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 world’s Christian population belonging to each of
Christianity’s 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.
Half of the world’s Muslims live in the Middle East. The other half live in 4
countries outside the Middle East. Name them.
9.
Give the percentage of each of Islam’s 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 Buddhism’s 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
Micronesia
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 world’s Christian population belonging to each of
Christianity’s 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 Latter-Day
Saints
Region of Predominance
N.E. Africa
N.E. Africa
Lebanon, Armenia, northeastern
Turkey & western Azerbaijan
Lebanon
Utah & surrounding states
8. Half of the world’s 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 Islam’s 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 Each God conveys his
Branch
grace to humanity
via 7 sacraments
Orthodox
Accepts 7
sacraments but
rejects Pope &
doctrines
Protestantism
Salvation achieved
thru direct
communication
with God & faith
Islam
6th Century
Muhammad
Sunni
Quran
Shiite
Quran
**Disagreement
over line of
succession of
Islamic leadership
is major difference
Regarding Hinduism
2. How was its origin different than universalizing religions?
Didn’t 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
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
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 & non-believers; 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?
It’s 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.
Buddhist
Islamic
Hindu
Holy Sites
Important because they’re located where 8 particular
events happened in Buddha’s life; Most located in
northeastern India & southern Nepal; Lumbini is most
important (Buddha’s birthplace)
Makkah (Mecca) birth place of Muhammad; Ka’ba 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)
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 founder’s
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 Buddhism’s 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?
It’s 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 Buddha’s relics (portions of Buddha’s 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
Micronesia
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
Currently…Confiscated property by
Communist gov’t reverting back to
church ownership & church
attendance has increased
Historic Muslim Regions
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, …Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Currently…Most people are 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
- Some Palestinians (Fatah Party) are
willing to recognize Israel’s Jewish
majority in exchange for territory
taken in 1967
- Hamas Party doesn’t recognize
Israel’s right to exist
- No intention of giving up claim to
Jerusalem
Israeli Perspective
- Sees themselves as a small country
with Jewish majority surrounded by
hostile Muslims
- Israel maintains military control
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