Cultural Geography: Religion

Introduction

Types of religions: universal, ethnic, animist. Distribution, origin, and diffusion of specific religions. Effects of religion on patterns of life (daily schedule, food preferences, role of women, importance of education, work ethic and business practices, political conflicts, etc.) Cultural landscapes produced by specific religions, including burial practices, attitudes toward the environment, calendar.

Goals

The goals for this section of the course are:

• to apply the spatial and ecological perspectives of geography to understand spatial variations in world religions
• to explain the four types of religions
• to identify the source and distribution of key world religions and describe their diffusion in terms of point of origin, path, rate of spread, and characteristics in terms of impact on the landscape
• to describe the distribution of religions in the US and the processes that influenced this distribution
• to analyse the relationships among religion, culture, and geography and the implications of inter and intrareligious boundaries
• to understand why religious fundamentalism is a rising global issue.

Outline Notes

The notes for this section of the course appear on this Word doc. These notes are fairly detailed and will substitute for material not covered in class. They are simply a reference, not a substitute for attending class and taking notes from the lecture. Feel free to format them, fill them in to include class comments, etc.

You might be interested in reading this account of the HAJ.

Links to Other Resources

The Religious Movements Home Page: This web site from the University of Virginia has information about every religion in the world as well as religious movements, which can be different from religions.

Descriptions of 63 Religions, Faith Groups & Ethical Systems: Provided by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, this site offers basic information on 63 different religions, faith groups, and ethical systems. They are organized into the following groups: "World" Religions, Neo-Pagan Religious Faiths, Small Non-Christian Religions, Destructive, Doomsday Faith Groups, Christian Groups, and Other Ethical Groups and Spiritual Paths. Typical information for each entry include a brief history, sacred texts, beliefs and practices, sects, and links to related sites.

 A Russian Lama's Body, and His Faith, Defy Time : This article tells an eery story about the preservation of a Russian Buddhist lama.

Cry of Muslim Women for Equal Rights: This article recounts efforts of Islamic women to change their status within Muslim society. As you read this note the influence religion has on culture and the practices of different societies within the Islamic world. This compliments the story on the role of women in Iraq.

Sacred Cows Are Wily: This article provides an amusing glimpse into the problems associated with an over supply of sacred cows in New Delhi.

Russian Jews Turning Edgy: This story from the New York Times, March 9, 1999, shows how anti-semitism is alive and well in at least one region of the world with unfortunate consequences. It illustrates the link between religious freedom and migration.