Term Paper Needed- World Geograghy
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 towards converting. 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
Does the geographical location play a role in the number of ethnic and universal religion respectively?
In the history of religion, how did individuals chose to have ethnic religions while others embrace the universal religions?
Regarding the specific religions, what are the composition of major ethnic religions as well as universal religions in the world?
How were these religions chosen in the first place?
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:
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)
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.
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 where there is frequently an episode on the worldwide dispersal of some of the key beliefs and religions. This particular chapter has as well included belief systems as well as world patterns of language, in which the basis of expression is well-thought-out together as elementary indicators of the human diversity. However, it is highly believed by many researchers that the word (geography of religion) was initially explored by Gottlieb Kasche in 1795, in a book known as Ideas about Religious Geography which was printed and published in German (Park, 2004). Over the 18th and 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 finding names and places in the Bible as well as forming their locations. As a result, the interest in natural theology increased with the aim of seeking signs of God's creation in nature. The First Muslim geographers toured extensively 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 evaluated regarding their differences as per the research questions.
References
Baumann, G. (1999). The multicultural riddle: Rethinking national, ethnic, and religious identities. Psychology Press.
Chuah, S. H., Hoffmann, R., Ramasamy, B., & Tan, J. H. (2014). Religion, ethnicity and cooperation: An experimental study. Journal of Economic Psychology, 45, 33-43.
Park, C. (2004) Religion and geography. Chapter 17 in Hinnells, J. (ed) Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. London: Routledge
Yogananda, P. (2016). The science of religion. Ravenio Books.
