...Elements of Religious Traditions There are countless religions and belief systems covering every corner of our planet. Some are extremely large, such as Christianity, with over two billion followers and some faiths with as few as dozen followers. One thing, regardless of size, that all religions have is varying elements of tradition in which they follow. What these traditions say, do, and how they organize their leadership are essential to the relationship of the sacred. Traditions of a religion preserve the foundation and structure of the religion’s survival and expansion. A key element of these traditions includes religious rituals, leadership structure, and the establishing of membership. What a religious tradition says is the backbone of what each and every religion is based on. The belief system, or worldview, is what unites the people and forms the cohesion of a congregation. The ethical teachings form how the followers should behave and carry themselves in order to properly represent who their faith and their identity within their faith. Every religion has myths and stories that are held as truths and are fundamental to their beliefs. These truths are key traditional aspects to which the followers base their faiths on. Without these elements to support the religion, the backbone of the religion would crumble. A supporting element of religious traditions that help support these truths is rituals. Rituals are the way the followers worship and interpret their...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions World Religious Traditions ll REL/134 Elements of Religious 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...
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...The Elements of Religious Traditions The Elements of Religious Traditions Brian E. Johnson, Sr. REL/134 Lewis Hoye, Instructor University of Phoenix This paper represents a discussion on the basic elements that comprise religious traditions. Included will be descriptions of the basic components of religious traditions along with the relationship they have with the divine, sacred time, sacred space and with each other. Also included will be discussion of what religious traditions say, what religious traditions do, and how they are organized. What makes a religion a religion? How does it affect the people that believe in it? How is religion affected by culture and vice versa? Religious study has evolved into a very complex academic endeavor. Whether it began as an attempt to either prove or disprove religion is not clear. What is evident is that most human cultures are profoundly shaped by the religious traditions of their respective regions. Studying religion will help one to gain perspective on the people that practice as well as the society in which they live. It has been noted that in studying religion, one brings their own beliefs into the process. Whether this is a help or hindrance is not as important as the fact that there are ways by which one can at least attempt to remain objective in the study of religion. What makes a religion a religion? Scholars have recognized that although the components may look different, there are certain elements, usually eight...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions REL/134 Elements of Religious Traditions Studying religion can enrich one’s life in many ways. First, it is important to understand the basic elements of religious traditions by focusing on important religious relationships, and critical issues in the study of religion. Important Religious Relationships There are many important relationships in religions. These include relationships with the divine, with sacred time, with sacred space and the natural world, and with other religions. The Divine An important part of religion is a relationship with the divine, or sacred reality, and can be presented in many different ways. In monotheistic religions, the divine is referred to as God. God is thought of as having power over the universe and is unlimited by ordinary reality. Pantheism sees nature as the divine, and believes that everything is connected to nature. Polytheism believes in many gods, usually in charge of different aspects of reality. For example, Poseidon was the Greek God of the sea while Aphrodite was the God of love (Molloy & Hilgers, Chapter 1, 2010). Sacred Time Religions that emphasize creation such as Christianity and Judaism believe that time is linear, with a beginning and an end. This makes time a valuable commodity because it is limited. Other religions such as Hinduism believe that time repeats itself in cycles. Emphasis on time is not as important in these religions, as they tend to focus on the present,...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Paper When speaking about religious beliefs, many things can come to your mind and need to be considered. When beginning this topic let’s start off with defining what “religion” means According to "Dictionary" (2013), “it is a set of beliefs usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often have a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs “. By this definition we can say that religion has personal meanings depending on the individual’s beliefs or what they are influenced by. In the following paper elements of religion will be introduced, the relationship with divine will be reviewed followed by the relationship with sacred time, the relationship with scared space, and lastly an examination of how these all relate to each other will be conducted. This paper will also review the critical issues that are presented when studying religion. Relationship with Divine In religious beliefs when speaking about divine the first thing that comes to mind for me is what is called a deity, considered to be supernatural people that are considered being sacred and divine. The meaning of the word divine is “godlike” which makes deities to be perceived as divine because of their supernatural powers individuals believe they have. But not in every religious belief do they have deities’ some beliefs such as; According to Molloy and Hilgers (2010), “The religion Zen Buddhism does not worship a divine being” (Chapter 1). Others such as for example...