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Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 1:42pm On Oct 03, 2010 |
I'm trying to list a summary of the various practices that are common to all the religions of the world and investigate what are the possible effects of each of them. Here are a few that I can think of at this moment: Sacrifices (usually using the blood of a variety of victims) Possession - It is often required that the followers of a religion get possessed by the deity that is being worshipped. Observance of certain Calendar dates. Fasting. Sexual abstinence. The Sharing of Meals. (often done after sacrifice, the meat is then shared amongst the people making the sacrifice). The use of Songs, Chanting, and Music. This is often closely related to Possession. Though it can also be used simply to invoke the presence of a deity. Pilgrimage. Prophecy. Again this is closely linked to possession and music. Prayer. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 2:06pm On Oct 03, 2010 |
Take the first practice listed. The practice of sacrifice. It has been discussed numerously on NL that why can God not just forgive without having to receive the blood of victims whether they are bulls, or the blood of his own son Jesus Christ. Why is the necessity of sacrifice? M_nwankwo has often express his lack of belief that Jesus' death was for the expiation of our sins. There are so many different doctrines about how the death at calvary was supposed to work. What is the reason for the Muslims killing a ram during ileya. In Islam, all that is demanded as a sacrifice is one’s personal willingness to submit one’s ego and individual will to Allah.http://islam.thetruecall.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=178 the argument here is that muslim sacrifice is just a thanksgiving and not done to propitiate or appease God as the Jews did, and as some christians believe that christ's death does. But when studying the bible we don't find it stated explicitly that the Eucharist which is a meal symbolizing christ's death is done for appeasement. But rather it states that Jesus said we should do it in remembrance of him. How exactly is that to be understood? Is it just a memorial without any extra spiritual significance? Or is the act of remembrance one of reviving the effect of Christ's sacrifice? |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 4:16pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
One of the earliest impulses of the human race is the necessity for transferring its misfortunes and sins to some thing or some one in order that the suffering individual or people may go free. This appears in crude and absurded form among savages, lingers as a persistent idea even among civilized nations today, and has formed a central tenet of the highest systems of religious faith. http://journals.lww.com/jonmd/Citation/1914/12000/THE_SCAPEGOAT__THE_GOLDEN_BOUGH__Part_VI.11.aspx |
Re: Religious Practices by Tonyet1(m): 5:20pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Very interesting topic i must say. . .at least one can be sure of "gaining a concept of an overview". Another significant religious practice i'll say is Meditation, though the concept and act would differ amongst the various religions all in all the concept i'll say remains a norm. Buddhist view about Meditation Samatha (Tranquility meditation)The basic purpose of samatha or tranquility meditation is to still the mind and train it to concentrate. Vipassana (Insight Meditation) the purpose of insight meditation is the realization of important truths. Specifically, one who practices vipassana hopes to realize the truths of impermanence, suffering and "no-self." Metta Bhavana (Loving-Kindness Meditation) The purpose of loving-kindness meditation is to develop the mental habit of altruistic love for the self and others. It is said to "sweeten the mind ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some Christians view There are two primary Hebrew words for meditation: Haga, which means to utter, groan, ponder: some sect see this act as the form of praying in the spirit (tongues) Sihach, which means to muse, rehearse in one's mind, or contemplate. These words can also be translated as dwell, diligently consider, and heed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- View in Islamism There are two concepts or schools of meditation in Islam. One is that which is described in the Qur’an and Sunnah, another is that which has been developed by the Sufis in later times (that is, after the first phase, considered the ideal phase of Islam). The original concept of meditation is based on contemplation, called tafakkur in the Qur’an. That is, reflection upon the universe to gain food for thought. To put it differently, this is a form of intellectual development which emanates from a higher level, i.e. from God. his intellectual process through the receiving of divine inspiration awakens and liberates the human mind, permitting man’s inner personality to develop and grow so that he may lead his life on a spiritual plane far above the mundane level. The second form of meditation, the one developed by the Sufis, is largely based on mystical exercises. However, this method is controversial among Muslim scholars. One group of Ulama, Al-Ghazzali, for instance, have accepted it, another group of Ulama, Ibn-Taimia, for instance, have rejected it as an innovation. |
Re: Religious Practices by mnwankwo(m): 6:10pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Hi Pastor, My view is that all pure joint worship of God climaxes with the sharing of the meal. The meal is not a sacrifice for the atonement of sins, rather it is a spiritual act where our creator renews us with his power. The power of God (not God Himself) flows into the bread and wine. Thus the meal is consecrated with the power of God and any creature who inwardly opens him or herself will directly receive the power of God by his participation in the meal. The power thus received will invigorate the spirit, giving it the necessary strength to sense and only live in accordance with the will or intention of God. The meal is thus one of the provisions which the omniscience of God makes available to his creatures, ensuring that every and each person who genuinely seek God will receive of his power. In all genuine temples of God from this physical plane up to the highest temple of God in the divine, this meal is an integral part of joint worship of God. It is an expression of the living covenant between the creator and his creatures. The creator pours out his power in the act of the meal, inwardly open creatures receive of this power and a spontaneous but jubilant gratitude for the inconceivable love of God emanates from our spirits and finds its way to God. In such moments, a human spirit albeit momentary senses what pure worship is as it is done in heaven. Stay blessed. 2 Likes |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 9:46am On Oct 08, 2010 |
Tonye-t: Meditation is also definitely an important aspect of religion. Especially the more mystical and esoteric aspects of religion. In the islamic world we must not forget the practice of Dhikr either. The word dhikr is commonly translated as "remembrance" or "invocation". In reality, it has taken a wide range and various layers of meaning.[1] For instance, while dhikr is commonly understood as the practice of remembering God, it has also been used in the Islamic sources to indicate God as the subject and the servant as the object of dhikr,[2] and also been directly applied to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, as embodiment of dhikr of God.[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhikr |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 9:57am On Oct 08, 2010 |
m_nwankwo: Thank you sir. I am very much in agreement with much of what you wrote. I'll have to come back later and give a more detailed response but for now I want to say that the spiritual significance of nutrition is very often underestimated. We tend to see food in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, calories etc etc but fail to realise that there is more. http://pranicfood..com/2007/10/pranic-food.html I have no doubt that there is a lot more that gets passed into the human constitution through food than just merely calories and vitamins. There is a strong spiritual aspect to it too. There is a saying that you are what you eat. Yeah, I agree too. Or rather, you become what you eat. I'll be back . . . |
Re: Religious Practices by NegroNtns(m): 7:57pm On Oct 09, 2010 |
@Topic, Prostration - the reconciliation of spiritual source to the matter (Grounding) |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 10:34am On Oct 10, 2010 |
. . . then there is the other viewpoint . . . see them go head to head . . . .
