...and so forth o Identifies key critical issues in the study of religion. o Includes specific examples from the various religious traditions described in the Week One readings that honor the sacred—such as rituals of the Igbo to mark life events, the vision quest as a common ritual in many Native American societies, or the influence of the shaman as a leader. You may also include examples from your own religious tradition or another religious tradition with which you are familiar. 1. There are a couple of critical issues when it comes to the study of what a religious tradition says. The first is to make a distinction between the oral tradition and the written tradition. Many well-developed, world religions have an established canon of sacred texts, as well as an oral tradition. In some cases, this also has come to be written down. For instance, in Judaism, there is the tradition of the Oral Torah and the written Torah. The written Torah has become the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible as we know it. The Oral Torah has also been written down in established commentaries in the Talmud. However, many indigenous religions have not written down their oral traditions. In fact, there are still some indigenous people that do not have a written language, and so their entire religious tradition is passed down orally from generation to generation. These oral traditions are more difficult for scholars to study and to follow over time. Another critical issue is to determine...
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...Traditions Religious traditions play significant role in the lives of human beings around the world. There are different meanings for religion and the simplest definition of religion is that it is a belief system or cultural system that helps reconnect the human reality with the sacred world by being a moral guide for the way human beings live (CCSU, n. d.). There are eight elements in religious traditions, belief system, a community, central myth stories, rituals, ethics, characteristic emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness(Molly & Hilgers, 2010). In this paper the following topics will be discussed, religious traditions and its relationships, key critical issues in the study of religion, and examples from various religious traditions. Relationship With the Divine From the beginning of the human life, spiritual relationships with the Divine have been common as part of the human survival in the natural world. Different religions state to the sacred by different names based on their beliefs. They call it as Great Spirit, the Holy, the Divine, and the Absolute. A person’s relationship with the divine depends on many events and teachings that he or she experiences throughout her or his life. Having a relationship with the divine, people are able to reach their ultimate goal of the religion in which a person or culture follows. The divine can be employed in several ways such as by praying, reading the Bible, the Quran, or the Veda...
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...Elements of Religious Tradition Torri Greer REL/134 February 26, 2014 William Sunday Elements of Religion There are many common elements of religion, even if the characteristics of the religion vary widely. Some of these elements include a belief system, community, ritual, ethics, emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness. This paper discusses how some of the elements encourage relationships with the divine, with sacred time, sacred space or the natural world, and the relationships with each other. The paper will also outline critical issues when studying religion (Molloy, 2010). A religion may have a clear interpretation of the universe and what humans’ place is in it. These belief systems may see human beings’ roles are to take care of nature, and hold it sacred, whereas other religions view humans’ role is to conquer nature. Human purpose is also a part of the worldview in religion. Even though the purpose of a human beings life varies among religion, it is a common characteristic of religion to help identify that purpose (Molloy, 2010). Rituals are beliefs enacted and made real through ceremony. Many religious traditions are rich in ritual reenactments. These reenactments may use sacred materials. Other rituals are used to give homage to their divine. A ritual may be a small act of lighting a candle and praying, to dancing and chanting, reenacting past sacred events. Going to church on Sunday could be considered a ritual, and is done...
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...Traditions In striving to understand religious traditions it is important to understand what religion is. The common translation of religion is “to join again,” “to reconnect” (Molloy, 2010, p. 5). Religion cannot be accurately defined with a single definition because there are many differences. Most definitions found in dictionaries are not completely accurate or complete. Dictionary definitions according to Molloy, 2010, p. 5, indicates religion is a belief system that consists of the worship of a single God or multiple gods, ceremony, ethical and moral code, and prayer. To define better religion one should identify the characteristics commonly found and accepted as religions (Molloy, 2010, p. 5). To identify the elements of religious traditions one must explain religious traditions relationship with the divine, sacred time, sacred space, and their relationship with each other. Scholars believe the following eight elements are commonly found in most religions (Molloy, 2010, pgs. 6-7): * Belief System * Community * Central Myths * Rituals * Ethics * Characteristic Emotional Experiences * Material Expression * Sacredness Understanding the key critical issues in the study of religion will help one understand that there is a vast number of religions with a vast number of beliefs (Johnson, 2013). Religions Relationship with the Divine To identify religious traditions relationship with the divine, one must be acquainted with the meaning...
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...Traditions A religious persons' world views a transcendent dimension to life- that there is a supernatural power beyond humans beings. Religion has different meanings to different people, it is based on how a person is swayed by the people who raised them. It could have been a experience that is traumatic which can push someone to follow a different life in terms of religion. The everyday lives of all people are made up of rituals and traditions. Christians worship God, who they believe is the creator of the entire world. Muslims who worship Mohammed, in which they believe is a prophet from God, Buddhist believe in Buddha, and Hindus believe in Brahma. This paper will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage the following relationships: with the divine, with sacred time, with sacred space or the natural world, and with each other. It will also identify key critical issues in the study of religion with specific examples on Hinduism such as their traditions and beliefs, which I am familiar with. People around the world worship something, depending on their beliefs. Relationships A spiritual relationship with God, gods, spirits, or nature in which humans have had since the dawn of time of the natural world. Humans looked at nature as something to be sacred, as well as something to be worshiped with the divine. Native religions which are called animism, believe that everything in the world is alive, such as: trees, animals and humans, which are living things...
