Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 1 Where Are Religions Distributed?

Pgs. 168 - 178
1.

Define universalizing religion:

2.

Define ethnic religion:

Universalizing Religions
3.

Give the percentage of the worlds Christian population belonging to

each of Christianitys 3 major branches.

4.

Regarding Eastern Orthodox churches, how many separate churches

are there, and which has the largest membership?

5.

What percentage of Latin Americans are Roman Catholic?

6.

Protestants comprise 28% of North Americans. List the 5 largest

denominations.

7.

Complete the chart with names of smaller branches of Christianity

and their location of concentration.
Branch of Christianity
Region of Predominance

8.
9.

Half of the worlds Muslims live in the Middle East. The other half
live in 4 countries outside the Middle East. Name them.
Give the percentage of each of Islams 2 greatest branches: Sunni
& Shiite (Shia).

10.

Only in 5 countries do Shiite Muslims number more than Sunni.

What are they?

11.

Buddhism is built around Four Noble Truths as taught by the

Buddha. Summarize them.

12. Complete this chart dividing Buddhism into its 3 main branches.
Branch
% of Global
Regions of Predominance
Buddhist
Population

13.

Why are Buddhists difficult to count?

Ethnic Religions
14.

Where are Hindus concentrated? What percent of all Hindus live

there?

15.

Where are most of the rest?

Make a note or two (that seem of geographic interest) about each of the
following ethnic religion listed in #s 16 20.
16.

Confucianism:

17.

Daoism:

18.

Shintoism:

19.

Judaism:

20.

Animism:

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 2 Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions?
Pgs. 178 191
Origin of Religions
1.

Complete the chart below describing the origins and branches of the
major universalizing religions.
Christianity
Islam
Buddhism
Year of Origin
Founder
Major Branches &
Main Belief of
Each Branch

Regarding Hinduism
2.

How was its origin different than universalizing religions?

3.

When did it originate?

4.

Where did it originate?

5.

What 2 ancient peoples beliefs blended to form Hinduism?

Diffusion of Religions
6.

Give 3 explanations for the diffusion of Christianity.

7.

Give 3 ways in which Islam spread.

8.

Give 2 reasons for the expansion of Buddhism.

9.

Provide 3 examples of cases in which religions, or religious

practices, have blended.
Religions Which Have Blended
Location

Regarding Judaism
10.

How is its distribution very different from other ethnic religions?

11.

What was the diaspora?

12.

How were most Jews treated as they lived among other

nationalities?

13.

What is the origin of the term ghetto?

Holy Places
14.

What is a pilgrimage?

15.

Read the section Holy Places and make notes on 3 case studies:
Buddhism, Islam & Hinduism.
Holy Sites
Buddhist

Islamic

Hindu

The Calendar
16.

Complete the chart below regarding religious calendars.

What is the most prominent feature

of the calendar in an ethnic religion?

What is the principle purpose of the

calendar in a universalizing
religion?

17.

How is the Jewish calendar typical of the ethnic use of the calendar?

18.

What is the solstice?

19.

Both the Jewish and the Muslims use a lunar calendar, yet in a
different way and with very different results. Explain.

20.

How is the date of Easter related to physical geography (the natural

world) through the calendar?

21.

Why do different Christian branches celebrate Easter on different

days?

22.

How is this similar to Buddhisms major holidays?

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 3 Why Do Religions Organize Space in Distinctive
Patterns?
Pgs. 191 195
1.

In what 2 ways do religious structures often stand out in a

landscape?

Places of Worship
2.

For what 2 reasons does a church, the physical structure, play a

more critical role than in other religions?

3.

Complete the following chart to express unique visible features of

Christian churches.
Christian Branch or Region
Unique Design/Typical Feature
Orthodox Christianity
Protestant (esp. N. America)
Northeast U.S.
Southeast U.S.
Southwest U.S.
Latin America

4.

How is a Muslim mosque viewed differently than a Christian church?

5.

Identify 4 specific, visible features of a typical mosque.

6.

How are Hindu temples different than both churches and mosques?

7.

List 3 typical visible features of a Hindu temple.

8.

What is the religious purpose of a Buddhist pagoda?

9.

How was pilgrimage a part of the development of pagodas?

