SACRED PLACE, SACRED SPACE:
THE GEOGRAPHY OF RELIGIONS
AND PHILOSOPHIES
INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIONS
• Universalizing Religions
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Seek converts
Accept all converts from all groups
Geographically wide spread
Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Bahai, LDS
• Ethnic or Cultural Religions
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Religion identified with an ethnic group
Localized geography
Hinduism, Jains
Judaism, Zoroastrianism,
Shinto, Daoism, Confucianism
• Tribal or Traditional Religions
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Appeal to powers beyond humans
Worship aspects of nature, spirits in nature
Isolated geographically in remote areas
Historical “mythic” traditions, shamanism
BIRTHPLACES OF LIVING WORLD RELIGIONS
RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD MAP
REGIONS DETERMINED BY RELIGION
PRE-HISTORIC RELIGIONS: TRIBAL RELIGIONS
• Theme: Human-Environment Interaction
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Mystified by nature
Venerate nature
Attempt to influence nature
See power in nature
• Shamanistic beliefs
• Natural objects have power
• Spirits placated, consulted
• Close attachment to nature
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Hills, Mountains
Trees, Groves
Springs, rivers
Power of Sun, Moon, Wind
Seasons have importance
• Shamans are humans who can consult, influence the spirits
A HYMN TO MWARI : THE GOD OF MASHONA
• Great Spirit! Piler up of rocks into towering mountains! When thou
stampest on the stone, The dust rises and fills the land. Hardness of
the precipice; waters of the pool that turn Into misty rain when
stirred.
• Vessel overflowing with oil! father of Runji, Who seweth the heavens
like cloth: let him knit together that which is below. Caller forth of the
branching trees: thou bringest forth the shoots That they stand erect.
Thou has filed the land with mankind, The dust rises on high, oh Lord!
• Wonderful One, thou livest In the midst of the sheltering rocks, Thou
givest of rain to mankind: We pray to thee, Hear us, Lord! Show
mercy when we beseech thee, Lord. Thou art on high with the spirits
of the great. Thou raisest the grass-covered hills Above the earth,
and createst the rivers, Gracious One.
LOCATION OF TRIBAL RELIGIONS
TRADITIONAL POLYTHEISMS
• Theme of Place: Characteristics influence religion
• Domestications of Plants, Animals
• Humans become sedentary
• Religions become formalized
• Tribal beliefs change to traditions
• Spirits give way to gods, goddesses
• Deities have specific functions, roles
• Writing formalizes religious beliefs into words
• Characteristics
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Rituals and Dogmas
Written Doctrines and Teachings
Institutions including monumental architecture
Priests and scribes
• Examples
• Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Vedic, Greek, Roman gods
• Mesoamerican, Andean, Polynesian gods
THE HYMN TO THE NILE
• “Hail to thee, O Nile! Who manifests thyself over this land, and
comes to give life to Egypt! Mysterious is thy issuing forth from the
darkness, on this day whereon it is celebrated! Watering the
orchards created by Re, to cause all the cattle to live, you give the
earth to drink, inexhaustible one! Path that descends from the sky,
loving the bread of Seb and the first-fruits of Nepera, You cause the
workshops of Ptah to prosper! Lord of the fish, during the
inundation, no bird alights on the crops. You create the grain, you
bring forth the barley, assuring perpetuity to the temples. If you
cease your toil and your work, then all that exists is in anguish. If
the gods suffer in heaven, then the faces of men waste away. Then
He torments the flocks of Egypt, and great and small are in agony.
But all is changed for mankind when He comes; He is endowed
with the qualities of Nun. If He shines, the earth is joyous, every
stomach is full of rejoicing, every spine is happy, every jaw-bone
crushes (its food). He brings the offerings, as chief of provisioning;
He is the creator of all good things, as master of energy, full of
sweetness in his choice.”
HOLY SITES
SHINTO
• Theme: Absolute Location – Japan
• Tribal Religion becomes Traditional
• Tribal Beliefs or Shrine Shinto
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The world is kami or spirit (kami-kaze or divine wind)
Localized kami or spirits of specific areas
Some kami represent processes, larger natural objects
The world is transcendent; placate, venerate nature
No aspect of personal salvation; no concept of sin
Thousands of shrines throughout Japan localize belief
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Chinese cultural traditions arrive and traditional Shinto emerges
Veneration of nature, ancestral spirits; some anthropomorphism
Shaman become priests; no literature or holy books
Ceremonies celebrate passages of life, seasons
Rituals of cleanliness, blessings on cars, homes, businesses
Shinto becomes a nationalist tradition honoring emperor
Emperor is the descendent of the sun-goddess
When Japanese leave Japan, Shinto often declines
• Traditional or Sect Shinto
• Syncretism: Has blended with Buddhism, Confucianism
IMAGES OF SHINTO
THE KOJIKI, c. 680 CE
• “Hereupon all the Heavenly Deities commanded the
two Deities His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites and
Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites, ordering them
to "make, consolidate, and give birth to this drifting
land." Granting to them an heavenly jeweled
spear, they [thus] deigned to charge them. So the two
Deities, standing upon the Floating Bridge of
Heaven, pushed down the jeweled spear and stirred
with it, whereupon, when they had stiffed the brine till it
went curdle-curdle, and drew [the spear] up, the brine
that dripped down from the end of the spear was piled
up and became an island. This is the Island of
Onogoro.”
