REL 133 week 1 Common Practices in Religion Essay

Although religions today take on many shapes and forms, and may seem so dramatically different from each other, in order to study and understand these religions, their similarities must be identified. This paper will first present a definition of religion that will connect to all religions at the simplest base. Then this paper will examine the common practices and experiences that are present in both the primary religions of the world, as well as the indigenous religions. Finally, this paper will discuss the issues that are critical to the academic study of religions.

Religion manifests itself everywhere around the world. Although all beings are different we come together as one transcendence being the host. Sacred rituals are performed, honoring beliefs in accordance to ones religion. Rituals are performed for a wide array of reasons, some being a sort of rite of passage, healing the sick and even birth or death rituals. Judaism, Santeria, and Christianity all have ceremonies and rituals, some carried out as different as night and day, and some for the same purposes. These religions in depth have more in common than the eye can see, devotion, transcendence and worship to a higher absolute power. All participating in Sacred Ritual.

Due to the wide range of habitats in North America, different native religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the individual tribe. Religious traditions of aboriginal peoples around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether by hunting wild animals or by agriculture. Native American spirituality is no exception. Traditional Lakota spirituality is a form of religious belief that each thing, plant and animal has a spirit. The Native American spirituality has an inseparable connection between the spirituality and the culture. One cannot exist without the other.

Religion can be defined as inner beliefs of where one may have come from and beliefs in morals to help guide one through his or her life. As for the Cherokee, they put many of their beliefs in nature and did not believe in one single creator. These beliefs were used to teach stories and pass on the history of their people. Sometimes their beliefs were used to give hope to the people in times of trouble. Because the Cherokee did not believe in one single god with the credit of creating the earth and all of its living beings, they have found a way to create their own creation story relying heavily on the animals of nature.

While the Native Americans and the Africans inhabited two different continents, their belief system has a plethora of similarities pertaining to their core values. The basis of their religion also, in some ways, epitomizes modern day religion such as rites of passage. Their differences are shallow in context when it comes to what they view as sacred and holy and including religious rituals that are performed for a specific reason or transformation. Both Native American and African mythologies center around the ideology of harmony, balance, and cyclical nature of all beings through animistic symbolization. To a certain degree, all outsiders or nonnatives who study the belief systems of indigenous religions have found that indigenous religion is more than just a religion or belief system but rather an inherent way of living. To name or label indigenous beliefs as “religion” or any other is to have a bias based on our own views of transformation and ultimacy.

Traditional Native American ceremonies are still practiced by the tribes. Theological belief systems are still held by many of the native people. The spiritualities spirit may accompany adherence to another faith, or represent a person's primary religious identity. While much Native American spiritualism exists in a tribal-cultural continuum, and as such cannot be easily separated from tribal identity itself, certain other more clearly defined movements have arisen among "traditional" Native American

What is an ‘indigenous’ religion or belief system? When we hear the term ‘indigenous religion’, what comes to our minds? How do we react internally when those words are mentioned? How do adherents of indigenous religions feel about those outside of their social and cultural circles, who know very little of their beliefs and who understand them even less. And how did the term ‘indigenous’ become associated with various belief systems that, in many cases, preceded most modern religions being practiced today?

Anthropology has found that every culture has some type of religion or belief system. Anthropology defines religion as “beliefs and behaviors regarding supernatural beings [Gods, ghosts, spirits, ancestors, angels, souls, etc.], powers, and forces.” (Miller-Thayer). All religions have common characteristics, sacred narratives and symbols. Sacred Narratives “are stories that are held to be holy and true by members of religious tradition.

Religion is used in nations to unify citizens and create the collective identity. For example, Hinduism is a dominant religion in India, which gives India a sense of identity. However, religion can also divide people, because it might brew conflict. An example being the crisis in Syria, where there is conflict between Muslims and the other minority religions. People also may have spiritual connections to their land, the Aboriginals of Australia they have spiritual connections to their land. To the aboriginals, their life on their land and everything on it is sacred to

As said in the text book, Indigenous Religion is passed on by word of mouth rather than written through text, like Christianity we use a bible. Indigenous Religion is found anywhere, from the tropical too the Arctic. There are a lot of differences to with their story of creation and origin, as well as their belief of what happens in the afterlife, in marriage and funerals. Indigenous Religion has a strong belief about the nature of things, as deep feelings and motivations, as well as the fundamental values. The Religion is split into spirit and matter, mind and brain, and supernatural and natural. It involves spirits, ancestors, humans, unborn, animals, plants and earths spirits. While Hinduism has no Historic founder, they often emphasize

Religion: the faith in and worship of a superhuman controlling force, particularly an individual God or divine beings.

The word “religion” originated from the Latin roots as Religare, which meaning to bind together. This is one way to explain the power of religion, whereas it binds a person to a community, belief, culture, feelings, imaginings, and actions. It is a moral code believed to be empowered by the gods. It is mainly focused on a belief in something sacred. A specific social group is usually bound together to represent a religion. There are also many different forms of communications with those metaphysical figures. What most do not realize is that religion always begins in an experience.

What is a religion? A religion is defined by Richard Schaefer as a unified system of beliefs and practices that relate to what is believed to be sacred (Schaefer, Richard T, 2009, pg 323). There are many world religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hindu, and so forth, and while all of these different religions are

In a world where religion represents a crucial role in the lives of countless people, there is no doubt that it influences an individual’s daily decisions. There are numerous religions that have been created, although the most significant ones have been widely practiced for centuries. Each of the world’s major religions have distinctions that set them apart from others. Consequently, these distinctions cause turmoil between religions due to individual biased opinion for their God. Followers of a religion suppose that their faith is designated as the most favorable and true religion of all practices. For this reason, an increasing amount of conflict arises and shapes a person’s prejudice. Religion constructs its follower’s ideology which puts their faith above all others, ruining how a society functions and its relationship with other religions.

According to Penguin Dictionary of Religions (1997), religion is defined as a general term that used to appoint all concepts relating the belief in god(s) and goddess(es) as well as other spiritual beings or transcendental ultimate concerns. According to American Heritage Dictionary, religion is defined as belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe, a particular integrated system of this expression and also the spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognizes the existence of a superhuman power or powers. J. Miltion Yinger once said, "Religion is a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group of people struggle with the ultimate problem of human life."