Cultural Concepts and Religious Beliefs Overview

Mormonism

A religious movement founded by Joseph Smith in the 19th century, with distinct beliefs including the Book of Mormon and a focus on the restoration of true Christianity.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century in India, emphasizing equality, service, and devotion to God.

Acculturation

When a group or individual adopts elements of another culture, while still maintaining aspects of their own.

Assimilation

The process by which a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture, often losing its original identity.

Cultural Adaptation

The adjustments made by individuals or groups to fit into a new or changing cultural environment.

Cultural Core/Periphery Pattern

A model where the 'core' region is the center of economic, political, and cultural activity, while the 'periphery' regions are less developed and influenced by the core.

Cultural Ecology

The study of the relationship between a culture and its environment, including how cultural practices shape and are shaped by the natural world.

Cultural Identity

The feeling of belonging to a group or culture, shaped by shared traditions, language, and values.

Cultural Landscape

The physical and human-made features of a region, reflecting the interaction between people and their environment.

Cultural Realm

A larger, more generalized cultural region encompassing multiple cultural regions with similar traits.

Expansion Diffusion

The spread of cultural elements from a central source, with the phenomenon expanding outward.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Cultural traits spread from higher to lower social classes or from larger to smaller places.

Contagious Diffusion

Cultural traits spread rapidly through a population, often in a wave-like manner.

Stimulus Diffusion

An idea or cultural trait is adopted but altered to fit the local culture.

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of culture through the physical movement of people from one place to another.

Innovation Adoption

The process by which new ideas, technologies, or practices are accepted and implemented by a culture.

Maladaptive Diffusion

The spread of a cultural trait or practice that has negative or harmful consequences for the adopting society.

Religion

A system of beliefs and practices concerning the sacred, divine, or spiritual aspects of life.

Animism

The belief that natural objects, animals, or phenomena possess a spiritual essence or soul.

Buddhism

A religion originating in India, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), emphasizing the path to enlightenment through meditation and ethical living.

Cargo Cult Pilgrimage

A belief system that arose in response to colonialism, where indigenous people believed that material wealth ('cargo') would be delivered to them through rituals and spiritual practices.

Christianity

A monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, focusing on salvation and eternal life through faith.

Confucianism

A philosophical and ethical system from China, based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing social harmony, respect for authority, and personal morality.

Ethnic Religion

A religion closely tied to a particular ethnic group, often with practices and beliefs that are specific to a particular culture or geographical region.

Exclave

A portion of a state or territory geographically separated from the main part and surrounded by another state or territory.

Enclave

A territory or region that is culturally or ethnically distinct from the surrounding area, often a minority within a larger society.

Fundamentalism

A strict adherence to specific religious doctrines, often accompanied by a desire to return to traditional values and practices.

Geomancy

A system of divination or fortune-telling based on the interpretation of the earth's physical features or patterns.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca, required of all Muslims who are able, as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Muslim Pilgrimage

The Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, is a central act of devotion for Muslims, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Proselytic Religion

A religion that seeks to convert others to its faith through missionary work (e.g., Christianity, Islam).

Reincarnation

The belief that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body, as part of an ongoing cycle of life, death, and rebirth (common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism).

Religious Conflict

Disputes or wars caused by differences in religious beliefs, practices, or ideologies.

Secularism

The principle of separating religion from public institutions, governance, and societal affairs.

Shamanism

A belief system where certain individuals (shamans) are thought to have access to the spiritual world, often through rituals or trances, to heal or communicate with spirits.

Sharia Law

The legal framework derived from the Quran and Hadith in Islam, governing both public and private aspects of a Muslim's life.

Shintoism

The indigenous religion of Japan, focused on the worship of kami (spirits) found in nature, ancestors, and sacred places.

Hinduism

A major world religion originating in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation, karma, dharma, and a pantheon of gods and goddesses.

Interfaith Boundaries

The boundaries or borders that separate different religious groups.

Islam

A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran, with a focus on submission to the will of Allah.

Jainism

An ancient Indian religion emphasizing nonviolence (ahimsa), self-discipline, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation.

Judaism

A monotheistic religion rooted in the covenant between God and the Hebrew people, with a focus on the Hebrew scriptures and ethical living.

Monotheism

The belief in one God (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism).

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods (e.g., Hinduism, ancient Greek and Roman religions).

Religious Architectural Styles

The distinctive architectural forms and designs that reflect the cultural and religious beliefs of a group, such as churches, mosques, temples, and shrines.

Religious Culture Hearth

The original geographic area where a particular religion or belief system began.

Religious Toponym

A place name derived from a religious figure, event, or belief (e.g., Bethlehem, Mecca).

Sacred Space

A location considered holy or divine, often central to religious practices and rituals.