Religious Traditions
Elements of Religious Traditions
University of Phoenix
REL/134
Elements of Religious Traditions
Religion is a big part of today’s society; it has always been a big part of society. What is religion? The dictionary definition of religion is a system of beliefs that involves worship of a god, prayer, ritual and a moral code. Not all religions follow those guidelines, so it is not an accurate definition. Instead we look at a number of characteristics such as a belief system, community, ritual beliefs, and ethics. Below will discuss the relationship with the divine, sacred time, sacred space, the natural world, and how religion affects humans. Religious traditions encourage humans to worship the divine. The divine is another term for a god, great mother or Great Spirit. For example, Catholics often consider Mary the mother of Jesus a saint and holy. Mary is worshiped and considered divine by the Catholic faith. Mary is believed to possess superhuman powers and is a strong role model for women, in the Catholic faith (Molloy, 2010). How do religious traditions describe and encourage Relationships with sacred time and sacred space? Our everyday life happens in ordinary time. Sacred time is the time of eternity. Sacred space is believed to always return to its origins for renewal. Different cultures refer to sacred time differently. For example, the Koyukon people of the Arctic refer to it as distant time. The Australian aborigines often called it dream time. Ordinary space exists in everyday life. Sacred space is believed to be the doorway to the world of gods and ancestors. It is believed that we can contact our ancestors or they can contact us through sacred space. Sacred space varies through religions. Sacred space might be a mountain, volcano, a valley, a lake, a forest, a tree, or another natural site. Sacred space can also be built, such as Stonehenge in England. How do religious traditions describe and encourage Relationships with
University of Phoenix
REL/134
Elements of Religious Traditions
Religion is a big part of today’s society; it has always been a big part of society. What is religion? The dictionary definition of religion is a system of beliefs that involves worship of a god, prayer, ritual and a moral code. Not all religions follow those guidelines, so it is not an accurate definition. Instead we look at a number of characteristics such as a belief system, community, ritual beliefs, and ethics. Below will discuss the relationship with the divine, sacred time, sacred space, the natural world, and how religion affects humans. Religious traditions encourage humans to worship the divine. The divine is another term for a god, great mother or Great Spirit. For example, Catholics often consider Mary the mother of Jesus a saint and holy. Mary is worshiped and considered divine by the Catholic faith. Mary is believed to possess superhuman powers and is a strong role model for women, in the Catholic faith (Molloy, 2010). How do religious traditions describe and encourage Relationships with sacred time and sacred space? Our everyday life happens in ordinary time. Sacred time is the time of eternity. Sacred space is believed to always return to its origins for renewal. Different cultures refer to sacred time differently. For example, the Koyukon people of the Arctic refer to it as distant time. The Australian aborigines often called it dream time. Ordinary space exists in everyday life. Sacred space is believed to be the doorway to the world of gods and ancestors. It is believed that we can contact our ancestors or they can contact us through sacred space. Sacred space varies through religions. Sacred space might be a mountain, volcano, a valley, a lake, a forest, a tree, or another natural site. Sacred space can also be built, such as Stonehenge in England. How do religious traditions describe and encourage Relationships with
References: Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.