 I consider the fact that geography affects local populations common knowledge, something easily deducted from experience. I come from Colombia, a country in which very few accurate generalizations can be made about its citizens simply because the people from one region differ so much from the people from another. Now, this holds for other countries, too, such as the United States; yet, even Alaska's square mileage surpasses Colombia's by over two hundred. 

While people from the West Coast and Southerners have different mindsets, styles and accents, they can also be up to two thousand miles away, or more. At that distance, it would make no sense if they did mirror each other. However, in Colombia, to travel the 400 miles from the Caribbean coast to Bogota, the capital, one would have to first cross the Andes, the world's highest mountain range outside of Asia. In other words, those two people are separated by more than just space, they are separated by land; geography. 

Seeing this effect, it doesn't really seem like a long shot to claim that geography also influences something that has had an impact on society ever since its conception, religion. Because of this, I chose to study a country that not only has a diverse geography, but also a multitude of beliefs, India. 

First of all, because Hinduism is India's largest religion, my first source is the first chapter "Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction" by Kim Knott. In it, she gives us a brief explanation of how theologians go about studying Hinduism and the points they focus on the most. These not only include the perspectives of both Hindus and non-Hindus, or "devotees" and "scholars" as Knott refers to them, but delves into the origins of the devotees' beliefs by including historical references. The only values or interest that seem at stake here are the author's credibility in her community and the perception that her readers will have of her subject of study. One could also interpret this as the author putting her reputation on the line by publishing her book. Fortunately, seeing as how Knott currently holds a position as a professor in Lancaster University under the department of Politics, Philosophy, and Religion, we could say that she seems to have good authority over this topic. If she had compromised her trustworthiness, I don't believe that she could still work at a prestigious university.

My second source, the introduction of "The Location of Religion: A Spatial Analysis", was also written by Kim Knott. This publication proposes to provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between spaces and religion. This applies both to intangible spaces, e.g. cultural, political, and physical ones, e.g. geographical. Seeing as how she presents her own theory, one could say the interests at stake are for her to be taken seriously within the academic community she is a part of. Because of this, the evidence and logic presented must be what she believed would influence her community in favor of supporting her theory. Again, judging by the amount of articles and books she has written, Kim Knott plays an active role in the conversation of this field of study. In fact, her biography says she created a "spatial methodology for contextualizing religion". Someone like her, who has had a lifelong, steady career, has earned credibility.

Finally, my third source, an article in a geographical trade publication, was written by Justin K. H. Tse, titled "Grounded Theologies: 'Religion' and the 'Secular' in Human Geography." In it, Tse strives to prove that a division between matters of faith and secular spaces of the social and political is not possible. He speaks to his community and tries to convince them to move in a certain direction, so not only his validity, but also his aim rely on the efficiency of his logos, ethos and pathos. Because of this, one can suppose that he put all evidence and sound reasoning he could find to use. The fact that his article was published in a trade publication serves as a marker of his academic validity. He is also affiliated or backed by the University of British Columbia. This means that the University was willing to stake their own reputation on Tse's research's credibility.

In conclusion, many sources exist to back up my claim that geography or special relationships affect religious beliefs. I have commonly found, however, those who argue that this relationship does not receive much attention, something that might hinder me seeing as how I am relying primarily on secondary sources. The perspectives of these sources, as well, will influence the way I look at the issue because I am only looking at one fraction of the whole conversation. In the end, because of lack of information or sources, I might even have to expand my question to "How does geography affect religion" in general. This connection would be much easier to make, especially if looked at historically, but I would like to consider it almost a worst-case scenario if I were to not have sufficient information.

