Religions of the World Essay - 1063 Words

Religions of the World Religions of the world must be studied subjectively, or with the attitude of pluralism, the view that they are all equal. A number of methods are used to study religions. The most common is the historical comparative method in which a certain faiths history and traditions are deliberated. This method focuses on orthodoxy, meaning correct thought. Another method is the phenomenological method. This method, unlike the historical comparative method, is centered on orthopraxy, or correct practice. Other less common methods involve subjective modes of study such as the confessional method of study, which interprets a religion based on a particular point of view, and the empathetic approach, which is based†¦show more content†¦Rocks also possess religious references. Easter Island and Stonehenge, for example, hold religious significance of ethnic religions of the past. The Kotel, or the Wailing Wall, in Jerusalem is a more modern example, being the last standing part of the s econd temple. Other examples of physical geography in religion are trees, which were used to create totems, and rivers, such as the Nile, which was sacred in the ancient Egyptian religion and the Ganges, which is still sacred today to the Hindus. Water is used as a means of purification in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The desert is also and example. It is often considered to be a means of spiritual refinement. The ecology of religion is of great importance. The processes of nature become ritualized in attempt to change the processes or powers behind them. Simple ethnic religions, especially, are built around cycles of nature as fertility rituals. The more complex the religion becomes, the more complex the type of ritual practiced becomes. When Christianity began, it practiced many of the values from the Mediterranean agricultural societies from which it originated. Christianity began to take on the characteristics of the people who accepted it. For instance, the Jewis h Passover became Easter, Christmas was not originally practiced, but Christians gradually absorbed the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Religion also relates directly to the land. EnvironmentalShow MoreRelatedWorld Religion2226 Words   |  9 PagesReligion is a hard word to define. Some might define religion as believing in a high power, deities, or a single God. Others define it as a belief system that has more to do with culture and traditions being past down from generation to generation than anything. According to Ask.com (n.d.), religion is define as the belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. No one knows what the first religion was or when it was founded, but todayRead MoreWorld Religion1511 Words   |  7 PagesDanielle 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 toRead MoreWorld Religion5936 Words   |  24 Pages1-Understanding Religion STUDY QUESTIONS (Pages 1-29) Group A 1. What are some of the questions religion seek to answer? List some of the human needs served by religion? 2. 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Read MoreReligion Of The World Essays1431 Words   |  6 PagesReligion is interwoven with the social, economic, and political life of the people. It is properly one of the areas of interest to a sociologist because of its influence on the individual and its functions in society. Thus, religion unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden-beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a church all those who adhere to them. Important practice of religion is the observanceRead MoreReligion And The Modern World Essay1334 Words   |  6 PagesReligions and civilization have always gone hand in hand, forming and evolving as time goes on. With so many various religions represented throughout history and in our diverse cultures, there are various subjects, ideas, and themes depicted and repeated. With so many concepts available to us in so many forms, we are able to easily compare and discuss their presence and how they integrate into concepts of the modern world. Two forms of religion are animism versus anthropocentrism. Animistic religionsRead MoreReligions of the World Essay673 Words   |  3 PagesReligions of the World Since the creation of The Church of Jesus Christ of The Latter-Day Saints, there have been many controversies concerning the similarities and differences between Mormonism and Catholicism, Christianity and Protestantism. Other than the obvious, that Catholicism, Christianity and Protestantism believe that there are no more prophets, and Mormons believe that there are still prophets walking the earth today, differences between the faiths range in