10.

Formal worship in a pagoda is not typical. Where does it usually

take place?

Sacred Space
11.

Christian practice burial of the dead. Complete the flow chart below
to indicate the history of this practice.

12.

Complete the chart below with brief notes on the disposal of the
dead in ways other than burial.
Hindus
Parsis
Micronesi
a

13.

Complete the chart below with brief notes on the religious

settlements indicated.

Utopian
Settlements
Salt Lake City,
Utah
Puritans

Administration of Space
14.

Define hierarchical religion:

15.

List the Roman Catholic hierarchy, indicating geographic region and

leader who heads it.

16.

Why are parishes in Latin America so much larger than in Europe?

17.

Describe an autonomous religion:

18.

In the absence of a hierarchy, what is the only formal organization

of territory in Islam?

19.

What holds Islam together?

20.

Complete the chart below to categorize other religions and

denominations.

Autonomous Religions

Hierarchical Religions

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 4 Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise Among Religious
Groups?
Pgs. 195 203
Religion Versus Government Policies
1.

In what ways did the Taliban government of Afghanistan raise

conflicts with Western/modern ideas after it took control of the
country in 1996?

2.

What aspect of Hinduism has clashed with Western/modern ideas?

3.

What western groups criticized this aspect? Why?

4.

How has the Indian government responded to this issue?

5.

In Russia/Soviet Union, how did each of the following attempt to

limit the influence of religion, specifically the Eastern Orthodox
Church?
Czar Peter the Great:

Communism:

6.

What happened, and is continuing to happen, in each of the

following regions of the Russian Empire/Soviet Union since the fall of
Communism in the 1990s? Complete the chart below by adding
THREE more countries to each category and then describing what
is going on at the present time in that region.

Historic Catholic Regions

Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Lithuania,
Currently

Historic Muslim Regions

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Currently

7.

How was the Vietnam War detrimental to Buddhism in Southeast

Asia?

8.

How were Communist regimes detrimental to Buddhism in

Southeast Asia?

Religion Versus Religion

9.

Define fundamentalism:

10.

Fundamentalism is increasing in the world today and its growth

contributes to conflicts. Why is it increasing?

11.

What are two religious groups in conflict in Ireland?

12.

Where are the majority of these groups located?

13.

What 3 religions are in constant conflict over the land in the Middle
East?

14.

What was the military campaign by the Christians to recapture their

Holy Land from the Muslims?

15.

Complete the chart below regarding the perspective on the Holy

Land.
Palestinian Perspective
Israeli Perspective

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 1 Where Are Religions Distributed?
Pgs. 168 - 178
1. Define universalizing religion:
Religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those
living in a particular location.
2. Define ethnic religion:
Religion that appeals primarily to one group of people living in
one place.
Universalizing Religions
3. Give the percentage of the worlds Christian population belonging to
each of Christianitys 3 major branches.
Roman Catholic 51%; Eastern Orthodox 11%; Protestant 24%
4. Regarding Eastern Orthodox churches, how many separate churches
are there, and which has the largest membership?
14 self-governing churches; Russian Orthodox
5. What percentage of Latin Americans are Roman Catholic?
93%
6. Protestants comprise 28% of North Americans. List the 5 largest
denominations. Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran &
Presbyterian
7. Complete the chart with names of smaller branches of Christianity and
their location of concentration.
Branch of Christianity
Coptic Church of Egypt
Ethiopian Church
Armenian Church
Maronites
Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints

Region of Predominance
N.E. Africa
N.E. Africa
Lebanon, Armenia, northeastern
Turkey & western Azerbaijan
Lebanon
Utah & surrounding states

8. Half of the worlds Muslims live in the Middle East. The other half live
in 4 countries outside the Middle East. Name them.
Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh & India
9. Give the percentage of each of Islams 2 greatest branches: Sunni &
Shiite (Shia). Sunni 83%

Shiite 16%
10.
Only in 5 countries do Shiite Muslims number more than Sunni.
What are they? Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman & Bahrain
11.
Buddhism is built around Four Noble Truths as taught by the
Buddha. Summarize them.
1. All living beings must endure suffering; 2. Suffering leads to
reincarnation; 3. Goal is to reach Nirvana through moral &
mental self-purification; 4. Nirvana is achieved through
Eightfold Path
12.

