CROSS CULTURE UNDERSTANDING

Religion in Asia and Africa

By:

Dwi Utami Triyana

1410231070/4C

MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF JEMBER

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM

2016
 INTRODUCTION

Every people and every area has many religion. Muslim, Christianty, Buddhism,
Hinduism, etc. But Asia and Africa have many different religion. In this paper there are
explaining about religion in Asia and Africa.

Asia is area with large wold and most population with millions of different people
following a wide variety of different religions. In Asia have many of religions but it is in the
part of area. There are religion in Asia : Indians religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism,
Sikhism, etc.

Africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture, and philosophy.
The continent’s various populations and individualis are mostly adherents of Christianity,
Islam, and to a lesser extent Traditional African religion. In Christian or Islamic
communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with the
beliefs practices of traditional religions.
Asia and Africa has different religion and different presentase of religion.

Religion in Asia. Asia is the large wold and most population with millions of different
people following a wide variety of different religions. In Asia have many of religions but it is
in the part of area.

In South Asia any Indians religions. Indian religion are dominant and oldest religion
in Asia. Most of population in Asia follows Indian religion. This reigions all have the
concepts of dharma, karma, and reincarnation.

The second largest religion is Hinduism. Hinduism is also oldest in Asia for
approximately 1 billion followers. 25.3% populations in Asia are Hinduism. Hinduism as we
know it can be subdivided into a number of major currents. The majority of present day
Hinduism can be categorized under one of these four groups. There are many other, partly
overlapping, allegiances, and denominations.

In Asia there is Jainism religion. Jainism is an Indian religion. Jains are mostly found
in India but are increasingly foung trhoughout the world. Jains have significantly influene and
contribute to ethical, political, and economic in India. Jains have ancient traditional of
scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community in India. Jians
has traditionally been confined to the Indiaan Subcontinent and West Asia.

The third largest religion in Asia is Buddishm. 12% in Asia is Buddishm. Large
buddishm dominant and majority in China, Japan, Taiwan, Macau, North Korea, Nepal
Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea. It also has strong minorities in India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, and Russia. Buddishm was found by Siddarta
Gautama, also known as Buddha. Before Islam, Buddishm is one of the most widely
practiced religions in Central Asia, ancient Persia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia.

The next large religion in the world is Sikhism. Sikhism approximately 30 millions
adherents. One of the steadily growing it is a monotheistic religion found by Guru Nanak Dev
in the 1500s. The religion professes its roots in the area of Punjab, whose territories from part
of India and Pakistan. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been
traditionally known as the Gurmat literally the counsel of the gurus or the Sikh Dharm.
Sikhism originated from the word Sikh which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root. Sikhism
is the third largest religion in India with 2% of the total population being Sikh. There is also a
large concentration of Shiks in Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Philippines, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Kuwait, and U.A.E.

East Asian religions is comparable to the Abrahimic religions and Indian religions.
East Asian religions are dominant in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries
within the East Asian cultural sphere.

In East Asian has religions also. Confusianism was found China by the famous
philosopher. Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosopical, and
quasi religious thought that has influence on the culture and history of East Asia. Some
consider it to be the state religion of East Asian countries because of governmental promotion
of Confucian values. Chinese, Korean, Japanes, and Vietnam has brought Confucianism to
the world.

Next is Shamanism and Animism. Shamanism and Animism has historically been
practiced in Asia, is still practiced in most of Asia.

Cristianity is widespread minority religion in Asia with more than 286 million
according to Pew Research Center in 2010. Constituting around 12.6% of the population of
Asia.

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion aticulated by the Qur’an and teaching
by Muhammad considered by them to be the last prophet of God. Islam is the largest religion
in Asia with approximately 1.1 billion inhabitant. South Asia and Southeast Asia are home of
the most population Muslim coutries with Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh having
more than 100 million adherents. Ahmadiyya in Asia particulary in Pakistan, Bangladesh,
and Indonesia.

Religious unaffiliated including atheists make up about 21.2% of Asia population.

According the survey, the religious unaffiliated are majority of the population only in four
Asian countries: North Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. In China, 59% population
claim to be non religious. Some Chinese define religion as practicing customs which may be
done for cultural or traditional reasons, while others define it, actually consciously believing
their religion will lead to post mortem salvation or reincarnation.
Religion in Africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture, and
philosophy. The continent’s various populations and individualis are mostly adherents of
Christianity, Islam, and to a lesser extent Traditional African religion. In Christian or Islamic
communities, religious beliefs are also sometimes characterized with syncretism with the
beliefs practices of traditional religions.

African Traditional Religion. Africa encompasses a wide variety of traditional beliefs.

Although religious customs are sometimes share by many local societies they are usually
unique to specific populations or geographic regions. Some of the African traditional
religions are those of the Serer of Senegal, the Yoruba and Igbo of Nigeria, and the Akan of
Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Abrahamic religions. The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam.

Africa people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of
Abrahamic religions. Abrahamic religions are widespread throughout Africa. They have both
spread and replaced indigenous African religions, but are often adapted to African cultural
contexts and belief systems.

Baha’i Faith in Africa has a diverse history. It is the third most widespread organized
Abraham religion in Africa after Islam and Christianity.

Christianity is the second most widely practiced religion in Sub Sarahan Africa. The
oldest Christian denominations in Africa are the Coptic church in Egypt and the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahdeho Church. In the first few centuries of Christianity, Africa produced
many figures who had a major influence outdise the continent. Christianity existed in
Ethiopia before the rule of King Ezana the Great of the Kingdom of Axum, but the religion
took a strong foothold when it was declared a state religion in 330 AD, becoming one of the
first Christian nations.

Islam is the largest religion in Africa, 47% of the population being Muslim,
accounting for 1/4 of the world Muslim population. The faithhistoric roots on the continent
stem from the time of the prophet Muhammad, whose early disciples migrated to hijira in fear
of persecution from the pagan Arabs. Islam is the dominant religion in North Africa and the
Horn of Africa. It also become predominant religion on the Swahili Coast as well as the West
African seabord and parts of interior. There have been several Muslim empires in Western
Africa which exerted considerable influence. The majority of Muslim in Africa are Sunni,
belonging to either Maliki or Shafi schools of Jurisprudence. There are also sizeable
minorities of Shias, Ahmadis, Ibadi, and Sufis.

Hinduism has existed in Africa mainly since the late 19th century. It is the largest
religion in Mauritius and several other countries have Hindu temples. Hinduism is said to be
the fastest growing religion in Ghana.

Buddhism is a tiny religion in Africa with around 250.000 practicing adherents and up
to nearly 400.000 if combined with Taoism and Chinese Folk religion. African Buddhist are
living in South Africa.

Syncretism is combine the different beliefs while melding practice of various schools
of thought. In commonwealth Africa syncretism with indigenous beliefs is practiced
throughout the region. It is believed by some to explain religious tolerance between different
group of people.

Summary :

Asia and Africa in a part have same religion. There are Muslim. Buddhism, and
Hinduism. But in Asia dominant religion is Indians religion, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Asia
have many kind religion than Africa. Dominant religion in Africa is Christianity and Muslim.
The percentage between these religion is large.
 References

“AFRICAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS – Tewahedo – Palo – Serer – Tijaniyyah – Vodon”

retrieved 13 March 2015.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Asia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Africa