AP Human Geography: Culture Seminar

12. What is religion and what role does it play in our culture?

Religion is a set of beliefs and things you do based on what way is best for you to live your life in my definition. Robert studdard and Carolyn in the book define it as “a set of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities. Religion plays a huge role in culture. I t is one of the basis for culture along with language. You can see it in cultural landscapes with religious buildings, statues, and other symbol like crosses and churches. Religion has guide lines for how your culture is run how you perceive things and how you live your life. If it says that if you’re good you’ll receive this than you’ll see many people of that religion trying to be good.

13. Where did the three major religions of the world originate, and how do religions diffuse.

Well first before any monotheistic religion which mean one god came around there where polytheistic this meant more than one god and animistic which is the worships of inanimate objects. The major religions of today came from eastern Mediterranean for Judaism which was where Christianity and the Middle East where Islam later came from. The Indus river valley for Hinduism and hang he river valley for Chinese philosophies. But there are many different ways these religions have diffused some through war and conquering with Islam and missionaries and spreading the word with others. Then still there was Diaspora like for Judaism and of course just being born into a religion and changing beliefs.

14. How is religion seen in the cultural landscape?

Religion can be seen all over the cultural landscape. It can be seen from the house of worship like churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. To the every day building and cemetery that are full of religious symbols. Also many religions have pilgrimages to scared places. For Christians there’s the Vatican, Jews there’s the Wailing Wall, and Muslim the dome of the rock. Many other religions have scared sites and all over you can see evidence in signs symbols and people and every where of that religion. There are also monuments and other things representing religion in certain areas.

15. What role does religion play in political conflicts?

Religion goes back in political conflicts as far as ever recorded. The holy wars, crusades, violence in the Middle East all are type of religion playing in on political conflicts. There are two main types of religious boundaries that go along with conflict theirs interfaith boundaries which are boundaries of two different faiths while intrafaith boundaries are in the same faith just there divisions like Protestants and Catholics. There have been many religious conflicts and religion has been at the heart or season for them. Certain countries get in stay out or ignore for religious reasons all the time. America tries to support any country that is being treated unfairly but is really supports Israel so much because of the strong Jewish presence in America. The same is for many countries in the Middle East but in the opposite ways many times religion tries to stop and make conflicts better.