Syncretic and Folk Religions
UNIT 3: CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Session
9
LEARNING TARGETS
• Identify the major religious
beliefs , practices and other
pertinent religious information
for the Syncretic Religions of:
• Sikhism
• Baha'i
• Zoroastrianism
• Identify the major religious
beliefs , practices and other
pertinent religious information
for Folk Religions:
SESSION 9
Syncretic and Folk Religions
• Founded: 16th century in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan
• Deity: Waheguru, Sat Nam, Akal Purakh or Oankar.
• Important Figures: Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Gobind
Singh (the last of the human gurus (10 in all)
• Symbols: Khanda (double edged sword) and the Ekankar
(symbol meaning God is the “one and only”)
• Scriptures: The Granth
• Originally compiled by Guru Arjan Dev (5th guru)
• Made up of various chants and hymns
• The book itself is considered as a divine guru and is worshipped itself
• During the day it is placed on an alter (either in a temple or at home) and is
laid to rest in a bed at night.
Sikhism: Basic Information
• Type of Religion: Universal/Monotheistic/Autonomous
Session
9
• Major Beliefs:
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Maintains the ideas of karma and reincarnation
Belief in one God and that God should not be represented by idols
Living a life of divine virtues will unite one with God and end reincarnation
God is a greater reality than words or concepts could encompass
Equality of all human beings (goes against the caste system)
• Other Traditions:
• Decoration of homes with pictures of the Gurus
• The 5 K’s (part of the khalsa…originally a military order of Sikhs)
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Kesh: Long uncut hair and beard (covered with a turban)
Kanga: Wooden comb worn in the hair
Kara: an iron bracelet
Kachara: shorts
Kirpan: a sword
• Burial Practice: Sikhs cremate the dead
Sikhism: Major Beliefs
• Sikhism is a syncretic religion that hoped to take the best
from both Hinduism and Islam
Session
9
• Division:
• Worship Practices
• Services are important for the Sikh community and fellowship
• Simple prayer service including chanting verses from the Granth with
musical accompaniment
• A leading member of the community presides behind the altar
• Service ends with everyone receiving candy made of nuts and honey
• A common meal for everyone follows the service
• Calendar/Holidays:
• Celebrations for each of the 10 gurus (birth/day of becoming a
guru/death)
• Celebration for the compilation of the Granth
• Celebration for the formation of the Khalsa
Sikhism: Practices
• No separate subdivisions
Session
9
Sikhism: Religious Buildings
Religious Buildings:
Temples called Gurdwara
Session
9
Sikhism: Sacred Site
Holiest Site/Sacred Space:
Golden Temple in Amritsar
Session
9
Syncretic Religions: Baha’i
Baha’i: Considered to be the most syncretic religion, it is a
combination of the beliefs of many of the world religions and
recognizes nine great manifestations of God, including Jesus,
Abraham & Muhammad…it is the most distributed religion after
Christianity in the world
Session
9
Ancient Religions: Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism (Parsiism): Is one of the oldest non-indigenous
religions still practiced in Iran and India that stresses the ongoing
struggle against good and evil. Some believe it was the influence
for the Abrahamic religions. Beliefs include not touching the dead or
any human waste and allowing vultures to eat dead bodies
Session
9
What type of religion is Sikhism? What are the major
beliefs? symbolism? religious buildings and sacred
space?, holidays, scriptures, worship practices, figures,
burial practices, and divisions
What are the basic tenets of the Baha’i religion? How is
it a syncretic religion?
What are the basic tenets of the Zoroastrianism religion?
What type of religion is it?
Check for Understanding: Student Discussion
• Founded: Pre-history
• Deity: various (spirits, ancestors, creator)
• Important Figures: N/A
• Symbols: various
• Scriptures:
• No specific scriptures as in world religions, most traditions, customs, prayers,
etc., are conveyed orally.
Traditional Religions
• Type of Religion: Ethnic/Polytheistic/Autonomous
Session
9
• Worship of various spirits (includes animals, trees, plants, rocks, rivers,
sun, moon, earth, etc.)
• Ancestor worship so that the living can have good fortune and avoid
curses and haunting
• Most traditional religions believe in some sort of Creator but not in
the form of global religions.
• Many cultures believe in some element of magic and those who use it
for good or evil…i.e. fortune telling (divination), witchcraft, shamans
• Other Traditions:
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Various rites of passage
Community orientation
Wearing of ceremonial and ornamental clothing
Various cultural taboos
Traditional: Major Beliefs
• Major Beliefs: (Varies by religion)
Session
• Burial Practice: various
9
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Animist
Ancestor Worship
Shamanist
Witchcraft (Voodoo, Juju)
• Worship Practices
• Uncountable number of worship practices amongst indigenous
religions…can include, dances, rituals, chants, incantations, etc.
Traditional: Practices
• Division: (do not exist within folk religions…these are forms
of folk religions)
• Calendar/Holidays: (various)
• Many holidays revolve around harvest time or astrological transitions
and solstices
Session
9
Traditional: Religious Buildings
Religious Building/Site: Various
Session
7
NEXT CLASS
SESSION 10
Religious Conflict