Reference no: EM131489393

Assignment

I need a 7-10 page (not including citations, sources) term paper world Geography.

Topic: Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions?

- Ethnic religions typically have unknown or unclear origins, whereas universalizing religions have well documented places of origin based on events in the life of a man.

-Universalizing religions typically diffuse widely from their place of origin, whereas ethnic religions typically do not.

Text Book: The Cultural Landscape 11th Edition By: James Rubenstein

Term Paper Outline

This paper will focus on research outline on the topic "What makes ethnic religions differ from universal religions?" Ethnic Religion typically comprises of beliefs, rituals, and superstitions performed from generation to generation inside a definite culture and ethnicity (Chuah et al., 2014). This type of religion trails one ethnicity since the said religion does not lean towardsconverting. On the other hand, the universal religion looks for new members to welcoming each and every one. Universal refer to the act of applying to all, which is more information. Universal religions are characterized by many members who are often of diverse ethnic backgrounds (very diverse) hence the word universal (Yogananda, 2016).The topic is a religion based one with the emphasis on the ethnic and universal religions. The research outline will be aiming to establish and highlight the fundamental elements of both the ethnic and universal religion that causes the difference between the two religions.

Research Questions

The research question for this topic will include the following

o Does the geographical location play a role in the number of ethnic and universal religion respectively?

o In the history of religion, how did individuals chose to have ethnic religions while others embrace the universal religions?

o Regarding the specific religions, what are the composition of major ethnic religions as well as universal religions in the world?

o How were these religions chosen in the first place?

o Who are the individuals who subscribe to 1) Ethnic religions and 2) Universal religions?

The Thesis of this Research

Based on the above research questions, the research will aim to bring out the definite contrast between the ethnic and the universal religions.
The research will be aiming to find out the core reasons behind the selection of this two diverse composition of religions according to the manner at which they were being chosen in various global geographical locations.

By the numerous religions that exist in the word, the research paper will just sample five major ethnic religions in the world as well as five other ones for the universal type and analyze them according to their respective global location.

The notion of the geographical location playing a role in influencing the composition of religions across the world will be evaluated in detail with the help of the representation on a global map.

The research paper will also be aiming at going further into the roots to establish the individuals who subscribe to these particular religions (ethnic and universal religions).

The Main Points of the Paper

The paper will be contrasting the two forms of religions (ethnic and universal), and therefore the main points will be based on what makes the two religions differ. Some of the points that will be included in the paper comprise of the following:

o The major point will be describing the five major examples of ethnic religions and five others for universal religions. These include the following religions;

Ethnic Religions             vs.           Universal Religions
Hinduism                                          Christianity
Shintoism                                         Islam
Judaism                                            Buddhism
Confucianism                                     Baha'i
Daoism                                             Sikhism (Baumann, 1999)

o The paper will describe the major characteristics of both ethnic and universal religions. These characteristics and elements will be distinctive of the forms of religions.

One characteristic is the mode of acceptance and conversion of followers whereby it is very difficult for one to convert from universal to ethnic like for instance converting from Christianity to Hinduism because of the customs.

However, it is very easy for one to convert from ethnic to universal religion since they accept anyone regardless of they are for the purpose of multiplying their numbers.

o Examination of the geographical distribution of these religions represented by a global map.

Geographical Concepts/Theories about Ethnic and Universal Religions

Geography hardly occurs in books on matters religion, and similarly, religion hardly occurs in geographical books. American college texts are among the notable exception that displays a sweeping outlook of the world geography wherethere is frequently anepisode on the worldwidedispersal of some of the keybeliefs and religions. This particular chapter has as well included belief systems as well as world patterns of language, in which the basis of expression iswell-thought-out together as elementary indicators of the human diversity.However, it is highly believed by manyresearchers that the word (geography of religion) was initiallyexplored by Gottlieb Kasche in 1795, in a book known as Ideas about Religious Geographywhich was printed and published in German (Park, 2004). Over the 18thand 19th centuries, the study of historical biblical time in geographical perspective was put into concentration.

In the midst of other things, these geographers were fascinated in findingnames and places in the Bible as well asforming their locations. As a result, the interest in natural theology increased with the aim of seeking signs ofGod's creation in nature.The First Muslim geographerstouredextensively and labeled the known location from an explicitly Islamic viewpoint (Park, 2004).The is just but a few of the geographical undertaking that was done by various scholars in a bid to discover more about religion. It is through such scholars and missionaries that spread the universal religion around the world particularly. Therefore, in conclusion, the various significant points that would be utilized in this particular research has been pointed out and will be expounded eve further during the actual research. The two distinct form of religions will, therefore,be evaluatedregarding their differences as per the research questions.

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