Complete this chart dividing Buddhism into its 3 main branches.

Branch
Mahayana
Theraveda

% of Global
Buddhist
Population
56%
38%

Tantrayana

6%

Regions of Predominance
China, Japan & Korea
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand & Sri Lanka
Tibet & Mongolia

13.
Why are Buddhists difficult to count?
Only a few people participate in Buddhist institutions; not a
formal religious system
Ethnic Religions
14.
Where are Hindus concentrated? What percent of all Hindus live
there?
97% of all Hindus live in India
15.
Where are most of the rest?
Nepal
Make a note or two (that seem of geographic interest) about each of the
following ethnic religion listed in #s 16 20.
16.
Confucianism:
Ethnic religion begun by Confucius in Chinese province of Lu;
teaches ethical principles of following tradition, fulfilling
obligations & treating others with sympathy & respect.
17.
Daoism:
Begun by Lao-Zi & emphasizes mystical & magical aspects of
life not importance of public service
18.
Shintoism:
Ethnic religion of Japan; was official state religion until end of

WWII; political cult & religion; deceased became important

deities
19.
Judaism:
14 million Jews worldwide; most in U.S. & Israel; 2 main
universalizing religions find their roots in Judaism (Islam &
Christianity); began in Canaan; 1st religion to support
monotheism
20.
Animism:
Belief that inanimate objects, plants & stones or natural
events like earthquakes have spirits & conscious life; practiced
by 100 million Africans but is declining due to universalizing
religions

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 2 Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions?
Pgs. 178 191
Origin of Religions
1. Complete the chart below describing the origins and branches of the
major universalizing religions.
Year of Origin
Founder

Christianity
4 BC 30 AD
Jesus

Major Branches & Catholicism

Main Belief of
God conveys his
Each Branch
grace to
humanity via 7
sacraments
Orthodox
Accepts 7
sacraments but
rejects Pope &
doctrines

Islam
6th Century
Muhammad
Sunni
Quran
Shiite
Quran
**Disagreement
over line of
succession of
Islamic leadership
is major
difference

Buddhism
5th Century BC
Siddhartha
Gautama
Theravada
To become good
Buddhist one
must renounce
worldly goods &
become a monk
Mahayana
Emphasize
teaching,
compassion &
helping others

Protestantism
Salvation
achieved thru
direct
communication
with God & faith
Regarding Hinduism
2. How was its origin different than universalizing religions?
Didnt originate with s a specific founder
3. When did it originate?
6th century B.C.
4. Where did it originate?
India
5. What 2 ancient peoples beliefs blended to form Hinduism?
Aryans & Dravidians

Diffusion of Religions
6. Give 3 explanations for the diffusion of Christianity.
1. Relocation diffusion by missionaries from Palestine; 2.
Contagious diffusion by daily contact between believers & nonbelievers; 3. Hierarchical diffusion thru acceptance by the
emperor
7. Give 3 ways in which Islam spread.
1. Conquering land in Palestine, Persia & India; 2. Relocation
diffusion by missionaries in Sub-Saharan Africa & S.E. Asia; 3.
Arab traders in Indonesia
8. Give 2 reasons for the expansion of Buddhism.
1. Missionaries in Ceylon; 2. Merchant traders to China
9. Provide 3 examples of cases in which religions, or religious practices,
have blended.
Religions Which Have Blended
Christianity & African religions
Buddhism & Shintoism
Hinduism, Islam & Christianity

Location
Equatorial Guinea, Namibia &
other African countries
Japan
Island of Mauritius

Regarding Judaism
10.
How is its distribution very different from other ethnic religions?
Its practiced in many countries; not just place of origin
11.
What was the diaspora?
When Romans forced Jews out of the Mediterranean
12.
How were most Jews treated as they lived among other
nationalities?
Many Jews were persecuted; forced to live segregated
13.
What is the origin of the term ghetto?
Neighborhood set up by law where Jews were required to live
Holy Places

