• Religions usually distinguish what is sacred and what is ordinary
• That which is sacred is set apart for reference
• It is different from what is “secular” or profane
• Religions also establish a sacred space – this could be a hill, a sacred tree, or a building. It is a holy place.

Sacred Stories

• These are stories about people’s origin
• Many cultures have stories about beginning of the heavens, and earth, and about the creation of man
• These stories come to men through visions, revelations, or God’s voice
• Scholars label conversations between man and supernatural beings –myth
• A myth is a supernatural story that represents the world view of a people
  
  
• An epic is a narrative poem celebrating the acts of a traditional hero. Characters in an epic represent the values of their creators.
• Sacred writings refers to sacred books. Each religion has a book detailing a spirit or divinely inspired origin.

Scriptures 

• Scriptures in the view of all religions were written or inspired by God
• Or they were written by human beings who were divinely inspired
• Scriptures are revered above all other writings
• Most religions regard them as the basis of law, ritual, and ethics

Rituals

• Rituals are actions that are repetitive, prescribed and ceremonial
• Beneficial sacred action must be performed exactly according to a prescribed pattern
• Common to all religions are Rites of Passage. These are ceremonial acts that mark the transition from one stage of life to another.
• Birth, adolescence, marriage, and death are usually accompanied by rituals

Dance and Drama

• Many religions employ dance as a way of expressing spirituality
• In dance, participants are transported from ordinary to the time of the ancestors or to a time in future
• Example – Native Americans like Sioux used the Sun Dance in summer to purify themselves
• In religious drama, past events are acted out

World View

• The best way to understand religions is to look at how its members view the world, and especially as it relates to ten subject areas
• The absolute: This is the ultimate reality in a religion. It may be a deity, male or female god, a soul, a non-personal principle, or a person. This is the most essential object or concept
  
  
• The World: Each religion has its own understanding of the world. The world could be considered to be a bad place, a good place, or a neutral place
• Does the physical world reflect the glory of the creator. Should believers celebrate the goodness of life in the world or should they seek to escape from its sorrows?
  
  
• Humans: What is human nature like? Are humans a kind of an animal or do they have souls? Are humans distinctive throughout the universe, created in the image of a divine being?
• How a religion view human nature influences how its members treat humans
  
  
• The problem for humans: Each religions defines a major problem for humans. Human condition may be seen as having a defect that needs fixing
• There are certain things humans should avoid doing because the consequences could be serious
• The problem could be defined as sin, ignorance, recurring rebirth of souls, or disharmony with the way of nature. In each case, religion offers a way to resolve the problem
  
  
• The solution for humans: The solution for correcting the perceived defect in humans depends on how the problem is described
• For some religions, the solution is salvation. For others, it is restoration of harmony with nature or with the universe, and with other human beings
  
  
• Community and Ethics: Religions teach and prescribe a standard of conduct for individuals. Members of religions are expected to join like minded believers
• Part of the solution to human condition involves practicing ethical TEACHINGS and following examples laid down by founders who set great moral examples
  
  
• Interpreting history: Each religion tells a story from the beginning of a people of faith
• Such story explains who the people are in the present, who they were in the past, and what they will become in the future. Originally, the story could have been communicated by a bird, an animal, an oracle, a seer, or a god
  
  
• Rituals and Symbols: Sometimes humans are rational, but other times their beliefs and actions are based on intuition and emotions –faith
• Religions may use reason in communications, but in their deepest forms they appeal to believers through rituals, prescribed actions, and symbols
• Symbols represent the power of what they represent. i.e. A flag is a symbol, but a highway sign is not.
• Rituals are actions repeated according to exact required order. Rituals and symbols help believers experience more than can be expressed in words alone.
  
  
• Life After Death: Religions try to answer the question of whether there is life after death
• They describe how after life will look like- will people have bodies? Eternal life is only a gift to those who follow the religious teachings faithfully while on earth.
  
  
• Relationship to other religions: People support a particular religion to the extent that they believe it is the right one to follow. But they are aware that there are other religions.
• In free societies, people interact and work with people of other religions freely. In some countries, only a state religion is allowed and there is little tolerance for other religions.
• Degree of tolerance to other religions depends on the primary teachings of a particular religion.