...April Agresti Humanities – World Religion 03/24/2016 Understanding Primal, Antiquity, and India Religions There are many different types of religions around the world. Some of them are monotheistic, meaning that they only believe in one God, and some are polytheistic, meaning that they believe in more than one God, or nondualist, meaning that sacred reality cannot be numbered at all. Some examples of these religions are Australian Aboriginal groups, Native American Indians, African religions, Mesopotamian, Zoroastrianism, Greek, Celtics, Germanic, Hinduism, Jains, and Sikhs. Most of these religions have been practiced for centuries and are still practiced today. There are many similarities and many different ways of these religions. However, within these religions, we are able to compare and contrast some of their religious beliefs, their overall ideas, and how they try to satisfy their human needs. Primal definition is, “original,” the Australian Aborigines, Native American Indians, and African religions are primal religions. “Aborginigine,” means from the beginning. Aboriginal religion is best understood for a vision of the nature and how they are linked and connected with nature and everything around it. Aboriginal spiritually entails a close relationship between humans and the lands. They call the beginning of the world the “Dreaming” or “Dreamtime.” In the “Dreamtime,” aboriginal “Ancestors” rose from below the...
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...World Religion Test Common Features of Religion FEAR of evil, supernatural, sin, a meaningless existence. WONDER Nature, world, humanity, complex Requires explanation QUESTIONING Why do good people die? Why is there evil in the world? What is death? Is there more meaning to our existence than what we see and do? Definitions: Religion: to act as a meeting place for the sacred and everyday dimensions. Sacred Story: each sacred story shares the same key dimensions First: origin (the basic story) Second: history of the religious community Third: teachings that define that community, its creed, cult, and moral code. Creed: the community's fundamental statements about God or the meaning of life Cults: Used to describe even more fundamentally at odds with the world outside. Moral Code: the moral conduct people are to follow. The system of rules that guides moral activity. Sacred scriptures: record sacred traditions as they are handed/passed down. An approved text becomes established and is considered sacred or authoritative. Religious symbols: the primary means by which the sacred is expressed to the people whom it appears. Sect: sub-division within an established religion. Referred to a group of believers at odds with the mainstream tradition. Theophany: an encounter with the divine Ethics: norms of behaviour modelled on the way of life of the founder that emphasize the centrality of human dignity...
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...Capstone Week 9 In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion? As I have studied the different religions and the beliefs of those religions. I have come to understand other religions and their dogma in a way; I was never able to before. I was forced to look at other religion, without letting my own beliefs hamper me. I let myself be curious about the why, when, where other religions developed. This class has taught me the beginnings of the major religions of the world and changed my thought process about my own religion. I also learned how the religion started, evolved, and where its believers are in the world today. It opened my eyes to the fact that many religions care for the poor, young and the old. I have learned not to close my mind when something is not of my own religion. Why is it important to learn about other peoples' beliefs and attitudes? It is very important for me to learn other’s beliefs and religions. This helps you to understand why you see a woman wearing a heading covering or a man a yamakl. This teaches you not to make snap judgments about other religions when a few people do bad things in the name of that religion. When you have an understanding of other religion’s it is easier to see the person not the religion. This has helped me to understand that not all Muslims hate American’s or that Hindu women are odd because of the dot on their forehead. When we understand another belief this may lead to peace. ...
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...Danielle Walker World Religions Field Trip Paper 4 May 2014 Different People’s Way of Life Many individuals abide or live life along a set of guidelines or follow a certain religion and that conveys their way of life. Religions have many values, beliefs, and aspirations among them. Worldwide many religions are practiced daily although some may be practiced more than others on a daily basis. I have learned about many aspects, values, and what the motive to practicing a certain religion may give to life. To studying certain religions in the classroom to attending churches and services of specific religions I have learned a great deal of information revolving around the true aspects of our worldwide ways of life. Among the few religions I attended in person to view what cultural values, beliefs, and aspects that individuals abided by were the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, The Greek Orthodox Church, Unitarian-Universalist Church, and Pilgrim Baptist Church. All in which shared different views and progressions on the way of life. The Vietnamese Buddhist Temple I found to be one of the more interesting locations out of all because of the formal one on one interaction with the monk. My impression of the religion and its “world view” from the apparent architecture and artifacts was an impression that actually stunned me because of the precise actions of such an individual. The site conveyed a very neat and high class appearance in the terms of how those individuals live the...
