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Erin 13 · 11-13-2003, 08:23 PM

Hiya ppl
I am a student majoring in theology. I have to write a paper on religion and geography and I have a very very ruff draft. I noticed this place seems to be a hotbed of thought so, any opinions or thoughts on it would be greatly appretiated. I know it is long and very poorly writen thus far but thanks in advance : P

Many people of the world succumb to one religion or another. It is indeed a powerful force it has the power to shape geography and culture in many ways. The reverse is true also; geography and culture can also shape religion.

Geography and cultures affects on religions

Just like any story and myth, most religions are laced with ideas and values that come from the culture that made it up. Take for example the stories of the Grimm brothers. The two Brothers created many famous stories like Hanzel and Gretyl, Snow White, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood. All of their Fairy Tales are laced with culture. The same is true with most religions. Only one out of six great religions of the world possible escape this, and that would be Buddhism. This appears to be the only religion that is more based on finding answers from within not so much the following of fairy tales.

Religions affects on geography and culture

The effects that geography and culture have on religion although it appears to be pretty great, sense it plays a part in the creation of the religions. Those effects are nothing compared to when religion rears its ugly head and takes effects on geography and culture. Lets look at just two examples of this. First would be the constant religious wars in the Middle East. Now there are too many wars and battle to write about, in this small paper. So I will talk about them as a hole in general. The Second Example would be the Dark ages.
Religious wars in the Middle East
The Middle East has always been a territory to fight over for different religious reasons. Mainly these religious countries or tribes believed that there was an all-powerful being. The named would differ from believe system to another. Some times it was called Ala and sometimes this being was called god. Whether it was the crusades or Romans vs. the Jews. The wars are always fought in name of these so-called gods. Countless people have died for this cause, in gods name. Countless people were murdered for this cause. And even more, innocent, people have been murdered for these other people’s believes in that cause. The biggest tragedy behind all the religious wars fought in the Middle East, is that the people who fight them believe as though they’ve done no wrong. It was breed into these peoples culture that they need not take responsibility for their actions. They were able sit back and point the blame on a story book that told them there was an omnipotent being in the sky that forced them to do those actions, or that they were carrying out one of these beings wills. Of course were battles are waged, geography tends to change, both by the earth that was destroyed in battle and the borders that man put on it.