14.
What is a pilgrimage?
Journey for religious purposes to a place considered sacred

15.
Read the section Holy Places and make notes on 3 case studies:
Buddhism, Islam & Hinduism.
Holy Sites
Important because theyre located where 8
particular events happened in Buddhas life;
Most located in northeastern India & southern
Nepal; Lumbini is most important (Buddhas
birthplace)
Makkah (Mecca) birth place of Muhammad;
Kaba is religious shrine in center of Mecca
housing black stone given to Muhammad by
Gabriel; Median tomb of Muhammad; Every
Muslim is expected to make hajj to Mecca
Places of importance are rivers & coastlines;
Tirtha (pilgrimage) are acts of purification;
Shrines are established by tradition, not
doctrine; Hindus believe Ganges River is for
purification; Mt. Kailas important (Siva lives
there)

Buddhist

Islamic

Hindu

The Calendar
16.

Complete the chart below regarding religious calendars.

What is the most prominent feature

of the calendar in an ethnic religion?
Celebration of seasons cycle of
variation in climatic conditions
for successful agriculture

What is the principle purpose of the

calendar in a universalizing
religion?
Commemorates events in
founders life

17.
How is the Jewish calendar typical of the ethnic use of the
calendar?
Holidays are based on agricultural events as well.
18.
What is the solstice?
Astronomical event that happens in June & December resulting

in the longest & shortest days of the year.

19.
Both the Jewish and the Muslims use a lunar calendar, yet in a
different way and with very different results. Explain.
Jews calendar inserts extra month every few years so
holidays fall at the same time; Islam adheres to strict lunar
calendar so holidays arrive at different seasons from
generation to generation.
20.
How is the date of Easter related to physical geography (the
natural world) through the calendar?
Relates to agricultural cycle as a joyous time of harvest in
southern Europe; time of anxiety over planting new crops in
northern Europe & N. America
21.
Why do different Christian branches celebrate Easter on different
days? Protestants & Catholics use Gregorian calendar while
Orthodox use Julian calendar
22.
How is this similar to Buddhisms major holidays?
Different Buddhists observe & celebrate events on different
calendar days as well

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 3 Why Do Religions Organize Space in Distinctive
Patterns?
Pgs. 191 195
1. In what 2 ways do religious structures often stand out in a landscape?
Usually tallest & most elaborate building
Places of Worship
2. For what 2 reasons does a church, the physical structure, play a more
critical role than in other religions?
Its an expression of religious principles & created in the image
of God
3. Complete the following chart to express unique visible features of
Christian churches.
Christian Branch or Region
Orthodox Christianity
Protestant (esp. N. America)
Northeast U.S.
Southeast U.S.
Southwest U.S.
Latin America

Unique Design/Typical Feature

Highly ornate topped with dome
Simple with little ornamentation
Built with wood
Built with brick
Adobe
Stucco & stone

4. How is a Muslim mosque viewed differently than a Christian church?

Viewed as a location for the community to gather; not
sanctified
5. Identify 4 specific, visible features of a typical mosque.
Central courtyard; pulpit facing Mecca; Cloister for
school/activities; minaret tower to call people to worship
6. How are Hindu temples different than both churches and mosques?
Built to house shrines for gods rather than for worship
7. List 3 typical visible features of a Hindu temple.
Symbolic artifact (image of the god); structure for the
caretaker; pool for ritual baths
8. What is the religious purpose of a Buddhist pagoda?
House Buddhas relics (portions of Buddhas body or clothing)
9. How was pilgrimage a part of the development of pagodas?
People traveled to other countries to build pagodas to house

relics
10.
Formal worship in a pagoda is not typical. Where does it usually
take place?
At adjacent temple, monastery or at home

Sacred Space
11.
Christian practice burial of the dead. Complete the flow chart
below to indicate the history of this practice.
Catacombs in ancient Rome when Christianity was illegal

Church Yards when Christianity became legal

Cemeteries operated by public management beginning in 19th

century
12.
Complete the chart below with brief notes on the disposal of the
dead in ways other than burial.
Hindus
Parsis
Micronesi
a

Use of cremation
Exposure of dead to scavenging birds & animals
Disposal of body at sea

13.
Complete the chart below with brief notes on the religious
settlements indicated.
Utopian
Settlements
Salt Lake City,
Utah
Puritans

Ideal community built around a religious way

of life
Established by Mormons with church related
buildings at strategic points
New England settlers that placed church in
center of the settlement next to public open
space called a common

Administration of Space
14.
Define hierarchical religion:
Has well defined geographic structure & organizes territory

into local administrative units.