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...Religion and Philosophy Assignment I believe that society should tolerate all kinds of religious groups. Religious tolerance is a growing social movement in America. It seems that tolerance of various religious groups is a necessity if we are all going to get along. We need to be tolerant of those who have different religious beliefs. We should not hate and persecute someone because of his or her faith. Another example to me, is the concept of the "melting pot," in the United States which referred to the fact that many different nationalities and ethnic groups supposedly "melted together" to become Americans. I experience this concept almost every day. For me it occurs more frequently at work. My co-workers are Haitians, Semolians, Philippians, etc. Personally, I seem to adapt well with differences. I am three unique ethnicities, African American, German, and Japanese, so being able to understand other people’s lifestyles is very natural to me since I have the experience of my own. In my opinion, differences between religions are more important. The United States is very uniform when it is compared to other countries. We try to speak the same language, have similarity in the school system, and the government is the same for everyone in the United States. Why have the same religion? By having varying religious groups, it honors each group of religion as valuable and unique. It also shows appreciation by being distinct and valuable. I feel people of various...
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...Among the major world religions, three are very closely related in their origins, their beliefs, their revealed books or Holy Scriptures, and their institutions of leadership. They are also closely related in their beliefs about morals and ethics, and their views of the individual and social life. Following is the way that the Abrahamic religions are compared to each other: Abraham (or Abram) had a huge impact on the religions Believe that God made a covenant, or agreement with Abraham to keep the faith in One God, and to worship Him, to keep that faith and teach the practice of worship to his children down the generations, and God would preserve, protect and multiply the children of Abraham. All of the monotheistic faiths share a belief that God, the Creator, has “spoken” to humankind over time. The word for this divine communication is “revelation.” Belief in angels as God’s messengers to human beings. Believers in the Abrahamic faiths have preserved these scriptures and traditions of the prophets and the story of their unfolding in human history. Mahayana Buddhism The Mahayana emerged between 100 B.C.E. and 100 C.E. in India in the context of debate about proper Buddhist doctrine and practice, about monastic discipline, and particularly about the ongoing presence of the Buddha after his death as well as the nature of enlightenment itself. Initially, the Mahayana was influenced by other Buddhist schools of thought in India; as it spread in...
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... Judith Posey, Student Professor Yancey, Instructor REL 212 – WORLD RELIGIONS July 23, 2012 In order for people to make sense of their life and to find the purpose for their being, they try to find something that they can use in an effort to put order in their lives. Religion is what most people use to help deal with the day to day events which take place in their lives, whether good or bad. Religion also helps them to rely on something other than themselves to help understand the reasoning behind the events that transpire in their lives. Religion also helps them to identify with their place and purpose within the universe. In facing death and other catastrophic events, religion gives them a sense of comfort and support. Religion is inspirational and motivational when seeking life-long goals of achievement. Close to every aspect of life can become the raw material out of which a religious interpretation of life may be built. The various types of religion present us with a particular view of life, expressed in its teachings, scriptures, and traditions. In order to appreciate and accept the religion, one must become devoted to the discipline and strength needed to practice it. Life experiences may cause a person to choose religion. When things in life seem too overwhelming to handle on their own, the need to depend upon a higher power helps to put their life back in order. Religion helps people deal with personal problems such as physical illness, grief...
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...How do religions become respectful to other traditions? I resonated with Stephen Prothero thought, “If it matters to ordinary people it matters,” (Prothero, Diversity Conversation 2010). Who are ordinary people? Are they immigrants, social outcasts, less fortunate, or people who go to work, church and school? I believe when we respect the differences of other religions we will help shape the values of society. In turn, we will realize what matters to ordinary people also matters in society. Throughout this paper I will argue interreligious communities need to be accessible and open to learn traditions of other faiths. The interreligious faith communities can start with respecting the differences and similarities of each other’s religions. Respecting the differences of other religions is essential for society to understand other religions and one of the obligations in interreligious relations. We can even expound the idea of respecting the differences of other religions into being an obligation of a Christian. Coogan states, “What way can religions encourage society in general to grant equality to other traditions with beliefs and practices perhaps antithetical to its own?” (Coogan 1998) How can the religious society be more vulnerable to other traditions, but maintain their own traditions? I am encouraged by Coogan's statement, “The world’s major religious traditions have both reflected and shaped the values of the societies of which they have been an inseparable element”...
