Religion and Politics in the World
• What is Religion?
1.
Religion = system of beliefs that seek to understand our origins, human existence
2.
Religions usually have some form of deity or deities.
3.
There are two basic forms of religion—Monotheism and
Polytheism.
4.
Monotheism- The belief in only one god.
5.
Polytheism- The belief in many gods.
Why study religion?

Religion and Politics in the World
• Why study religion in the world?
▫ Influences everyday life & decisions
▫ Influences politics
▫ Globalization  interaction of cultures

Religion and Politics in the World
• Fundamentalism in the Modern
World
1.
Fundamentalism = return to traditional beliefs
1.
Literal interpretation of beliefs
2.
Against modernization of religion
2.
The end of the Twentieth
Century witnessed a resurgence of religious fundamentalism in the world.
3.
This means that different religious groups are pushing traditional values onto world politics.
4.
The danger is in the fact that there is a great diversity of religions in the world.
5.
Clash of religious fundamentalism has led to violence.

Religion and Politics in the World
• The Polytheisms of the World
1.
There are many polytheistic religions in the world.
2.
There are hundreds of religions which are known as animistic.
3.
Animism- the belief that animals, plants, and other natural objects posses souls which can interact with humans.

Religion and Politics in the World:
World Polytheisms
• Most modern Animistic
Religions are found in Sub-
Saharan Africa.

Religion and Politics: Part II- World
Polytheisms
• Animism and Tribal Structure 1.
In tribal animism, religious beliefs are very important to government.
2.
In most tribes, it is believed that the spirits of nature and those of ancestors can interact with the existing world.
3.
Therefore, using religion in tribal politics is very common.

Religion and Politics: Hinduism
• Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
• Caste system, karma, reincarnation
• Moksha
1.
In the past, Hinduism has effected the governments of
India and who can serve where.
2.
No where was this clearer than in the caste system.
3.
However, India has had a democracy for the last 65 years, and the caste system no longer bans participation in government.

Religion and Politics: Buddhism
• Buddhism 1.
Buddhism is difficult to describe as either monotheistic or polytheistic.
2.
It began as a philosophy of life not an actual religion.
3.
However, over the centuries it has evolved into the largest religion of Eastern Asia.
4.
There is approximately 350 million Buddhists in the world.

Religion and Politics in the World:
Buddhism

Religion and Politics in the World
• Buddhism and Politics 1.
In modern times, Buddhism has not controlled national governments.
2.
However, Buddhism has played key roles in movements towards social justice and equality— especially in east Asia.

Religion and Politics in the World
• Monotheisms of the World
1.
The three great monotheisms of the world include: Judaism, Islam, and
Christianity.
2.
All three of these religions originated in the area we know today as Palestine.
3.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and
Islam is the fastest growing religion.
4.
The two make-up over onethird of the world’s population.

Religion and Politics in the World:
World Monotheism

Religion and Politics in the World:
World Monotheisms
• Judaism 1.
Judaism is the world’s oldest surviving monotheism.
2.
It originated in Eastern
Mediterranean around
2,000 B.C.E.
3.
Jews claim that their first prophet was Abraham.
4.
The traditional home of the
Hebrews was Palestine .
5.
However, beginning in 73
C.E. the Romans forced the
Jewish Diaspora.

Covenant – mutual agreement between the
Hebrew people and God

Hebrews enslaved in Egypt
Moses – led Hebrews out of slavery

10 Commandments – God’s laws for Hebrew people

Exodus – time wandering Sinai peninsula between leaving Egypt and locating the
“promised land” - Palestine

Torah = book of religious teachings, origins

Beliefs of Judaism
Sabbath (holy day) is Saturdays
• Teachers & religious leaders are
Rabbis
• Religious meeting place is a synagogue or temple
• A Yamulke is a head covering worn out of respect for God

Talmud
Tallit
Prayer Shawl
Rabbi

Kingdom of Israel
• Saul, David, Solomon
• Holy (capital) city = Jerusalem
• Solomon’s temple

The temple was built to glorify God and house the Ark of the covenant.

• Kingdom of Israel divides
• Conquered by Chaldeans – temple destroyed
• Conquered by Persians – temple rebuilt
• Under Roman rule, temple destroyed again

The surviving wall of the Jewish temple in
Jerusalem

Religion and Politics in the World
• The Diaspora
1.
The movement of Jews throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia led to further persecutions.
2.
The culmination of these persecutions occurred in the 20 th Century—The
Holocaust.
3.
Due to these persecutions many Jews sought to return to Palestine after nearly
2,000 years of expulsion.
(Zionism)

Religion and Politics in the World:
World Monotheisms
• The Development of
Christianity
1.
Christianity has its foundations in Judaism.
2.
Shortly before the Diaspora,
Christianity arose as a new branch of the old Jewish tradition. (the belief in a
Messiah)
3.
Initially, Christians faced persecution from the Roman
Empire.
4.
However, in the 4 th century
C.E. Emperor Constantine made the practice accepted .

