Religious Traditions - Essay Example

Religion was originally devised as a way or a path that restrains humans physically, emotionally and morally. However, the belief in supernatural power or the divine had existed as part of human society from time immemorial and has been a strong driving force in the formation of world religions. People differ in their opinion and perception of the form and substance of the supernatural power and they are led by either the doctrines of their respective religions or their individual beliefs. Nevertheless, all the world religions have theories and practices concerning the Divine, Sacred Time, Sacred Place and have followers, devotees or members who are dictated by certain ethics of behaviour with fellow believers. The study of religious doctrines reveals surprising parallels among religions as well as astounding contrasts. Some of the religion’s traditions might be rooted in a mythical past and few other are in a reformation movement within yet another religion. Christianity, the major world religion, traces its religious doctrines and practices to the beginning of Christian Era with the birth of Christ Jesus. At present, Christianity has more than a thousand sects (otherwise denominations) who say they are only a branch and not a sect but just as other Christians. Although they vary in practices and doctrines to some extent, they all unite in their past. Similarly, Islam has sects within yet same in the roots. Many Asian religions are a result of reformation movements carried out by people such as Buddha (founder of Buddhism), Mahaveer (founder of Jainism) and Gurunanak (founder of Sikhism) who sought enlightenment and truth. These leaders have become the religious leaders and their religions retain many rituals of their parent religion. There are many other religions which are still in their primitive forms as against those that have constantly evolved over the ages with the changing expectations and lifestyle of humans. The concept of ‘Divine’ is found in all religions irrespective of whether it represents the sacred or self. They differ in how they conceive their relationship with Divine. Some recommend mediation while others believe in individual communication with God. The early Quakers, for example, believed that they can commune with god without any intermediary like a priest as they say that Christ came to the world Himself and therefore each person can experience and respond to divine and allow the action of spirit. They consider ‘prayer’ as a means to enter a relationship with beyond. Though they do not have a strict embodiment of the divine and some of them may not even accept a personified divine, they might be in awe of the universe or identify themselves with someone in great hardship or relish the laughter of a baby and these actions are interpreted as their efforts to connect with the beyond. What they look for is the wisdom, guidance and inspiration of the spirit or divine within and without (McBee, 2010). Hinduism has many Gods and Goddesses who are timeless and are unrestricted by space. “The divine is not only beyond gender and name, but also beyond number, has resulted in its manifestation in many shapes and forms” (Cline, 2010). Despite the numerous gods personified in the religion, divine is omnipresent universal soul. This can be found in all the natural elements, fellow humans and even the individual self. The followers are considered devotees and worship their favourite deity in a holy shrine or in a temple with or without the help of a priest. Although they have the practice of priesthood, each devotee offering loving service to God can communicate with divine individually at heart and unite with the universal soul. The doctrines of Hinduism are wide and different throughout Indian sub-continent, but they all converge in their belief in the unrestrained love between devotee and deity. Piety is “Bhakti ("reverent devotion") stressed the emotional attachment and love of a devotee for his or her personal god (Istadevata). It implied a dualistic relationship between worshipper and god” (Holisticonline, 2009).) It is highly mystical that encourages the attainment of inner peace and enlightenment through realisation of self and divine in one (Holisticonline, 2009). Sacred Time is what is considered special in religious traditions. In Christianity, for example, Church service on Sundays illustrates the concept of sacred time for them. Although certain Christian denominations follow the Sabbath on the Seventh day as it is considered holy for Creator, others still go with the first day of the week. Quakers have ‘meetings’ on Sundays as well as on other days of the week as any time is good to pray or to build an awareness of the divine within oneself and listen to the spirit for guidance. Hinduism regards any time as sacred as their gods are not restricted by time. However, they consider certain time more auspicious than others and they consult priests to decide marriage or rituals. Time is cyclic that it begins with creation and ends with destruction and the cycle repeats itself. Nevertheless, the relationship of Hinduism with sacred time is one that is highly relative to the divine and therefore is considered eternal and transcends any ties to the past, present, future definitions of humans (Patheos, 2010). Sacred place controls where religious rituals are held or followers conduct worship. All religions are associated with holy places of worship and sites considered sacred. For example, Shintoism which later adopted Buddhist practices has many Holy Mountains as part of its sacred places of worship. “Mountain worship in Japan is referred to as Sangaku Shinkou, which literally means “mountain faith” (Schumacher, 2010). Pilgrimage is highly recommended for getting favours and blessings. Similar traditions are found in all other oriental religions. Hinduism, the birthplace of Buddhism, has numerous pilgrimage places in mountains and powerful deities dwell in the snow clad Himalayan Mountains, for instance. Mountains are the abode of the Hindu Gods and therefore small mounts and high peaks have beautiful temples and shrines to which devotees go on foot to pray for special favours. Otherwise, temples are where the deities are worshipped. Even households have shrines, but are not the only places where gods dwell. Soul is the house of divine. Nevertheless, rivers, especially two or more ensemble (thirtha) and trees are also seen as sacred. Christianity has Churches and pilgrim centres such as Jerusalem and the city of Venice but it recommends human body as the temple of God and advises purity of soul and flesh. It does not regard divine as a physical form and therefore does not require a sacred place unless the followers get together for worship, praise and prayer. Quakers meet in halls and rooms which are not very specific in any requirements. All religions recommend love and therefore their relationship with fellow humans is one of the foremost components of the teachings. Christianity, for instance, asks its followers to love each other as Christ Jesus loved them- the selfless love; Islam asks for submission to the almighty but love towards fellow humans. Hinduism describes divine as love and Bhagavat Gita advises the devotee to see divine in others as it says that the Brahman or the divine and each human are one and the same that there is no ‘individual’ but only the universal soul. Love is the dharma or righteousness. Quakers consider everyone as friend in faith, one whom they consider responsible for spiritual guidance. Keeping low is one of the ways of their religion and it expects them to be open to learning from everyone irrespective of their social and educational status (McBee, 2010). Islam propagates universal brotherhood so as Christianity. It urges the believer to be a true neighbour, one who cares and loves in action and not only in words. In conclusion, religious traditions converge in the way they propagate love for one another and for the divine. They might differ in their perception of the divine and their purpose of attaining salvation or enlightenment, but they all believe in the concept of supernatural or omnipotent and omnipresent divine, with or without a form, who can be communicated with or without an intermediary and sought in a sacred place or inside the pure heart of a devotee. All religious look for peace and inner harmony nevertheless they also seek personal favour. References Cline, A. (2010 ). Hinduism: origins - beliefs - practices - holy texts - sacred places. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from http://atheism.about.com/od/bookreviews/fr/Hinduism_2.htm Holisticonline. (2009). Hindu worship and evolution of bhakti. Retrieved 21 November, 2010, from http://www.1stholistic.com/prayer/Hindu/hol_Hindu-worship.htm http://www.friendsjournal.org/quaker-spiritual-disciplines-hard-times McBee. P. (2010). Quaker spiritual disciplines for hard times. Retrieved 21 November, 2010, from Pathoes. (2010). Hinduism sacred time. Retrieved 21 November, 2010, from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred-Time?offset=1&max=1 Schumacher, M. (2010). Resource guide to Japanese pilgrims & pilgrimages. Retrieved 21 November, 2010, from http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/holy-mountains-sacred-shrines.html#holyMT Read More