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Religious Traditions and Religious Studies
Shawn Wittenberg
University of Phoenix
World Religious Traditions II
REL 134
Roger Baumann
April 13, 2014

Religious Traditions and Religious Studies
Religious beliefs and customs have been ongoing since the dawn of time yet there are those who always believe different than others or try to say their religion is the only true religion. I look at religion differently than others and for so long there was an agnostic quality to my beliefs yet I have since found religion and having that said this paper will focus on the relationship with the divine, the relationship of sacred time, the relationship with the natural world or that sacred place, and finally the relationship with each other. Why is it that we have one true thing in common amongst the topics it is a relationship status that starts with a belief or custom. Having a relationship is to partner or relate too something or someone. Is that all religion is, a relationship with similar people over a similar belief or custom.
What is divine and how would someone have a relationship with the divine? Divine is simply put as pertaining to God or a supreme being or devoted to a god (www.Dictionary.com). So an individual may have a relationship with divine on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis. I myself have relationship with my lord and savior Jesus Christ in the form of Christianity while others may have different god or Supreme Being they follow. Religious customs and beliefs differ in so many ways just in general and with different sects preaching what’s right or wrong is only for the divine to decide. Relationships are forged through trial and tribulation and the strongest one can always break down yet with the divine it is everlasting as long as you forge through with grace and dignity no matter what belief system one belongs the way to build a

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