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... sacred time, sacred space or natural world, and with each other. I also will explain about the issues that are critical and then I will give important examples of many religious traditions. The relationship with the divine is power of being or the realm of understanding different religious person’s to be present and to have revolution impact on their lives. Earlier in days man believed that divinity is to help converse away natural occurrences, such as, hurricanes, earthquakes, lunar eclipses, solar and, volcanic eruptions. But however the modern man continues to utilize divinity to push away supernatural phenomena, at which one usually refers to as miracles. I will give an example: a sudden and total recovery from a disaster, life threatening conditions, and surviving a deadly occurrence. In those conditions as a belief of the divine intervention was mainly responsible in taking place and reflection of the truth of the person’s religion. The Relationship with the sacred time defines as life goes on as time goes on. When it comes to sacred time the greater power and divinity breaks through. The eternity is the sacred time that many religions live by. Time has no sacredness of its own, but instead of a tool to be redeemed and in work by humans in order to participate and celebrate the eternal life. The question is what the sacred time is: It can attach members of the same religion together and build strength upon members and even others together with the almighty Christ. Sacred...
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...Traditions paper In today’s world, there are many religions and, they all practice and worship in different ways. They all have certain beliefs, certain rituals and, traditions that they carry. This paper will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage the relationship with the divine; the relationship with the sacred time; the relationship with sacred space or the natural world; and the relationship with each other. This paper will also identify key critical issues in the study of religion. The relationship with the divine is understanding of the divine such as whom or what is sacred. Monotheism meaning one God relates to religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Polytheism meaning many gods relate to religions like Hinduism, Zen Buddhism and, many religions of ancient civilizations. Pantheism which, is drawn from Polytheism means all of nature. God is everything and everything is God. The concept of being or existence is how these religions see their Gods. Most Polytheism beliefs are that their gods come in the form an actually being such as calves, people, statues, physical things. Monotheism believes that God is a spirit, cannot be seen, but felt. They believe that the spirit can hear see and watch you’re observing how these religions have relationships with sacred time. To know the relationship of sacred times, we will need to know what sacred time is. Sacred time is how the religion is observed. Some religions fast or feast, this may include special worship...
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...Traditions paper In today’s world, there are many religions and, they all practice and worship in different ways. They all have certain beliefs, certain rituals and, traditions that they carry. This paper will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage the relationship with the divine; the relationship with the sacred time; the relationship with sacred space or the natural world; and the relationship with each other. This paper will also identify key critical issues in the study of religion. The relationship with the divine is understanding of the divine such as whom or what is sacred. Monotheism meaning one God relates to religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Polytheism meaning many gods relate to religions like Hinduism, Zen Buddhism and, many religions of ancient civilizations. Pantheism which, is drawn from Polytheism means all of nature. God is everything and everything is God. The concept of being or existence is how these religions see their Gods. Most Polytheism beliefs are that their gods come in the form an actually being such as calves, people, statues, physical things. Monotheism believes that God is a spirit, cannot be seen, but felt. They believe that the spirit can hear see and watch you’re observing how these religions have relationships with sacred time. To know the relationship of sacred times, we will need to know what sacred time is. Sacred time is how the religion is observed. Some religions fast or feast, this may include special worship...
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...Culture & religion for a sustainable future Introduction Culture shapes the way we see the world. It therefore has the capacity to bring about the change of attitudes needed to ensure peace and sustainable development which, we know, form the only possible way forward for life on planet Earth. Today, that goal is still a long way off. A global crisis faces humanity at the dawn of the 21st century, marked by increasing poverty in our asymmetrical world, environmental degradation and short-sightedness in policy-making. Culture is a crucial key to solving this crisis. Source: Preface, World Culture Report, UNESCO Publishing, Paris, 1999. Our cultural values, which often include particular religious beliefs, shape our way of living and acting in the world. Module 11 on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability explores the importance of indigenous values and spirituality in providing guidance for sustainable living. Such principles and values encourage a spirit of harmony between people, their natural environments and their spiritual identities. The principles for living sustainably that flow from these and other cultural and religious beliefs vary between groups and countries. They have also changed over time as circumstances demand. Despite this diversity, many principles for living sustainably are shared, not only among indigenous peoples, but also between different religious traditions. This module explores the role of culture and religion in providing guidance on ways...
