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Fundamental Aspects of Religious Traditions

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Fundamental Aspects of Religious Traditions
Nathan Driskill
REL/133 World Religious Traditions I
December 20, 2010
Michelle Brewster

Fundamental Aspects of Religious Traditions One of the most unique phenomenons in human history is religious traditions. From the beginning of time to present day, people everywhere have a religious thread of importance in their lives. Religions are represented in all of the major countries of the world. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism are the most significant represented by the largest numbers of population. In today’s quest for significance, cultural diversity and achieving a shared community living environment it is important to have a basic understanding of different faiths to allow for harmony and prosperity in multi-cultural communities globally. Religion is a set of beliefs pertaining to our existence or life. The major religions of the world all have narratives, symbols and traditions that give us a reason for living. From these elements; societal morals, ethics and legal systems have originated. All religions contain three main philosophical components: a God or higher principle, self, and customs that relate the other two. Before a person can develop an understanding of a particular religion, it is important to look at what a religious tradition is telling us, what it does and how it is organized. Among all of the major religions, each has its own set of teachings, text, doctrines and stories. Religious teachings are a human interpretation of the religion’s text describing how we should live our daily lives. Each religion had developed or adopted a set of sacred writing’s that are formulated into a text for standardizing the teaching within its system. From the text, each religion has derived its doctrinal principles or pillars of faith. Intertwined with the teaching of doctrine and

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