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Beth Maldonado REL/ 133 July 23, 2012 Astrid Fiano Elements of Religious Traditions Religion is the most volatile and controversial word in the world. When people say the word [religion] they are invoking a strong batch of feelings, beliefs, and traditions that people are so connected to it that they are willing to die for it. Religion is a complicated system of beliefs, ideas, doctrines, ethics all proselytized by a complex system of structures and organizations. However, complicated religion may be, there are strong structural similarities between the majority of religions and some that are universal. These similar structures within religions around the world indicate that religion has the same purpose for all those who follow it, regardless of the form of religion that they follow. To show the purpose of religion, this paper will compare and contrast the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church in particular what their religious tradition says, what their religious tradition practices and how their particular church is organized. A person may be tempted to consider various forms of monotheism to find similar structures within them but Christianity alone has many different forms of practice within it. However many forms of practices in Christianity the ultimate purpose of any religion is to provide an explanation for the unknown like death, space, and the ultimate unknown our origin. Religion tries to provide explanations to these unknowns...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Deborah C. Washington REL/133 January 2, 2013 Professor John Wadhams Elements of Religious Traditions In the original version of the movie Car Wash, Richard Pryor played a preacher. He said, “you’ve gotta believe in something, why not believe in me”, then the Pointer Sister began to sing a song called “You’ve Gotta Believe”. Believing in some type god is practiced in eastern and western cultures. There are several basic components of religious traditions and their relationship to the sacred. The three basic components are sacramental, prophetic, and mystic orientation. The sacramental orientation highlights resonating rituals and ceremonies regularly and correctly as the path to salvation; in Christianity (Baptist), the first Sunday of every month is set aside for the Lord’s Supper. Prophetic orientation stresses that contact with the sacred is ensured by proper belief and by adherence to moral rules (Molly, 2010). Catholics confess their sins for attending Mass. The priest speaks on behalf of the sinner to God. The mystical orientation seeks union with a reality greater than oneself, such as with God, the process of nature, the universe, or reality as a whole (Molly, 2010). In the Baptist Church there is a worship and praise usually in the beginning of the service. People who are Buddhist chant. Some Christianity denominations fast, depriving themselves of food in order to get closer to their god. Muslims pray five times...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Keith Ransom REL/134 December 16, 2013 Dr. Paxton Reed Religion plays a large role in the lives of many whether they are religious or not. Many of the laws that we follow today have their foundation in religious teachings. Some people would argue that society needs religion. We live in a society where interactions between people of different cultures is increasing so it is important that we attempt to understand religious traditions that are not historically our own. In the following text I will explain how religious traditions describe and encourage relationships with the divine, sacred time, sacred space, and between people. Religious traditions vary across the many different religions however some religious traditions include prayer, pilgrimage, ritual, and worship. The study of religion can be very complex. Approximately 21 major religions exist and while some are similar others are very much different. Studying religion almost undoubtedly forces one to ask philosophical question that some of the greatest philosophers have struggled with for large parts of their lives. Often engaging in dialogue involving religion can be unnerving because people tend to personalize conversations about religion. Some believe that discussing religion becomes an issue because of the very nature of some religions. Religion encourages faith, which requires complete confidence and discourages doubt. “All religions are concerned with...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions REL/134 Relationship with the Divine Divine is one of the many names that various religions use for the name of God. In the Western world the term used for the Divine is God. Divine as he is called is just, compassionate, infinite in virtues and pure. In describing the relationship with the Divine, according to the Western culture that believes in one God, Creator of all things, ruler over everything. Other traditions that believe in one God: the Yoruba, Christians and Muslims. Those believing in more than one God are the Wicca; they worship both gods and goddesses. When we talk about the different traditions and their relationship with the Divine we talk of spending time in prayer, reading and studying of the Bible, Quran, or whatever religions use to study, rituals and a set of morals and beliefs to live everyday life. All religions have some type of prayer time, for example with some Christians they have a basic prayer that give praise, honor and glory to the most High God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for forgiveness of sins, healing, prosperity, etc. Roman Catholics pray to their God and the Virgin Mary. Spending time with other believers and reading of the Bible with rituals being the way that humans can be sure they are living their lives pleasing to the God of their understanding. Falun Gong, closely related to traditional Chinese religions practice a series of five physical...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Crystal Bonner World Religious Traditions/REL 134 Professor Clark Frailey March 17, 2014 Elements of Religious Traditions This paper is going to highlight and take an in depth look into the world of religion. Topics such as the relationship with the divine, sacred time, sacred space and or the natural world and with each other will be discussed and scrutinized within this writing. Belief in the Supernatural or “Higher Power” Every religion; in some way, shape, or form believes in a supernatural being or higher power. Some consider this supernatural power to be formless; almost as if to say it cannot be seen. They may even have a sacred space or time for which the divine power exists or began. They believe that this unseen power influences every aspect of human life; from the way we raise our children to our morality in deciphering between what is right and wrong. Religious Traditions all Together Religious traditions are practices within religions that are passed down from generation to generation amongst others of any one religion. Different religious traditions such as the last supper (breaking bread and drinking wine in representation to Jesus’ flesh and blood) or Easter (the day that Jesus raised from the grave) all represent traditions that correlate with and complement each other to reinforce Christian beliefs (Bible Gateway, 2011). Issues in the Study of Religion There can be many issues that arise within the study...
