Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/2022 i ASIAN Geographic

While it is a minority religion in Asia, Christianity remains a widely-practised faith throughout the region. While Christianity has its roots in Western Asia, it is often denoted as a Western religion due to its influential status in Eurocentric cultures such as those of Europe and North America. Nevertheless, the faith tradition of Christianity originated in Roman Judea (part of the Middle East today) during the 1st century, and focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ and his teachings. The religion swiftly spread beyond Jewish lands into the Eastern Roman Empire over the next few centuries, and later expanded to Central and East Asia. European missionaries on voyages of discovery subsequently played a prominent role in spreading Christianity to East and Southeast Asia. During their voyages, many churches were constructed…

One of the world’s oldest religions and with a following of about 1.2 billion people, Hinduism is deeper than a religion – it is a way of life. Colourful festivals and mouth-watering desserts are only at the surface of Hinduism. There is a unique diversity and individualism that hovers over this faith. But can we really define Hinduism as a religion? Hinduism is not categorised as an organised religion – it has no systemic approach nor a simplified set of rules that its followers abide by. Thus, the multiple interpretations of Hinduism make it almost impossible to arrive at a sweeping definition of the religion. With a myriad of ideas on spirituality and beliefs, Hinduism has no all-encompassing governing body, prophet or single holy book. To understand Hinduism completely, one…

The world’s fastest-growing religion spread across the globe through conquest and trade. Originating on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Islam is now the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity. Prominent in the Arabian Peninsula, Islam was introduced to East Asia via the trade routes that connected West Asia and China. The religion sparked colossal societal and economic changes, and now provides a safe haven for around two billion followers. Islam, meaning “submission”, has its roots in 7th-century Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. It is where Muslims believe the direct word of God, or Allah, was revealed to Muhammad, considered by adherents to be the final messenger among the monotheistic prophets, from Adam and Abraham to Moses and Jesus. Born around 570 CE to one of Mecca’s prominent…

One of the world’s oldest religions, Zoroastrianism might slowly be fading into obscurity. The Dadar Parsi Colony in Mumbai, India is home to the largest concentration of Zoroastrians in the world. The colony is made up of about 15,000 Parsis, an ethnoreligious group of Persian descendants who follow the Zoroastrian religion. Continuous political turmoil and draconian acts of religious persecution forced the community to flee Persia in the 7th century. The travellers set sail east, with no certainty of their destination, and landed in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Parsi communities can now be found in several regions across the country, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bangalore. Besides India, a substantial number of Parsis are also located in neighbouring Pakistan. An ancient pre-Islamic religion with a rich history…

Snakes may be responsible for tens of thousands of deaths across India each year, but this fearsome reptile is a powerful symbol in the region’s religions. Snakes have been milked for their venom for centuries. Frenchman Léon Charles Albert Calmette (1863–1933) created the world’s first antivenom for snake bites in 1894. The immunologist developed antibody-based antivenoms by injecting snake venom into horses. The work revolutionised the treatment of bites from these poisonous predators, yet snakes have maintained their fearsome reputation and remain powerful symbols of malice in many religions. In the Bible, it was a serpent who tempted Eve to take a bite of the fruit from the forbidden tree. The Medusa of Greek mythology, a gorgon with serpents for hair, turned to stone anyone who dared to look into…

HISTORY: Islam was introduced to the Philippines around the 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from India and the Malay Archipelago. Arab Muslim missionaries from overseas subsequently helped spread Islam throughout the Philippines, and sultanates were founded in the country. Filipino Muslims were labelled “Moros” by the Spaniards, who, alongside Japanese and American rulers, attempted to subdue the increasing number of Muslims or convert them to Christianity. The Moros firmly resisted these attempts, even going so far as to challenge the United States’ military in armed conflict during the Moro Rebellion in the midst of the Philippine–American War. Today, Islam is generally thought to be the Philippines’ largest minority religion. PLACE OF WORSHIP: Muslims in the Philippines worship in mosques. Like Christian churches in the country, early mosques…

1 CE Christianity is born from the life story and teachings of Jesus Christ in Roman Judea. Through their missionary work, his apostles spread Christianity to other lands, such as Mesopotamia 52 CE St. Thomas establishes Christianity in India and founds India’s first Christian church 72 CE Christianity is introduced to Sri Lanka 224 CE The end of the Iranian Parthian Empire makes way for Christianity’s increased spread eastward to lands such as Kashkar (present-day Iraq) and the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf. Over the decades, trade routes connecting these lands to Central Asia become vital channels that further the spread of Christianity 301 CE Armenia becomes the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion 601 CE The Mongols are proselytised, with many Mongol…

BEFORE 2000 BCE THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION The Indus Valley Civilisation was an ancient civilisation in South Asia from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. Today, the region falls under northeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India. Scripts uncovered from the region were difficult to translate to modern languages but figurines that have faint ties to Hinduism have been analysed. Archaeologist Sir John Marshall (1876–1958) identified one of the figures as resembling the Hindu god Shiva, posing cross-legged. 1500–500 BCE THE VEDIC PERIOD Texts uncovered from the Vedic period were written in Vedic Sanskrit. Hinduism today is derived from the Vedas, and elements of the religion can be pointed out in the indigenous way of life. For instance, Vedic rituals like sacrificial practices were uncovered during the Vedic period. The gods worshipped…