15.
List the Roman Catholic hierarchy, indicating geographic region
and leader who heads it.
Priest heads a parish Bishop heads a diocese that have
parishes Archbishop heads a province with several diocese
Pope head of Roman Catholic Church in Rome
16.
Why are parishes in Latin America so much larger than in
Europe?
Lower population density in Latin America than in Europe
17.
Describe an autonomous religion:
Religion without central authority but shares ideas &
cooperates informally
18.
In the absence of a hierarchy, what is the only formal
organization of territory in Islam?
Religious territory with secular states
19.
What holds Islam together?
Islamic doctrine
20.
Complete the chart below to categorize other religions and
denominations.
Autonomous Religions
Baptist
United Church of Christ
Judaism
Hinduism

Hierarchical Religions
Roman Catholic
Episcopalian
Lutheran
Methodist

Chapter 6 Learning Guide Religion

Key Issue 4 Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise Among Religious
Groups?
Pgs. 195 203
Religion Versus Government Policies
1. In what ways did the Taliban government of Afghanistan raise conflicts
with Western/modern ideas after it took control of the country in 1996?
Imposed strict laws & punished people for participating in
Western values
2. What aspect of Hinduism has clashed with Western/modern ideas?
Caste System
3. What western groups criticized this aspect? Why?
British administrators & Christian missionaries because caste
system contributed to health & economic neglect for
untouchable caste
4. How has the Indian government responded to this issue?
Legally abolished untouchable caste & these people now have
equal rights
5. In Russia/Soviet Union, how did each of the following attempt to limit
the influence of religion, specifically the Eastern Orthodox Church?
Czar Peter the Great:
Incorporated the church into the government & replaced the
church leader with a nominated committee appointed by the
czar
Communism:
Pursued antireligious programs; Marxism became official
doctrine; 1918 church-state connection was eliminated
6. What happened, and is continuing to happen, in each of the following
regions of the Russian Empire/Soviet Union since the fall of
Communism in the 1990s? Complete the chart below by adding
THREE more countries to each category and then describing what is
going on at the present time in that region.
Historic Catholic Regions
Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia,
Slovenia
CurrentlyConfiscated property

Historic Muslim Regions

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan
CurrentlyMost people are

by Communist govt reverting

back to church ownership &
church attendance has increased

Muslims & struggling to

determine what laws should
conform to Islamic custom

7. How was the Vietnam War detrimental to Buddhism in Southeast Asia?

Air raids destroyed Buddhist shrines; Buddhists immolated
themselves to protest government
8. How were Communist regimes detrimental to Buddhism in Southeast
Asia? Discouraged religious activities & have allowed
monuments to decay
Religion Versus Religion
9. Define fundamentalism:
Literal interpretation & strict adherence to basic principles of a
religion
10.
Fundamentalism is increasing in the world today and its growth
contributes to conflicts. Why is it increasing?
Because a group wants to maintain a distinctive cultural
identity in a global culture & economy
11.
What are two religious groups in conflict in Ireland?
Catholics & Protestants
12.
Where are the majority of these groups located?
Protestants in northern Ireland & Catholics in Republic of
Ireland
13.
What 3 religions are in constant conflict over the land in the
Middle East?
Judaism, Islam & Christianity
14.
What was the military campaign by the Christians to recapture
their Holy Land from the Muslims?
Crusades
15.
Complete the chart below regarding the perspective on the Holy
Land.
Palestinian Perspective
- Sees themselves as legitimate
rules of Israel
- PLO created under Yassir Arafat
t fights Israelis

Israeli Perspective
- Sees themselves as a small
country with Jewish majority
surrounded by hostile Muslims
- Israel maintains military control

- Some Palestinians (Fatah Party)

are willing to recognize Israels
Jewish majority in exchange for
territory taken in 1967
- Hamas Party doesnt recognize
Israels right to exist
- No intention of giving up claim
to Jerusalem

over Golan Heights & West Bank

- Majority of Israelis support
construction of a barrier to deter
Palestinian attacks
- No intention of giving up claim
to Jerusalem