The Dark Ages
The second example we will look at is the dark ages. The Dark Ages refer to an extended period of time were human civilization remained stagnant, and no major advance’s were made for humanity’s knowledge. This period from tends to differ slightly from, book to book. However, generally, it is agreed that the dark ages encompass at least from 500 CE to 1500 CE. Now of course religion is not the factor that cast humanity into the dark ages, but it obviously played a major hand. Both in getting humanity and all its cultures into the dark ages and keeping all of them they’re for so long.
Leading up to the dark ages, in 323 CE, Constantine attacked and defeated Licinius, thus becoming the first Christian emperor of Rome. Shortly after Rome starts to run into many problems. It got so bad that Paulus Orosius, who worked closely with St. Augustine of Hippo, wrote Histrorium adversus paganos libra VII, in 410 CE. He wrote this book to counter the citizens concerns, that Rome’s’ troubles had multiplied since the Empire became Christian. Rome falls in 476 CE. Meanwhile during the slow decay of Rome, from Constatine’s hostile take over to the final year. Rome was forcing the Christianity all through out Northern Europe to the Southern Egypt. The stage is set for the dark ages.
Gildas, a monk who was eventually sainted, founded a Monastery in Brittany. His history, De excidio et conquestu Britaniae was written about 550 CE. It speaks about how the Saxons were punished and tortured, for being disobedience and faithless to the omnipotent being that he believed in. The Saxons later invaded Britain. This is just one example of the brutality that was carried out by a religious culture affecting another. Others include, use of brutal instrument used to “beat the Evil out”. Many Advances might have come about during the Dark ages, but fear of religious strong holds repercussions were too great.
An easy example would be Copernicus. In the later part of the Dark ages, one of the world’s great scientists, Copernicus, discovered that the universe did not revolve around earth. This of course went against a few religions believes, that their particular omnipotent being created all that is, around us. Copernicus did not publish his finding for many years for fear of the church. Finally in his late sixties he published his book. The church put him to death, setting an example to any other person who might challenge their myths and tales. This is a prime example how those religions affected culture, and kept humanity and its cultures in the dark ages.
In these religious myths and tales there was a system of superstitions. The superstitions go on to say that there was an after life and if you were a good obedient slave to which ever omnipotent being that particular religion made up, you would have a peaceful and happy after life. However if you were not an obedient slave to this omnipotent being, you would have a horrible after life that would last for eternity. These superstitions also made people fearful of any new knowledge that came out during the Dark ages. Again we can see how Religion affects culture and by oppressing knowledge and keeping humanity stagnant. Lastly, aside from the beliefs of religion that affect culture. There was still another physical side; the torture, disease and plagues that went along with monasteries and the flat out brutality that came with the inquisitions.
During the late Dark ages (1000- 1500) Monasteries housed the so-called “sick“, who did not believe in the religions myths and the mentally handicapped who, were believed to be posed by demons. Both of those groups were kept in the basements of the monasteries were they could “beat the evil out of them”. Because of crowding and poor sanitation in the monasteries, they became a perfect incubator for disease, famine, and plagues. Finally toward the very end of the Dark ages. The deterioration of Catholicism, which had supported monasteries, led to a widespread movement of suppression of them. England was the first to do this by far. Although they had different reasons then the rest of Europe, they destroyed over 600 monasteries. England was motivated when Henry the VIII wanted a divorce. The rest of Europe sometime later, just wanted to be ride of the diseases and plagues.
The inquisitions were another act carried out in the name different cultures omnipotent beings. The first inquisition was the Papal inquisition. Started in 1233 CE, it was known for it’s horrendous act of torture. Although this particular inquisition murdered many who did not happen to believe in it’s myths, tales and believe structure, it pales in comparison of the second inquisition. The Spanish inquisition was notoriously harsher then the already brutal Papal inquisition. The Spanish inquisition started toward the later part of the Dark Age, 1478 CE. The Spanish inquisition was so bad that it became known and feared through out all the cultures of Europe. Once again we can see how religion has the power to affect both cultures and geography.
The western religions of the worlds have so many other similar examples to choose from. One that must be mentioned is the missionary conquistadors that completely decimated most South American cultures such as the Inca. We have seen pretty thoroughly how religion affects culture and geography. Also changes in culture can also change religions, although not to often and the results are never cataclysmic like the reverse. It can be stated that they both can affect each other.

