ns, etc. are common locations. They are located according to a sacred person or event. These places may eventually become centers as religious systems evolve. Some complex religions even divide space into hierarchical territories. These territories then result in cultural diffusion of knowledge like in medieval Europe, when the church provided nodes in the form of monasteries who provided hierarchical diffusion of knowledge. Sacred languages often become an important element in the religious organization of space. Many times, especially when ethnicity relates directly to religion, people in a religion also speak a common language. The influence of religion on government also has an important role in history. Ideas of secular states have existed since the ancient Greeks, but were very recently invented. When a religion completely merges with government, it is called a theocracy. In a theocracy, the religion is organized around the government and the religious body is also the body of the government. This form of government is rare, but existed in Israel in the time of Judges. The distribution of religion is the most prominent characteristic relating to geography, but also the most complicated. The distribution doesn’t only tie in to geography, but also to history and culture. Approximately 33% of the world’s population are Christian. Another 18% is Muslim and 13% is Hindu. There are three processes involved in creating the distribution of a religion: diffusion, migration and competition for space. Diffusion is the principle way of transmitting culture and ethical values, and migration is one of the ways of transmitting religion spatially.Religions do not only grow through migration’s natural expansion, or conquest and exile, but also through contact conversion. This happens when two separate groups are in close contact with one another and their traits and ideas begin to merge. Another means is through m...