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...reasoning behind comparative Old Testament studies. It then concludes with the principles and goals each student should possess as he or she studies the Old Testament. His synopsis of comparative Old Testament studies begins with the resurgence of Egyptian and Mesopotamian archaeological studies during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.[1] He then moves on to discuss the impact of Friedrich Delitzsch’s lectures concerning how the writers of the Old Testament borrowed from extrabiblical sources set the stage for many secular ideologies removing the special revelation aspect from the Bible. This allowed two things to take place. First, it brought out the comparative study of the Bible into a critical realm; and second, it made Assyriology, Egyptology, and Hittitology serious academic disciplines which have greatly enhanced modern man’s understanding of these ancient cultures. While Walton discusses several forms of Old Testament study, his opinion favors comparative studies. He starts with explaining the reasoning for sound methodological comparative study and moves on to answer the “why” it should be performed over other studies. In his view, it expands the student’s understanding of four culturally significant areas: language and literature, literary genre, religious practice, and theology. His conclusion provides ten specific principles which, in his opinion are the foundational matters of comparative studies. He ends this chapter with four goals for...
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... A religious persons' world views a transcendent dimension to life- that there is a supernatural power beyond humans beings. Religion has different meanings to different people, it is based on how a person is swayed by the people who raised them. It could have been a experience that is traumatic which can push someone to follow a different life in terms of religion. The everyday lives of all people are made up of rituals and traditions. Christians worship God, who they believe is the creator of the entire world. Muslims who worship Mohammed, in which they believe is a prophet from God, Buddhist believe in Buddha, and Hindus believe in Brahma. This paper will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage the following relationships: with the divine, with sacred time, with sacred space or the natural world, and with each other. It will also identify key critical issues in the study of religion with specific examples on Hinduism such as their traditions and beliefs, which I am familiar with. People around the world worship something, depending on their beliefs. Relationships A spiritual relationship with God, gods, spirits, or nature in which humans have had since the dawn of time of the natural world. Humans looked at nature as something to be sacred, as well as something to be worshiped with the divine. Native religions which are called animism, believe that everything in the world is alive, such as: trees, animals and humans, which are living things...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Paper "Religion is the fashionable substitute for belief." - Oscar Wilde http://cwdaisy.tripod.com/quotes/id9.html. People turn to religion for a wide range of reasons. Many turn to religion during time of crisis. There are many different types of religion in the world. Religion can consist of a range vast of beliefs such as, Buddism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. According to Merriam Webster dictionary in 2011, the definition of religion is: the state of religious (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance 2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices 3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness 4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion Traditions follow every specific religion. Traditions can be vastly different. Some can described in the belief in one god or many gods and goddesses, attending church ceremonies on Sunday, sacrifices on holy mountains, or even Quakers referring to one another as friends. The differences in traditions can be viewed in different ways. Some other examples can be Buddism followers pray and practice beliefs in temples, Mormon followers believe in a strict following of no harsh chemical intake into the human body including: alcohol, tobacco, and even all caffeine, Native Americans believe...
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...7/25/2011 Abstract This paper gives an insight into different religions and seeks to differentiate the different regions. This paper points out key religious issues which scholars encountered and how it affected the study of religion and also helps identifies some example of religious traditions. Religion is vital and so are the religious traditions that are practices all over the world. This paper will describe fundamental mechanism of these religious traditions and their association to the sacred. It will include the critical issues of religion and examples of religious traditions held worldwide. How a religious tradition organizes including leadership, relationships among members, and so forth and what a religious does and say. A religious tradition an act of something that followers of one religion do because it was done for many years by gods or goddesses. These traditions are diverse for each different religion. Each religion has its own texts, stories, and myths etc. that permit people to read about that tradition to a specific religion. For example the Christian religion tells the story of the creation of earth and how it happened according to Christian beliefs from the bible. In some religions the scared reality is not seen as only personal attributes but is more like a natural energy or mysterious power that is manifested through the universe and nature. Some religion praising the reality of multiple gods where they each are separated each...
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...Traditions A religious persons' world views a transcendent dimension to life- that there is a supernatural power beyond humans beings. Religion has different meanings to different people, it is based on how a person is swayed by the people who raised them. It could have been a experience that is traumatic which can push someone to follow a different life in terms of religion. The everyday lives of all people are made up of rituals and traditions. Christians worship God, who they believe is the creator of the entire world. Muslims who worship Mohammed, in which they believe is a prophet from God, Buddhist believe in Buddha, and Hindus believe in Brahma. This paper will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage the following relationships: with the divine, with sacred time, with sacred space or the natural world, and with each other. It will also identify key critical issues in the study of religion with specific examples on Hinduism such as their traditions and beliefs, which I am familiar with. People around the world worship something, depending on their beliefs. Relationships A spiritual relationship with God, gods, spirits, or nature in which humans have had since the dawn of time of the natural world. Humans looked at nature as something to be sacred, as well as something to be worshiped with the divine. Native religions which are called animism, believe that everything in the world is alive, such as: trees, animals and humans, which are living things...
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...this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Nature of Religion Details Objectives 1.1 Describe the common elements of religion. 1.2 Identify issues in the study of religion. 1.3 Describe the sacred in indigenous traditions. Reading Read Ch. 1 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Read Ch. 2 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Read the Contemporary Paganism: Wicca and Druidism section in Ch. 11 of Experiencing the World’s Religions. Reading Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Nongraded Actvitiy Post a personal bio in the chat room on OLS. Introduce yourself to our class as a response to the thread begun by the facilitator....
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