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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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...Running Head: ELEMENTS OF RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Elements of Religious Traditions Name: Eugene Clinton Course: REL/133 February 18, 2012 What a religious tradition says A religious tradition is based on particular beliefs that a group of people or a community adhere to. Religion and religious traditions thereof come about as human beings seek to understand themselves, the purpose of their existence and the existence of the people and the things around them. Traditions are particularly based on the individual’s conception of himself or herself and whatever context that he or she lives or exists in (Molloy & Hilgers, 2001). It is, therefore, common for individuals to take up religious beliefs according to their religious orientation. This is mostly based on what the community that he or she lives in has always believed in and practiced. Theologians and philosophers alike identify that most of the religious traditions adopted by people are based on their childhood experiences and the perceptions that they have grown up with in regard to fear as well as security (Sutcliffe, 2002). While most religions may have particular teachings contained in religious books, others do not have such definitive aspects, but the followers and those who practice the religion know what is expected of them according to their religion (Molloy & Hilgers, 2001). This mostly passed down from one person to another to a point where it becomes more of a culture or rather a tradition. Some of...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Brenda L. Miller REL 133 - Week One Assignment March 3, 2014 Calvin Habig Elements of Religious Traditions In an attempt to seek answers of the mysteries within our universe, people use the basic components of religion, critical issues, and various religious traditions to worship and honor a higher power, god, divine, spiritual being, or an eternal world to receive fulfillment and comfort in life. It is this sacredness which brings the mind, body, and spirit together as the foundation toward religion in daily life. Gaining an understanding of the basic components of religious traditions, some of the critical issues in religion, and various religious traditions will allow individuals further insight on the elements of religion. The basic components of religious traditions will explain how religions organize, what they do, and say. Basic Components of Religious Traditions The religions of the world give insight into traditions, what religions share, insight of people, tolerance/appreciation of differences, intellectual questioning, insight into daily life, appreciation of the arts, an enjoyment of travel, family traditions, and personal religious quests (Molloy, 2010). To believe in a higher power, a deity, spiritual being, creator, divine, God, group of gods, or have a faithful following of an eternal world is to be religious. A tradition is a repetitive behavior with a significant reasoning or meaning that continues over time. ...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions World Religious Traditions I Elements of Religious Traditions Religion is significant to every person and their communities all over the world. Every person can judge, study, and have their own personal view when it comes to the Bible and their culture. Some support the need to have calmness and harmony when it comes to their religion and have faith in one God. In order for a person to gain information and understanding of religion one must know more about religious beliefs such as prayer, pilgrimage, ceremonies, and praying. It is important to realize the differences between written and oral traditions. Oral traditions and sacred texts are very well known by many religions around the world. Some of the native religions are made from oral traditions instead of through texts. Due to their religion being taught by oral tradition, their culture and religion has been passed down the generations. It can be more difficult for people to be able to keep in touch and examine their religion when the only way it is taught is through oral tradition. It is very important to find the purpose of a written text and pair it to a particular religion. Some religious ideas work by using many methods regardless if those methods seem unrealistic or are a set of principles. There are two ways of how religion can be articulated. The first way is the creation of the planet. For example, in the Shinto religion the creation of the planet is described by a...
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...Elements of Religious Traditions Elements of Religious 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...
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