Jesus. According to Christian teaching, Jesus is the son of God, placed on Earth to teach people how to live according to God’s plan

Question 31

Diaspora

Answer 31

from the Greek “to disperse,” a term describing forceful or voluntary dispersal of a people from their homeland to a new place. Originally denoting the dispersal of Jews, it is increasingly applied to other population dispersals, such as the involuntary relocation of Black peoples during the slave trade or Chinese peoples of Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

Question 32

Feng Shui

Answer 32

Literally “windwater.” The Chinese art and science of placement and orientation of tombs, dwellings, buildings, and cities. Structures and objects are positioned in an effort to channel flows of shengchi (“lifebreath”) in favorable ways

Question 33

Hajj

Answer 33

The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad

Question 34

Minarets

Answer 34

Tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a crier calls Muslims to prayer

Question 35

Protestant

Answer 35

One of the three major branches of Christianity (together with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic). Following the widespread societal changes in Europe starting in the 13oos ce. many adherents to the Roman Catholic Church began to question the role of religion in their lives and opened the door to the Protestant Reformation wherein John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others challenged many of the fundamental teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

Question 36

Roman Catholic Church

Answer 36

One of the three major branches of Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church together with the Eastern Orthodox Church, a second of the three major branches of Christianity, arose out of the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian into four governmental regions: two western regions centered in Rome, and two eastern regions centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). In 1054 CE, Christianity was divided along that same line when the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople; and the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, split.

Question 37

Sacred Sites

Answer 37

Place or space people infuse with religious meaning