SHAHADA The Shahada, or profession of faith, centres on two beliefs: “There is no god but God” and “Muhammad is the messenger of God”. It cements the monotheistic belief of Islam, which involves holding God as the source of existence. New Muslims are required to utter the Shahada during their conversion. It is also said five times a day during prayer, which is the second pillar. SALAH Salah (prayers) are the obligatory acts that Muslims must observe daily. Prayers are performed throughout the day according to a strict schedule that must be adhered to. At a mosque, the muezzin has the task of proclaiming the call to prayer five times a day: Maghrib (evening), Isha (night), Fajr (dawn), Zuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon) – since a day starts at sunset in…

COW Hinduism Cows are a sacred symbol in Hinduism – one that gives more than it takes. The many products of a cow, from its milk to its dung, are key elements in Hindu rituals. Cows are protected, and harming a cow for its meat is considered taboo. LAMB Christianity The lamb signifies suffering, triumph, forgiveness, and purity. In the Bible, Jesus Christ is referred to as the “Lamb of God”. TIGER Taoism The ferocity and quiet prowess of the tiger symbolises yin while the dragon stands for yang. Taoists believe that tigers protect people from three dangers – fire, thieves, and evil spirits. CAT Islam According to the Hadith, the scripture describing Muhammad’s words and actions, the Prophet was fond of cats and prohibited their persecution or killing. A…

From Hinduism’s Holi festival and Islam’s Feast of the Sacrifice to Buddhist New Year and Christian Holy Week, you’re invited to take part in the holiest and most vibrant religious celebrations across Asia! August 2022 AUG 11 RAKSHA BANDHAN India, Nepal, Pakistan On this day, sisters tie a talisman called the Rakhi around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them. The sisters receive a gift in return AUG 12 HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL Throughout Asia For Buddhists and Taoists, the spirits of deceased ancestors visit the living on this day. Activities include making food offerings, burning incense, and watching opera performances and puppet shows (getai) AUG 18–19 JANMASHTAMI India This celebration of Krishna’s birth sees devotees hold vigils and a fast until midnight. Dahi Handi is a defining communal event…

BOROBUDUR Central Java, Indonesia Located on the Indonesian island of Java, Borobudur is the largest and most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The temple is believed to have been built over a period of 75 years in the 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra. Nine platforms are stacked on each other; six squares and three circular. A dome sits on the top. The temple is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. BAGAN Mandalay Region, Myanmar Situated on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, Bagan is home to the largest collection of Buddhist temples and ruins in the world. The capital of the Bagan Kingdom between the 9th and 13th centuries, the city comprised more than 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries in its heyday. When…

ASCENSION CATHEDRAL Almaty, Kazakhstan A historical monument of Kazakhstan, Ascension Cathedral was completed in 1907 and remains one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world today. Despite enduring the 7.7-magnitude Kebin earthquake of 1911, which destroyed most of the buildings surrounding it, the cathedral remained standing, leading local bishops to label the event an act of God. MYEONGDONG CATHEDRAL Seoul, South Korea Myeongdong Cathedral serves as the national cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. The cathedral is recognised as a prominent symbol of Roman Catholicism in Korea – partly due to its status as the country’s first Catholic church – and was designated as a historic site by the Korean government in 1977. ST. LUCIA’S CATHEDRAL Colombo, Sri Lanka Said to be the oldest and biggest cathedral…

The Golden Temple in Punjab, India, hosts 100,000 Sikhs for a meal they don’t have to pay for. Utensils clatter. Sweltering heat engulfs the room. Hundreds of volunteers busily go about their work. These are all familiar to anyone setting foot in the kitchen of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The Golden Temple is the holiest gurdwara, a “door to the guru”. Located in northern India, this place of worship and assembly is the spiritual centre for Sikhs all over the world and sees large numbers every day. THE LANGAR The Golden Temple, or Harmindir Sahib, runs the Guru Ram Das Langar, the largest community-driven free kitchen and dining hall in the world. Food is available around the clock; pilgrims can show up at the oddest of times to…

In Nepal, young girls are revered as supreme deities – but not for long. The sun rises over the Kathmandu Valley as a toddler is beautified with red and yellow face paint. She is decked in gold and silver jewellery, and her eyes are outlined with bold kohl. This young girl is a Kumari, a manifestation of the divine female energy. She is believed to be a living goddess (devi), the incarnation Taleju, a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga. A Kumari’s reign can begin as young as two years old and last till the first day of her menstrual cycle. The tradition is followed in several cities in Nepal, and as a result, there are a number of Kumaris in the country, but the best known is the Royal…

Science and religion are often thought of as being at odds. But the two seem to agree on the intrinsic value of ecosystems and biodiversity. HEALTHY AND RESILIENT ECOSYSTEMS – the foundation of all life on land and underwater – are now threatened like never before. Human activities such as pollution, unsustainable use of land and sea, the exploitation of organisms, climate change, and the invasion of alien species are leading to the decline and degradation of natural ecosystems on an unprecedented scale. Climate scientists are urging the world to make a paradigm shift and to live more sustainably within the regenerating threshold of Nature. This is also acknowledged by many religions. From Buddhism and Christianity to Hinduism and Islam, they all recognise that we must protect the environment and…

HISTORY: Christianity is thought to have been introduced to the island of Cebu with the arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, leading a fleet for Spain, in 1521. After Magellan helped to cure the ill grandson of the island’s chief, Chief Humabon, he allowed Magellan to baptise 800 of his followers in a mass Christian baptism. Following Magellan’s death at the hands of a chief from a different Filipino island, the Spanish sent another explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi, to the Philippines, who converted even more Filipinos to Christianity. This marked the beginning of the Philippines’ Spanish colonial era, from 1565–1898, followed by the American colonial era, from 1898–1946. During these four centuries of colonisation, Christianity was spread throughout the archipelago by missionaries. Today, Christianity remains the predominant religion in…