Jesus of Nazareth

Beliefs of Christianity
• One God
▫ Holy Trinity (three in one)
• Salvation
Sabbath
(holy day)
= Sunday

Beliefs of Christianity
• Divisions
▫ Roman Catholic Church
▫ Eastern Orthodox Church
▫ Protestant churches
• Leaders & teachers
▫ Pope, bishops, cardinals
(Cath.)
▫ Priests
▫ Reverends
▫ Pastors
• Holidays
▫ Christmas
▫ Easter
• Rituals – sacraments
(baptism, communion, etc.)

Religion and Politics in the World
Spread of
Christianity through 600 C.E.

Religion and Politics in the World:
World Monotheisms
• Christianity in the Middle East
A Coptic
Christian-
Traditional
Christianity in Egypt
1.
Although Christianity became the religion of the
Romans and later Europe, there are significant numbers of Christians in
Asia and Africa.
2.
They, like the Jews, view
Palestine as the holy land.
(Crusades)
3.
Christians in the Middle
East: Protestants, Roman
Catholics, Copts, Greek
Orthodox.

Religions and Politics in the World:
World Monotheism
• Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe
Palestine to be holy and Jerusalem to be its most important city.
View of modern
Jerusalem

• Mostly desert
• Few oases of fertile land for agriculture
• Crossroads of three continents: Africa, Europe, Asia

Bedouins  Arab nomads
Tribes & groups called clans
Provided security & support
Ideals of courage & loyalty to family
600s – Arabs settled near oases or markets

Muhammad – Meccan businessman
Received revelation from angel Gabriel outside the Cave of Hira in 610
Proclaim! In the name of they Lord and Cherisher, who created man out of a mere) clot of congealed blood.
Proclaim! And thy Lord is most bountiful. He who taught (the use of) the pen taught man that which he knew not.
He was one of the prophets

Important trade city
Ka’aba  ancient shrine (Black Rock)
Brought religious pilgrims for worship
Associated w/Abraham
Contained over 360 idols, worship of many gods

Arabic term for God = Allah
Islam = “submission to the will of Allah”
Muslim = “one who has submitted”

HAGAR
Ishmael
ABRAHAM
Isaac
SARAH
12 Arabian
Tribes
Jacob Esau
12 Tribes of
Israel

Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad

• 622 - migrated from Mecca to Yathrib – known as the Hijrah
• Yathrib was renamed Medina
• It is from this year that the Muslim calendar begins
(1 A.H.)
• Attracted many followers in Medina

• Muhammad became military leader – conquered
Mecca
• Umma = Muslim religious community
• Muhammad died at age 62 w/no plans for his succession
The golden gate outside
Muhammad’s tomb
Swords belonging to Prophet
Muhammad

The World of Islam
1 2 3 4 5

1) Shahada – “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
2) Salat – Pray 5x’s a day facing
Mecca

3) Zakat – almsgiving to the poor & sick
4) Sawm – fasting during Ramadan
Festival of Eid-Al-Fitr – celebration at end of Ramadan

5) Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca

The Muslim place of worship.

Muslims believe it contains the word of God.
114 suras (chapters)
In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful.
Written in Arabic.

• Sunna – Muhammad’s example as model for proper living
• Shari’a = Islamic body of law
• No priests – only authority is Allah
• Purpose of serving the community
• No pork, alcohol
• Ramadan
• sheikh (Sunni), imam (Shi'ite)

Easy to learn and practice
No priesthood
Teaches equality
Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes
Easily “portable”  nomads & trade routes
Jihad - inner struggle against evil
Term has been used differently over time (different interpretations, understandings).

1. Indonesia
2. Pakistan
3. India
4. Bangladesh
5. Turkey
183,000,000
134,000,000
121,000,000
114,000,000
66,000,000
6. Iran
7. Egypt
8. Nigeria
9. Algeria
10. Morocco
62,000,000
59,000,000
53,000,000
31,000,000
29,000,000
* Arabs make up only 20% of the total
Muslim population of the world.

• Disagreement over Muhammad’s successors
Sunni Shi’a
Believe that first four caliphs were “Rightly Guided”
Muslim rulers should follow the Sunna
Claim that the Shi’a distorted the meaning of passages in the
Qur’an
Believe that Ali should have succeeded Muhammad
All Muslim rulers should be descended from Muhammad; don’t recognize the Sunna
Claim that the Sunni have distorted the meaning of passages in the Qur’an
Majority of Muslims Minority of Muslims