DAOISM
• Theme: Human-Environment Interaction
• Dao or “The Way” is the force of the universe
• Humans must live in harmony with nature, in balance
• Popular Daoism
• Traditional polytheism of common Chinese
• Civilization led to formalization of tribal religions
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Celestial pantheon mirrors imperial pantheon
Shamanistic tribal belief becomes traditional religion
Veneration of nature mixes with ancestor worship
In many ways similar to Shinto but much more formal
Consult, fear, placate spirits
Tradition of alchemy strong within Daoism
• Theme: Absolute Location
• Gods, goddesses of every day places, functions
• The kitchen, hearth, stove
• A formal priesthood; the oldest male of house performs ceremony
• Philosophic Daoism
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Not a religion but a philosophy
Three Jewels of the Dao: compassion, moderation, and humility
Wu wei ("non-action"), spontaneity, humanism, and emptiness
An intellectual school followed by elite scholars
Centered around teachings of the Daoteching, Laotzi
• Fengshui: The art of balancing that which is human with nature
DAOIST SYMBOLS
Direction
Element
Symbol / Constellation
Season
Force
East
Wood
Azure Dragon
Spring
Yang
South
Fire
Vermilion Bird
Summer
Yang
West
Metal
White Tiger
Autumn
Yin
North
Water
Black Tortoise
Winter
Yin
Center
Earth
none
none
Neutral
THE DAO TE CHING, CHAPTER 39
• The things which from of old have got the One (the Tâo) are-Heaven which by it is bright and pure;
Earth rendered thereby firm and sure;
Spirits with powers by it supplied;
Valleys kept full throughout their void
All creatures which through it do live
Princes and kings who from it get
The model which to all they give.
All these are the results of the One (Tâo).
If heaven were not thus pure, it soon would rend;
If earth were not thus sure, 'twould break and bend;
Without these powers, the spirits soon would fail;
If not so filled, the drought would parch each vale;
Without that life, creatures would pass away;
Princes and kings, without that moral sway,
However grand and high, would all decay.
SACRED SITES OF DAOISM
Legend
(1) Home of Lao Tze
(2) Tao Te Ching revealed at Mt. Chung-nan Shan
(3) Founding of the Celestial Masters
(4) Mao shan
(5) Dragon and Tiger Mountain
(6) Taoist pilgrimage site
IN THE BEGINNING… GOD TOLD NOAH AND ABRAHAM
THEMES:
LOCATION AND MOVEMENT –
FROM MT. ARARAT TO THE
JOURNEY FROM SUMER TO THE
PROMISE LAND
GENESIS 1: AND GOD CREATED ….
“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was
a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind
swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the
darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus
evening came, and morning followed--the first day. Then God said, "Let there
be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the
other." And so it happened: God made the dome, and it separated the water
above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome "the sky."
Evening came, and morning followed--the second day. Then God said, "Let the
water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may
appear." And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its
basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land "the earth," and the
basin of the water he called "the sea." God saw how good it was. Then God said,
"Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and
every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it." And so it
happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every
kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it
was. Evening came, and morning followed--the third day. Then God said, "Let
the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds
fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great
sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems,
and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them,
saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds
multiply on the earth." Evening came, and morning followed--the fifth day. Then
God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping
things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened: God made all kinds of
wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God
saw how good it was.”
“FROM THE WADI AL ARISH TO THE EUPHRATES”
• Genesis 15:18
“It was on that occasion that the LORD made a
covenant
with
Abram,
saying:
"To
your
descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of
Egypt to the Great River (the Euphrates), the land of
the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the
Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites,
the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the
Jebusites.”
• Deuteronomy 1: 6-8
"The LORD, our God, said to us at Horeb, 'You have
stayed long enough at this mountain. Leave here
and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all
the surrounding regions, the land of the Canaanites
in the Arabah, the mountains, the foothills, the
Negeb and the seacoast; to Lebanon, and as far as
the Great River (the Euphrates). I have given that
land over to you. Go now and occupy the land I
swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I
would give to them and to their descendants.”