11-13-2003, 08:23 PM	#1
Erin 13 Welcomed New User Join Date: October 20, 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 45 Posts: 3	Hiya ppl I am a student majoring in theology. I have to write a paper on religion and geography and I have a very very ruff draft. I noticed this place seems to be a hotbed of thought so, any opinions or thoughts on it would be greatly appretiated. I know it is long and very poorly writen thus far but thanks in advance : P Many people of the world succumb to one religion or another. It is indeed a powerful force it has the power to shape geography and culture in many ways. The reverse is true also; geography and culture can also shape religion. Geography and cultures affects on religions Just like any story and myth, most religions are laced with ideas and values that come from the culture that made it up. Take for example the stories of the Grimm brothers. The two Brothers created many famous stories like Hanzel and Gretyl, Snow White, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood. All of their Fairy Tales are laced with culture. The same is true with most religions. Only one out of six great religions of the world possible escape this, and that would be Buddhism. This appears to be the only religion that is more based on finding answers from within not so much the following of fairy tales. Religions affects on geography and culture The effects that geography and culture have on religion although it appears to be pretty great, sense it plays a part in the creation of the religions. Those effects are nothing compared to when religion rears its ugly head and takes effects on geography and culture. Lets look at just two examples of this. First would be the constant religious wars in the Middle East. Now there are too many wars and battle to write about, in this small paper. So I will talk about them as a hole in general. The Second Example would be the Dark ages. Religious wars in the Middle East The Middle East has always been a territory to fight over for different religious reasons. Mainly these religious countries or tribes believed that there was an all-powerful being. The named would differ from believe system to another. Some times it was called Ala and sometimes this being was called god. Whether it was the crusades or Romans vs. the Jews. The wars are always fought in name of these so-called gods. Countless people have died for this cause, in gods name. Countless people were murdered for this cause. And even more, innocent, people have been murdered for these other people’s believes in that cause. The biggest tragedy behind all the religious wars fought in the Middle East, is that the people who fight them believe as though they’ve done no wrong. It was breed into these peoples culture that they need not take responsibility for their actions. They were able sit back and point the blame on a story book that told them there was an omnipotent being in the sky that forced them to do those actions, or that they were carrying out one of these beings wills. Of course were battles are waged, geography tends to change, both by the earth that was destroyed in battle and the borders that man put on it. The Dark Ages The second example we will look at is the dark ages. The Dark Ages refer to an extended period of time were human civilization remained stagnant, and no major advance’s were made for humanity’s knowledge. This period from tends to differ slightly from, book to book. However, generally, it is agreed that the dark ages encompass at least from 500 CE to 1500 CE. Now of course religion is not the factor that cast humanity into the dark ages, but it obviously played a major hand. Both in getting humanity and all its cultures into the dark ages and keeping all of them they’re for so long. Leading up to the dark ages, in 323 CE, Constantine attacked and defeated Licinius, thus becoming the first Christian emperor of Rome. Shortly after Rome starts to run into many problems. It got so bad that Paulus Orosius, who worked closely with St. Augustine of Hippo, wrote Histrorium adversus paganos libra VII, in 410 CE. He wrote this book to counter the citizens concerns, that Rome’s’ troubles had multiplied since the Empire became Christian. Rome falls in 476 CE. Meanwhile during the slow decay of Rome, from Constatine’s hostile take over to the final year. Rome was forcing the Christianity all through out Northern Europe to the Southern Egypt. The stage is set for the dark ages. Gildas, a monk who was eventually sainted, founded a Monastery in Brittany. His history, De excidio et conquestu Britaniae was written about 550 CE. It speaks about how the Saxons were punished and tortured, for being disobedience and faithless to the omnipotent being that he believed in. The Saxons later invaded Britain. This is just one example of the brutality that was carried out by a religious culture affecting another. Others include, use of brutal instrument used to “beat the Evil out”. Many Advances might have come about during the Dark ages, but fear of religious strong holds repercussions were too great. An easy example would be Copernicus. In the later part of the Dark ages, one of the world’s great scientists, Copernicus, discovered that the universe did not revolve around earth. This of course went against a few religions believes, that their particular omnipotent being created all that is, around us. Copernicus did not publish his finding for many years for fear of the church. Finally in his late sixties he published his book. The church put him to death, setting an example to any other person who might challenge their myths and tales. This is a prime example how those religions affected culture, and kept humanity and its cultures in the dark ages. In these religious myths and tales there was a system of superstitions. The superstitions go on to say that there was an after life and if you were a good obedient slave to which ever omnipotent being that particular religion made up, you would have a peaceful and happy after life. However if you were not an obedient slave to this omnipotent being, you would have a horrible after life that would last for eternity. These superstitions also made people fearful of any new knowledge that came out during the Dark ages. Again we can see how Religion affects culture and by oppressing knowledge and keeping humanity stagnant. Lastly, aside from the beliefs of religion that affect culture. There was still another physical side; the torture, disease and plagues that went along with monasteries and the flat out brutality that came with the inquisitions. During the late Dark ages (1000- 1500) Monasteries housed the so-called “sick“, who did not believe in the religions myths and the mentally handicapped who, were believed to be posed by demons. Both of those groups were kept in the basements of the monasteries were they could “beat the evil out of them”. Because of crowding and poor sanitation in the monasteries, they became a perfect incubator for disease, famine, and plagues. Finally toward the very end of the Dark ages. The deterioration of Catholicism, which had supported monasteries, led to a widespread movement of suppression of them. England was the first to do this by far. Although they had different reasons then the rest of Europe, they destroyed over 600 monasteries. England was motivated when Henry the VIII wanted a divorce. The rest of Europe sometime later, just wanted to be ride of the diseases and plagues. The inquisitions were another act carried out in the name different cultures omnipotent beings. The first inquisition was the Papal inquisition. Started in 1233 CE, it was known for it’s horrendous act of torture. Although this particular inquisition murdered many who did not happen to believe in it’s myths, tales and believe structure, it pales in comparison of the second inquisition. The Spanish inquisition was notoriously harsher then the already brutal Papal inquisition. The Spanish inquisition started toward the later part of the Dark Age, 1478 CE. The Spanish inquisition was so bad that it became known and feared through out all the cultures of Europe. Once again we can see how religion has the power to affect both cultures and geography. The western religions of the worlds have so many other similar examples to choose from. One that must be mentioned is the missionary conquistadors that completely decimated most South American cultures such as the Inca. We have seen pretty thoroughly how religion affects culture and geography. Also changes in culture can also change religions, although not to often and the results are never cataclysmic like the reverse. It can be stated that they both can affect each other.