Elements of Religious Traditions
Francisco Dias
REL/134
August 1, 2013
Christian Escariot
Elements of Religious Traditions The familiar scripture found in most Christian Bibles, “this means everlasting life, their taking knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3) resonates among Christian followers. However, other deities require more than just knowledge. Religious worship of old and new continue with the fundamental requirement that the worship of a god is to gain a closer relationship with the divine. Relationships with a deity, the physical world, human beings, or Mother Earth normally require a form of tradition that passes on from being to being. A deity requires a form of worship that includes deep-seated traditions in an effort to demonstrate loyalty and harmony. For example, Jesus Christ made a new covenant with his disciples the night before his execution and commanded they “keep doing this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The tradition of the Jews that celebrated Passover was replaced by the Christian faith to commemorate Jesus’ death on the same date, Nisan 14 (Passover). Although this is one example of how the relationship, built by tradition, between Jesus and his followers continues to grow to this day. The connection between humankind and sacred time goes beyond just looking at a watch. Imagine if time were infinite even here on earth. Humans use a clock to live everyday life based on a 24-hour time scale. As human beings continue to feel bound by time on this earth, it is vital to take advantage of time. Davis-Stofka (2008-2013) asserts, “sacred time is a time out of time, when the community's sense of the sacred interrupts ordinary experiences of time” (para. 1). Islam, similar to other religions, cultures, and societies, use a calendar and clock to keep track of track. The world is bound to time, but some religions teach that the universe is limitless concerning sacred time. Christianity and Judaism, for example, go beyond time on earth. The universe is sacred in itself only because the inhabitants stare at it in wonder and long for answers of its creative background. Furthermore, the earth itself is a wonderful creation. The privilege to occupy it is just one honor while living in harmony with it. The Old Testament in the Christian Holy bible book of Genesis asserts that humanity must populate and tame the earth, and subject the living things on it (Gen 1:28). It was a simple command and man takes it on even today. Many discoveries, of the creatures on earth, continue to this day. A relationship strives today because of the wonder and respect humans have of it. Many tribal Indians participate in rituals that pay homage to earth and its bounty. Communities, such as Indian tribes, maintain ritualistic traditions while maintaining a sense of societal bondage. Although choosing neighbors is an unrealistic endeavor, the harmonizing with a community conveys a special bond in one’s heart. A local Farmer’s Market provides such a venue that secures a spot in the community pool. Attending a local church or religious ceremony brings about the same bonding that enables humanity to feel a part of society. Worshiping the same deity uplifts one another, but the neighbor down the street will have a difference of opinion. Larger groups worshiping a different divine being may oppress the lesser group in an attempt to convert as many as possible. A religion can persuade persons by using societal force the moment someone is born. For example, the Catholic Church strongly suggesting that parents should baptize the newborn to wash away its sin. In contrast, people can persuade a church to change long-standing views or traditions simply because there are many believing there should be a change. Homosexuality is a perfect example once viewed by many religions as sacrilegious. Nonetheless, the community finds ways to complement each other. The requirement to worship a deity or uphold a tradition simply implies that humankind seeks answers from a higher source when man does not know the answers. As beings grow in the relationship with their god, the relationship grows stronger. The suggestion that their questions will be answered is simply not there. There is only one explanation – faith. Anthropologists study humans to understand why religion plays a strong influence on how humanity takes on this faith. We may have a higher calling that draws us to our god, but only each individual can answer that. However, another human may influence the faith of the masses based on tradition but not the belief that the deity makes that command. Only time will tell, but humans will continue to seek answers.

References Davis-Stofka, B. (2008-2013). Patheos Library. Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred- Time.html Holy Bible, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, (rev. 1984), Watch Tower and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. When does Passover begin?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Pesach/Zman_Seder/zman_se der.html