THE GEOGRAPHY OF JUDAISM
• Theme: Absolute Location
MOVEMENT: JEWS AND THE DIASPORA
ZOROASTRIANISM
• Theme: Human Environment Interaction
THE ZEND AVESTA SPEAKS
• We sacrifice unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. When the light of the
sun waxes warmer, when the brightness of the sun waxes warmer, then stand
up the heavenly Yazatas, by hundreds and thousands, they gather together
its Glory, they make its Glory, they make its Glory pass down, they pour its
Glory unto the earth made by Ahura, for the increase of the world of
holiness, for the increase of the creatures of holiness, for the increase of the
undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. And when the sun rises up, then the earth,
made by Ahura, becomes clean, the running waters become clean, the
waters of the wells become clean, the waters of the sea become clean, the
standing waters become clean; and the holy creatures, the creatures of the
Good Spirit, become clean. Should not the sun rise up, then the Daevas
would destroy all the things that are in the seven Karshvares, nor would the
heavenly Yazatas find any way of withstanding or repelling them in the
material world. He rejoices all the heavenly and worldly Yazatas, who offers
up a sacrifice unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun, 1 will sacrifice unto
Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten thousand
eyes. I will sacrifice unto the club of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, well
struck down upon the skulls of the Daevas.
HINDUS AND NATURE
HINDU HYMN TO EARTH
Atharva Veda, one of the four Aryan (Hindu Vedas),
Hymn to Earth, an oral tradition written down c. 900 BCE
Earth, in which lie the sea, the rivers and other waters, in which food
and grain fields have come to be, in which lives all that breathes
and that moves, May she confer on us the finest of her yield.
Earth, in which the waters, common to all, moving on all sides, flow
unfailingly, day and night, may she pour on us milk in many
streams, and endow us with luster.
May those born of thee, O Earth, be for our welfare, free from
sickness and waster. Wakeful through a long life, we shall become
bearers of tribute to thee. Earth my mother, set me securely with
bliss in full accord with heaven. O wise one, uphold me in grade
and splendor.
SACRED SITES OF HINDUISM
Theme: Human-Environment Interaction
TAGORE ON NATURE
• “When the first Aryan invaders appeared in India it was a vast land
of forests, and the new-comers rapidly took advantage of them.
These forests afforded them shelter from the fierce heat of the sun
and the ravages of tropical storms, pastures for cattle, fuel for
sacrificial fire, and materials for building cottages. And the different
Aryan clans with their patriarchal heads settled in the different forest
tracts which had some special advantage of natural protection, and
food and water in plenty. Thus in India it was in the forests that our
civilization had its birth, and it took a distinct character from this
origin and environment. It was surrounded by the vast life of nature,
was fed and clothed by her, and had the closest and most constant
intercourse with her varying aspects. But even in the heyday of its
material prosperity the heart of India ever looked back with
adoration upon the early ideal of strenuous self-realization, and the
dignity of the simple life of the forest hermitage, and drew its best
inspiration from the wisdom stored there.”
WORLD DISPERSION OF HINDUISM
CONFUCIUS AND MENCIUS SAY:
"The greenery on Niu Mountain was once beautiful, but since it was near a
large city, it was attacked by lumberjacks. How could it retain its beauty?
Still, by breathing in the sunlight and rain, how could new buds and sprouts
not appear? But then cattle and sheep came and fed themselves, and by
the time they were done, it was completely barren. If people saw this
barrenness, they might have imagined that there had never been any
greenery. How could the mountain be inherently like this? In the case of
people, how could they lack the mind of Humanity and Righteousness? But
the daily damaging of the goodness of their mind is just like the lumberjacks
on the mountain. Being chopped down day after day, how can it manifest its
natural beauty? One may breathe in fresh air day and night, but if you allow
the enjoyment of evil doings with people to close in on you, the air gets thin,
and your daytime activities stifle you. Because of this stifling, the fresh air is
insufficient. Being insufficient, your goodness of mind is not nourished, and
there will be little difference between you and the animals. People see our
animalistic nature and assume that we have never had great endowments.