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...astonishing moments in sports, God, usually within the context of religion, is the magician behind it all. A higher force may exist but presenting it as truth or even likely is not sensible. Religion negatively affects rationality with its doctrines, scriptures, and governance because it promotes ignorance. Ignorance comes in many forms; ignorance of evidence, moral perspective, other faiths, equality, etc. Theorizing a higher force is neither illogical nor dangerous, but piling on details contrary to what reason dictates does just that. It was sensible for ancient civilizations to do such things, and the same goes for primitive cultures today. However, these ideas should not subsist in the modernized parts of the world. The rise of religious beliefs within past civilizations does seem reasonable when considering the time period. Calling the ancient Egyptians “dumb” or their beliefs “stupid” is naïve since they lacked scientific knowledge and the means to obtain it. To the Egyptians, the sun and moon appeared as if they were moving and switching places periodically. The “mover” responsible for these actions was labeled Ra, the sun god. Now we know that Earth’s rotation affects the amount of sunlight in a region, which causes the occurrence of day and night. Supernatural belief back then was an attempt to explain the world and peoples’ experiences of it. Bill Maher in Religulous demonstrates that religion today contradicts reason, and that religious followers need their consciousness...
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...From the beginning of time, men have had continuous arguments over religion. Religion has been the greatest source of disagreement between cultures. Even the foundation of America was built on religious freedom, as Puritans from Great Britain came to the United States to practice their religion freely. The biggest religious disagreement, however, has been between the Catholics and the Jews. Years ago, a man was crucified for saying he was God’s Son. His name was Jesus Christ. Those who followed his teachings were names Christians; and Christians soon resented Jews for their sinful act. This tension between Christians and Jews lead to increasing hate towards one another. Not too long ago, anti-Semitism was common. Anti-Semitism led to the death of an entire population during the holocaust. Luckily, the church took measures to rectify this anti-Semitism with the publication of Nostra Aetate. In 1965, the Vatican II Council completely transformed the church’s policies and theology with this document. Nostra Aetate signifies “In Our Time” and it is from the first line of the declaration as is customary with Roman Catholic documents. Indeed, in our time, the ill sentiments towards Jews have changed tremendously. Nostra Aetate is a unifying document that has not only led to peaceful coexistence of the Catholic and Judaic faith but also understanding of many other faiths. Ultimately, it has enabled the education of Catholicism in universities, as well as in organizations. The Nostra...
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...The study of the religions of the world can help us as adelete…do not use personal pronouns in research papers…considered too informal of a tone…. society and asdelete individuals become more understanding, thoughtful, and tolerant of others. The major Abrahamic religions of the world today consist of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and are structured similarly, but differ in many ways, and all have their own issues with extremists that might be more tolerant if they were to understand how close these religions are to one another. The study of the structural similarities is important in understanding each of these groups. The approach of studying Christianity, Judaism, and Islam can be similar in many ways. Firstcomma one wedelete personal pronouns… must understand where the religious beliefs come from. White (n.d.), “The religious texts and traditions are born within these groups unite and mold the communities that share them into a whole civilization and evolve into worlds of common thought and composition” (Extremism). All Abrahamic religions believe in a single god with a divine plan. Followers believe that life is predetermined by god and that god has a fixed plan for each individual. Supporters of these faiths all have a sacred area where praise, ritual and material expression is practiced, whether it be the Christian’s church, the Jew’s synagogue, or the Islamism’s mosque. These people all have a strong belief in ethics, community, central myths, and sacredness. They...
