Disciplines
• Geography
• Geological Sciences
Geography and geology are interesting when
looked at through the lens of religion because
of the ways these two fields have been used
over time both to disprove religion and to
make religion manifest. They highlight the
role of physical and environmental circumstances
in developing religious beliefs and views
of the order of the world.
Geology and theology:
Today, geologists are accustomed to the
idea of changes in the Earth over time,
but the idea of the Earth with a long history
of development and activity is relatively
new. For centuries, those who observed geological
formations often assumed such changes -
in movement, shape or form - were part of
a natural order ruled by a supreme being.
Many believed the Earth was relatively young
in age and considered the creation account
in Genesis (in which God created the world
in six days) to be a factual historic record.
In the 1600s, scientists and Christian thinkers
began actively trying to understand Earth's
narrative and to develop theories about
it and how it meshed with biblical records
of creation. Many tried to find ways that
the two accounts would align by showing
that God set natural forces in motion, that
God intervened in otherwise "inexplicable"
events, or that geological events supported
the Genesis account. In the process they
developed new theological and scientific
ideas.
Multiple theories:
Geologists argued over whether there were
permanent and reliable laws of nature, whether
God intervened with inexplicable events,
whether science supported an active God,
whether God was inactive but set principles
in motion, whether there was divine purpose,
and whether there could be both God and
inexplicable events. Some set days of creation
of the Earth at the Bible's six days, other
posed the idea the Earth could be at least
75,000 years old. Along the way, they developed
geological theories of the earth's history
of formation and epochs; mechanically caused
events accounting for present geological
manifestations; and fieldwork and fossil
analysis. Some came to new understanding
of a physical world that continued to change
based on geological principles. The new
theories rocked a culture based on the inerrant
record of a faith based on God's active
role in history. The creationist perspective
on geological phenomenon ascribes development
of geological features such as fossils,
fossil fuels, sedimentary layers and undersea
canyons to the great flood described in
the Bible and its aftermath. Mounting evidence
for different ages of sedimentary rocks
and fossils eventually convinced most geologists
that a single large-scale flood would not
explain the evidence. The evolution of these
theories showed how humans sought to understand
their place in relation to the physical
and spiritual worlds.
Common themes: Flood
stories from around the world are also symbolic
of the ways humans over time have blended
their religious beliefs and experience of
the physical world. Probably the most familiar
is the biblical story in Genesis of God's
decision to bring a flood to wipe out mankind's
corruption and violence. God told Noah,
deemed the only man on Earth worthy of saving,
to build an ark and load his wife, sons,
their wives, animals, food and seedlings
so mankind and earth could begin again.
According to the account, next came 40 days
of rain from "the floodgates of the
heavens," and waters from the "springs
of the great deep." Floodwaters covered
the earth for 40 to 150 days. The ark came
to rest upon the mountains of Ararat, eventually
the land dried, and Noah and his family
set forth to start anew. Very similar flood
myths are found in Sumerian, Babylonian,
Akkadian, Greek, Germanic, Irish, Inca,
Maya, American Indian, Chinese, Indian,
Indonesian and Polynesian cultures. Many
involve landing a vessel on a mountain.
Greek versions have the survivors landing
on Parnassus, Mouth Othrys, the peak of
Phouka (Nemea) or Mount Gerania. The Indian
version, told in early Hindu texts, tells
of Manu, who was warned by a fish (believed
to be the first incarnation of the god Vishnu)
that a deluge would occur and destroy all
life. Manu built a boat that, pulled by
the fish, landed on a mountaintop, allowing
him to re-establish life on earth.
Stories such as the flood
myths show religious faith based on belief
that a God or gods control physical activity
on earth. Symbolism is also attached to
the geographical object of a mountain.
Symbolism and meaning:
In China, Buddhists and Confucians regard
mountains as holy places, and they are a
favored place for temples, shrines and monasteries.
