Cultural Geography - Religions of the World
Assisted Notes
Religion (The Basics)
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Religion is a belief in a _____________________________________ power or powers that are regarded as
the ________________________________ and ________________________________of the universe.
Types of Religions
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religions believe in ____________ god.
______________________________________religions believe in __________________ gods.
_________________________________religions often believe that different aspects of
_________________________ have divine powers.
Southwest Asia
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The three religions that began in Southwest Asia are:
o ___________________________________________ (2000 BCE)
o ___________________________________________ (26-36 CE)
o ___________________________________________ (610 CE)
Judaism
o Some of the major beliefs of Judaism are:
 Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and all knowing.
 This god made a special covenant or agreement with ____________________________,
who is the ‘_________________________’ of the Jewish people.
 God revealed his laws to his people through _______________________ and the ten
__________________________________________.
Christianity
o Christianity was heavily ________________________________ by _______________________.
Some of the major beliefs of Christianity are:
 Monotheism - There is one god who is all powerful and all knowing.
 ____________________________________________ died for the sins of humankind.
 Salvation comes from _________________________ in God.
o Christians believe the Old and New Testaments of the _________________________ are holy
books. The first four books of the New Testament were written by
_____________________________________ of Jesus.
o Some branches of Christianity are:
 ________________________________ ___________________________________,
____________________________________________, and
___________________________ _____________________________________.
Islam
o Islam is a monotheistic religion that developed in ________________________
_____________________________________ in the early __________________. Islam is directly
_________________________________ to Judaism and Christianity.
o Islam was founded by the Prophet ________________________________________ who lived from
570 to 632 in Saudi Arabia.
o The five pillars or central teachings of Islam are:
 A statement of faith
 Prayer (________________________times a _____________ in the direction of
_______________________________)
 Charity
 _____________________________________ to Mecca at least once in your
______________________________ (called the _________________________)
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 ____________________________ (during the month of _________________________)
o The teachings of Muhammed were collected into a book called the _______________________.
o Muslims worship in buildings called _______________________________.
Hinduism
o Hinduism is one of the ___________________________religions in the world. It is a
____________________________________ religion that originated in South Asia, present day
__________________________, around 2500 B.C.E.
o ___________________________________ is the spirit or soul of a person, which most Hindus
believe, is _________________________________.
o ______________________________________ refers to a supreme spirit but it can also mean an
infinite and unchanging reality.
o Hindus believe that the goal of life is to realize that your atman is the same as Brahman and
thereby reach _________________________, or _____________________________.
o Hindus believe in ______________________________________ and
________________________________. A person dies, then lives again, until they finally reach
moksha.
o Hindus have several holy books called Vedas, Upanishads, and the epics the Mahabharata and
Ramayana.
Hinduism and the Caste System
o The caste system is a system of social organization in India. When a person is born they are born
into one of _______________________ __________________________ or as a Dalit. This system
has led to discrimination and has been ___________________________________ in India. Hindus
still debate whether the caste system is part of Hinduism or an outdated social custom.
o The castes are:
 Brahmins: Teachers and ________________________________.
 Kshatriyas: _____________________________, nobles, and _____________________.
 Vaishyas: ___________________________, merchants, and businessmen.
 Shudras: ___________________________ and laborers.
o OUTCASTES
 People who were considered below the four castes were considered
__________________________________, or _______________________________.
Buddhism
o Buddhism is ___________________________ to __________________________________ and
shares many of the same basic beliefs. The relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism is similar
to the relationship between ________________________________________ and
_________________________________________.
o Buddhism was founded by a man named _____________________________________ who was
born around 500 - 400 B.C. in Nepal.
ANIMISM
o Animism is the belief that non-humans (_____________________________, plants and inanimate
objects such as the ___________ or a river or a mountain or even things like thunder and lightning)
possess a spiritual essence
o It is usually practiced by ___________________________________ tribal people
o Animism is found in the remote areas of the _____________________________ jungle, in
_________________________________ Africa, in the sub-polar regions of the Northern
Hemisphere and in the ___________________________ of Australia