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...University of Phoenix Unit 1 Project Professor Philip Gaethe REl/134 World Religions Traditions II By Mark Anthony Brennan 03/18/2012 There are many different ways that religion can alter or even encourage relationships when it comes to society. When you take a look at those relationships you have to look at the following: Relationship with the divine, Relationship with sacred time, Relationship with sacred space or the natural world and Relationship with each other. Each religious group or belief has feelings when it comes to their specific point of view or opinion. One important thing that must be considered however, when studying religion is the fact of what you can say or believe so that you do not offend another group or individual based on your ideas or beliefs. When a religious group or organization has its practice or beliefs we have to consider the following when it comes to relationship between its practices and beliefs with its divine. If you take a look the catholic traditions the relationship one has with its divine is a close and personal relationship. Prayer is a way of communication with the divine and they celebrate with praise through hymn. I know this relationship personally as I grew up in a catholic environment. Personally however, I became regular Christian where in my opinion the relationship I have my divine (God) is much more personal and you feel a sense of connection all throughout the day, where one does not need to pray to have that...
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...Religion 1 Religions of the World: Commonalities and Differences NAME HUM 400: Religion and Philosophy PROF December 5, 2010 Religion 2 Religions of the World: Commonalities and Differences Religion is a focal point across the world for discussion and even arguments as there are multiple crossroads and established beliefs that are practiced actively. The three primary religions that are widely renowned would be Christianity, Judaism and Islam simply because of the publicity and attention brought forward in religions’ behalf. The comparison and contrast of these three religions will be broke down in a manner that discusses the fundamental beliefs, prevalent practices within and the regions of which the religions are the most practiced. The religion of Christianity is known as a trinitarian monotheism where there is only one God and the practices take place within a church, chapel or even cathedral. Christianity is deemed to be revealed through various Prophets and even Jesus as it was shown to be recorded through in the Bible. The Bible is the holy testament of the trials and tribulations of Jesus, who was established to be the identified ideal for all mankind. The presentation of Christianity is that all of the population were to be treated as equals and in addition were to treat those surrounding them in a respectful and conscientious manner to honor the Bible. The regions of which Christianity is primarily the focused would include both South and North...
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...World Religions Midterm Paper RELIGION: HINDUISM RITUAL: ARYUVEDIC Hinduism as we have learnt previously originated in India and has a large following, even outside of India in countries such as the United States and other parts of Asia as well. Many people debate as to whether Hinduism can actually be regarded as a religion due to the various ideologies it encompasses. It proposes ideas which are seemingly, should not be considered religious due to many people. The lack of a spiritual figure who can be looked up to and prayed to , as do the other familiar religions, give many a cause to disregard it as a religion but rather as a way of life. One of such practices which are incorporated into their rituals is Ayurveda. It is a practice which is concerned with providing holistic healing for individuals. In the following paragraphs, I will go into detail about Ayurveda, detailing its origins/ beginnings, types and its use across the world. Ayurveda is an ancient medicinal form of science which was practiced in India (as Hinduism also started in India). It began centuries and the word Ayurveda in Sanskrit is “Ayur” which means “life” and “veda” which also means “science” Therefore, in keeping with its aim of providing holistic healing can be considered to be a life science. The practice of Ayurveda started in India centuries ago and is often referred to as the ‘mother of healing’. Ancient Greek and Chinese medicine too was influenced from Ayurveda and its natural healing...
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...walden university | Confucianism | World Religions | | Cory Green | 10/10/2011 | | Confucianism “To [the Chinese], Confucianism is Chinese life in all its political, social, moral, and religious aspects” (pp. 261). After doing a little bit of reading on Confucianism and understanding the teachings of this particular religion, I definitely can understand now why people think that this particular religion itself can be seen more of a moral code that people should live their lives by rather than a religious ideology that people adhere to. Although there are certain things within Confucianism that one could make out as a religion such as the sacred texts one should live by including Ren, Yi and Li. These teachings are basically the moral guidelines that people of this religion live by in order to be the best possible being that they can be. I think that the main difference between this religion and other religions is that there is no presence of a supernatural being or a higher power. There are also no references to a life after death. But, Confucius explained that the reason there was no possible way that humans could understand divine beings because we were incapable of understanding something so complex so our human relationships should basically be focused on and being the best possible human being we could be. I think that many people find this confusing but also very engaging because being the best possible person that you could be could translate into...
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