In Shinto, a prehistoric Japanese religious
tradition still practiced today, the holiest
structures are traditionally near natural
features such as waterfalls, forests, mountains
or caves. According to tradition, Muhammad,
the founder of Islam, received his first
revelation in a cave in the mountain of
Hira. In another tradition, he was asked
to give proof of his teaching and ordered
Mount Safa to come to him. When the mountain
did not come, Muhammad praised God's mercy,
for had he obeyed, the mountain would have
fallen on Muhammad and his followers. Muhammad
then announced he would go to the mountain
to thank God for his mercy. In Christian
scripture, mountains represent coming close
to God. After becoming lost in the desert,
the Israelites camped around Mount Sinai.
Moses went up the mountain to meet with
God and receive the commandments. The Gospel
of Matthew describes Jesus coming out of
the desert to go up a mountain and deliver
the Sermon on the Mount. One of the holiest
sites of the Greek Orthodox Church is Mount
Athos, which is covered in monasteries.
The idea of sacred space is important to
many religions, including pilgrimages to
holy sites and imbuing physical locations
or features with spiritual meaning. These
are a few examples of how shared landscapes
and stores create symbolic language that
connects people both to history and the
world around them. Religious beliefs are
used to both explain physical phenomenon
and to derive meaning from physical phenomenon.
Geography and religion:
Geography studies the Earth's features and
the distribution of life on the earth, including
human life and the effects of human activity.
Studying religion as a human activity adds
a deeper understanding of the relationship
among people and with the Earth. Researchers
can look at how religion develops, its importance
in shaping beliefs, behavior, culture and
politics, and how and where it spreads -
shaping the world in which we live. Many
religious movements are influenced by the
geography in which they developed, and they
in turn influence geography by their movement.
Religion can spread through forced or chosen
migration, colonization, evangelism, missionaries,
conversion, trade, and persecution. Whether
a faith is evangelistic or not affects how
far it spreads. Religious differences can
also effect changes in political balance
of power, national boundaries and national
identity.
Geography and population:
Mapping religious populations can give a
visual idea of concentrations of faiths
around the world and in the United States.
Statistics about where faiths are concentrated
and percentages living in a certain area
can help researchers, social services, schools
and the government, and religious organizations.
A snapshot of world religious affiliations
shows that about a third of people on the
planet categorize themselves as Christian,
concentrated in the Americas; Pacific-island
region of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea,
the Malay Archipelago; and Europe, with
smaller concentrations in Africa and Asia.
A majority of Muslims are found in Asia,
with most of the rest in Africa. Buddhism
and Hinduism are mainly concentrated in
Asia, while Judaism is dispersed around
the world. By continent, the Americas are
vastly Christian; Africa is about evenly
split between Christian and Muslim as dominant
religions; and Asia is home to large groups
of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.
In the United States, 40 percent of Jews
and 30 percent of Muslims are concentrated
in the mid-Atlantic states. The highest
percentage of Jewish, Muslim, Eastern religions
and new religious movements is found in
New York. Forty percent of adults in New
England self-identify as Catholic. Nearly
two-thirds of Baptists are found in the
south. The Midwest has above-average numbers
of mainline Christians, compared to the
rest of the country. These figures are important
when weighing the needs and desires of specific
populations.
Challenges today:
Collecting reliable statistics about religion
can be difficult. Some agencies are not
allowed to ask for religious information
and sources of information can be inconsistent
due to varying survey questions, participation
and data collection (see "Statistics"
section). However, as religious conflict,
human rights issues, poverty, religious
pluralism, and international travel and
commerce become increasingly global issues,
the importance of understanding religious
demographics becomes ever more critical.
Researchers may look at where religions
are strongest and why, how religious groups
and new religions spread geographically,
and what factors influence the movement.
They can also study how religion defines
a region, culturally and politically, and
what effect religion has on the physical
landscape.
American
Academy of Religion Syllabi Search
Geography
of Religion
Dr. Surinder M. Bhardwaj
Kent State University
Affiliation of Christian Geologists
American Scientific Affiliation: A Fellowship of Christians in Science
Association of Christian Engineers and Scientists: (503) 228-0779
Association of Muslim Social Scientists of North America
Association of Muslim Scientists & Engineers
Canadian Science and Christian Affiliation
International Muslim Association of Scientists & Engineers
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.
|