How could this be our real nature? Therefore, if it is properly nourished, there
is nothing that will not grow. If it is not nourished, there is nothing that will not
die. Confucius said: 'Use it and you will keep it; ignore it and you will lose it. “
SACRED SITES OF CONFUCIANISM
(1) Ch'u-fu (Qufu)--Confucius's=
birthplace, a pilgrimage site;
(2) Beijing – site of the Temple of
Heaven, location of Imperial
ceremonies performed on
behalf of the nation;
(3) Beijing – location of T'ien-an
Men Square
(4) Mt. T'ai and Mt. Wu-T'ai—holy
mountains valued by all three
major religions of China; sites
where officials offered prayers
on behalf of the people;
(5) Korea
(6) Japan
BEIJING: THE FORBIDDEN CITY
THEME: LOCATION
THE CONFUCIAN
CITY AS A MODEL
OF THE UNIVERISE
JAINS AND SIKHS IN INDIA
MAHAVIRA TEACHS
The Jains say “Earth is afflicted and wretched, it is hard
to teach, it has no discrimination. Unenlightened men,
who suffer from the effects of past deeds, cause great
pain in a world full of pain already, for in earth souls are
individually embodied. If, thinking to gain praise,
honour, or respect ... or to achieve a good rebirth . . . or
to win salvation, or to escape pain, a man sins against
earth or causes or permits others to do so. . . . he will not
gain joy or wisdom. . . . Injury to the earth is like striking,
cutting, maiming, or killing a blind man . . . Knowing this
man should not sin against earth or cause or permit
others to do so. He who understands the nature of sin
against earth is called a true sage who understands
karma. . .”
THE SIKHS’ HOLY SHRINE
EARLY CENTERS OF BUDDHISM
SPREAD OF BUDDHISM
BUDDHIST PILGRIMMAGE
ANGKOR WAT AND ANGKOR THOM
THE DAR AL ISLAM: THE MUSLIM REGION
THE QURAN…
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Sura 73: Leave those to Me who deny,—the lovers of ease and comfort;—and bear
with them for a while. Verily We shall have fetters with Us, and a roaring furnace,
and food that will stick in the throat, and painful torment on the day the earth and
mountains will rock violently, and the mountains turn to a heap of poured-out
sand.
Sura 9: God has provision for them of gardens with streams of running water, where
they will abide for ever. There will be the supreme triumph.
Sura 22: God will surely admit those who believe and do the right to gardens with
rivers running by, where they will be decked in bracelets of gold and of pearls;
and of silk will be their garments. They will be guided with gentle words, and
guided to the commended path.
Sura 13: For those who fail to obey, the reckoning will be hard, and hell will be their
abode: How wretched is its wide expanse! Who persevere in seeking the way of
their Lord...who repel evil with good: For them is the recompense of paradise:
perpetual gardens.
Sura 24: As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert
which the thirsty takes for water till he reaches it to find that there was nothing, and
finds God with him who settles his account, for God is swift at the reckoning.
Sura 56: 'Indeed, the earlier and the later generations will be gathered together on
a certain day which is predetermined. Then you, the erring and the deniers, will eat
of the tree of Zaqqum, fill your bellies with it, and drink over it boiling water.
Lapping it up like female camels raging of thirst with disease.'
… AND THE DESERT.
SACRED SITES OF ISLAM
1.
Mecca
Pilgrimage to Mecca, specifically the
Kaaba, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Mecca
is
the
location
where
Muhammad received the revelation of
the Quran and preached his first
sermons.
2. Medina
Ziyara means a visit to a Muslim holy
place or tomb, but it refers specifically
to the pilgrimage to Muhammad's tomb
in Medina. Muhammad fled to Medina
when Mecca became dangerous. Site
of the first Muslim community
3. Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock (also known as
the Mosque of Umar) in Jerusalem is the
building that covers the rock from which
Muhammad is believed to have
descended to heaven on this famous
Night Journey. The rock is believed to
bear the footprint of Muhammad.
4. Karbala - the place where Muhammad's
son-in-law, Ali, was killed. this tragedy
marks an important point in the
development of Shiite Islam and
therefore is commemorated by a
pilgrimage to Karbala. There are other
Shia pilgrimage sites in Iraq and Iran.
MOVEMENT: THE SPREAD OF ISLAM
MOVEMENT: CONQUEST AND EMPIRE
MOVEMENT: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA, ET. AL.
ISLAM
THEME: MOVEMENT
OR THE
PILGRIMMAGE TO
MECCA
THE BIBLE SAYS…
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Matthew 13: Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said,
"Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. Some seeds were planted along the road, and
birds came and devoured them. Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where
there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep. But
when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots
weren't deep enough. Other seeds were planted among thorn bushes, and the
thorn bushes grew up and choked them. But other seeds were planted on good
ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as
much as was planted. Let the person who has ears listen!"
Romans 8: For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the
revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly,
but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will
be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children
of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs
together until now.
Revelation 11: We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who
was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the [nations],
that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets
and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy
those who destroy the earth.
MOVEMENT: CHRISTIANITY
SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
CHRISTIAN PILGRIMMAGE
CENTERS OF CHRISTIANITY
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
PROTESTANT GROUPS
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, LATTER DAY SAINTS
ATHEISM MAPPED