Characteristics of Religion

The quest for answers to the meaning of manners is universal. It is non surprising then that the worlds major Religious Traditions shargon some(prenominal) characteristics. Using the characteristic headings from the Oxford Studies of Religion school text edition book -Name each of the characteristics of pietism. -Write a comprehensive definition for each characteristic. For each characteristic, discover TWO detailed warnings from the Christian tradition, and angiotensin converting enzyme detailed event from another tradition. 1 ? 2 pages) Religion provides us with a manage of looks, values and attitudes, a rudimentary insinuate for developing ritual as well as a contour of social networks so giving us a purpose to our brave outs. Religion comprises of quartet main characteristics, including beliefs and believers, hallowed texts and publications, morality and rituals and ceremonies. al angiotensin-converting enzyme righteousnesss be sustained by beliefs an d its believers. It is oft the belief in one or umpteen deitys that defines a religion.It may not only be the belief in one deity, such as the Christian and Islamic credits, but could be the belief in more than one heaven-sent being, as seen in Ancient classical Polytheism. Christians believe that there is only one God, and he created everything, all that is seen and unseen, from cats and dogs to the air we breathe. Alternatively, in Ancient Greek Polytheism, there were many Gods, each responsible for a trustworthy procedure of nature. For example, Poseidon, was the God of the Sea and it was believed that he controlled everything to do with the sea from waves to sea creatures.another(prenominal) example of Christian belief is that delivery boy of Nazargonth, the son of God, was crucified, suffered death and was buried. In nearly religions, believers derive majority of their basic beliefs from the dedicated texts and writings specific to their religion. Sacred texts be tex ts which both dictate beliefs and ar of central importance to a certain religion or religions. All religions have sacred texts from which they get their basic beliefs. There are three main types of sacred stories.These imply myths which are often more or less the defining of the universe, legends that often include sacred and unwrap figures and parables which principally have layers of meaning that believers provide to shape their lives around. Often, these texts are believed to be supernaturally inspired. For example, majority of the writings in the Christian countersign, are about or by people who are directly in contact with God. The Bible is a point of reference for Christians to the regulations of their religion, for example the Ten Commandments or the beatifications.The Bible is split into two books, the raw(a) and Old volition, both of which are considered sacred. Whilst the Bible is the main source of writings for Christians, the Quran, which is about the length of the New Testament, include about of the divine revelations received by Muhammad from his low gear encounter with the angel Gabriel, until his death. Another example of a sacred Christian text is the Didache. This sacred text, also known as the Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles, was written in the first century and persuades its readers to choose lifespan over Death.The Didache was considered from entry into the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The sacred text and writings of religions often provide its believers with a set of ethical motive and a way to live and behave as well as traditions to follow within the religion. Ethics are the rules of conduct based on ideas of responsibility and wrong and are recognised to operate to a particular class of serviceman actions or a particular group. central to any religion, their purpose is to determine powerful from wrong and to clarify what believers should do freely and what they should refrain from doing.Ethics unremarkabl y take leave from religion as they generally lead off from sacred texts, ancestors etc and dictate what is morally class in society. The main sources of ethics for Christians are the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. The Ten Commandments list ways in which Christians should pay respect to God and those around them. For example, the first commandment is I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before Me The Beatitudes give Christians a way to live as individuals.For example, the Beatitude Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, instructs Catholics to be free of selfish intentions and to perform acts free of personal gain. For Buddhists, the v Precepts are the main code of ethics for Buddhists and comprises of withholding from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Rituals and ceremonies are the practices relating to beliefs. They are usually in blank space to affirm values and hazard the religion more substantial.Rituals an d ceremonies are usually nut or structured actions. An example of this in the Christian religion is the mass. Generally, in most churches, Christians gather on a sunlight to celebrate mass. Every Sunday, most Christian Churches complete the same structure of mass, by chance with different readings or songs but generally the same structure every week. For the Judaic boys, the Bar Mitzah is a substantial part of the young mans life where he becomes a man and is therefore required to follow Gods commandments.The Bar Mitzvah involves a Lords Supper which is performed at a certain conviction in the boys life, usually around the time of puberty. Another example of ritual in the Christian faith is baptism. Baptism is the admission into membership of the Christian Church through the pouring of water on ones head, and the cleansing of ones soul. There are four main characteristics which define a religion, these are as above beliefs and believers, sacred texts and writings, ethics and rituals and ceremonies. These four characteristics work together to make the religion dynamic and enable it to be a way of life.