Two of the most important geographic qualities that define North Africa – Southw

Question

Two of the most important geographic qualities that define North Africa – Southwest Asia (NASWA) are: “5. Drought and unreliable precipitation dominate natural environments in this realm” [physical geography]; and, “3. The North Africa/Southwest Asia realm is the source of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam” [human/cultural geography] (de Blij and Muller 2010: 341).

Taking in consideration these facts, answer the following questions using an environmental deterministic perspective (“How environment apparently control human behavior”):

1.      Does the natural environment play any role (or any significant role) in the development of religious beliefs? Explain providing some examples.

2.      Why do some religions prohibit or encourage the consumption of certain plants and/or animals? For example, the consumption of pork is banned in some religions that originated in NASWA. Why? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

1) The early religions were based on a belief in many gods linked to natural phenomena, but several thousand years ago, monotheistic belief systems emerged; those based on one god.

Judaism,Christianity,Islam

2)Some religious people, abstain from eating various foods and beverages for a number of religious, cultural, legal or other societal prohibitions. Most of the prohibitions constitute taboos. Most of the food taboos and other prohibitions forbid the meat of a specific animal, mammals, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, molluscs and crustaceans, which may relate to a disgust response being more often associated with meats than plant-based foods.Some prohibitions are particular to a particular part or excretion of an animal, while others forgo the consumption of plants, fungi, or insects.

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