http://www.justforcatholics.org/a102.htm |
Re: Religious Practices by DeepSight(m): 12:19pm On Oct 10, 2010 |
Garlic and Onions are absolutely critical and indeed fabulous for dealing with cardiac conditions, and make for a strong healthy heart. I should know, I suffered a heart condition for six years . . .that's what got me to quit smoking, and eating those supposedly negative pranic foods really helped. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 2:41pm On Oct 10, 2010 |
Deep Sight: Don't shoot the copy-and-paste-r |
Re: Religious Practices by MyJoe: 6:49pm On Oct 12, 2010 |
Deep Sight:True, Deep Sight, but it is, or can be, a little more complicated. I have not the energy to go into it right now, but a doctor of Ayuverdic medicine will tell you that garlic and onions may be good for you but bad for someone else. I don't go near garlic and onions, for instance, because I have GI and duodenal complications. The Ayuverdic doctor will assume we require different stuff to balance our humours. But that is not given. So the doctor would advice us both to take a test to determine what is good for us to eat. It's called dosha. But some schools of thought, Yoga, for instance, will tell us that such things as onions and garlic are not good for anyone since they can damage your body. Here, it is believed that since it is physically harsh on your body it is also not spiritually healthy. Issue of heart or GI problems will not even come up because these problems would not have arisen in the first place if the individual lives in harmony with nature. What, for instance, the guru would ask, would anyone be doing with tobacco or alcohol? He will ask us both if we don't realise that eating animal corpses (meat) means ingesting some of the uric acid and bad energies that remain in their bodies when they die, leading to various diseases. I don't know a great deal about this pranic stuff. Just want to highlight that the fact something is good for you does not mean it is universally beneficial. I can't find the post you got that quote from, though. Is it in this thread or from another? |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 6:18pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
MyJoe: Indeed, I think that what is good for one person is not necessarily good for someone else. In Ayurvedic medicines and other alternative forms of medicine what they first do is determine the constitution of the patient. And then they prescribe foods and medicines that help sustain and support that constitution. Thus a person that is naturally very Kapha will only eat those things that agree with and support Kapha, while a Pitta patient would have to undergo a totally different diet. Similarly in many religions in the world there are various taboos associated with various deities. In Yoruba Orisha cults for instance devotees of Obatala cannot drink alcohol, while devotees of Ogun will drink a lot and it won't upset their constitution. All the objects and foods that a deity favours for sacrifice are also permitted for it's devotees to consume. The deities taboos are also the devotees taboos. Almost every religious cult has food taboos and tabooed activities. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 6:19pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
The reason that I'm bringing this thread up again is in order to re-ignite a conversation as to what makes something a religion. What is the definition of a religion? What are it's most salient characteristics? It think discussing this will be very helpful for a lot of people. |
Re: Religious Practices by DeepSight(m): 6:26pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Why dont we just stick with the dictionary - re·li·gion noun \ri-ˈli-jən\ Definition of RELIGION 1 a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance 2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices 3 archaic: scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness 4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 6:41pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Deep Sight: For a number of reasons. It does not tell us anything about defining PRACTICES of religion. I am keen to know what practices religions have in common and why they practice them, and also where and how they differ. Secondly, the dictionary is defining religion in a loop. Ques: What is a religion? Ans: A religion is something that deals with religious things. Any definition of religion that needs to use the word 'religious' is a poor definition. Thirdly, . . . . hmmmm . . there was a thirdly but it has escaped my mind. I'll be back . . . |
Re: Religious Practices by DeepSight(m): 6:46pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Pastor AIO: That is impossible because there are almost infinite practices and infinite differences. Don't let Enigma catch you there. Secondly, the dictionary is defining religion in a loop. No, because in def. 1 it gave a def without using the word "religion" so that when the word is used in subsequent defs, then you can refer to def 1 for what the word means. Thirdly, . . . . hmmmm . . there was a thirdly but it has escaped my mind. I'll be back . . . Give it up mate. . . . we CAN and should stick with the dictionary otherwise pandora, pandemonium, panplxsionz |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 7:17pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Deep Sight: 1 a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance Deep Sight: In spite of infinitude there are certain practices that are found in almost all religions. ie. Sacrifices, fasting, prayer etc etc etc. It is possible to draw general lines around what religions involve. I have a funny feeling that Enigma won't turn up here, in fact he'll avoid it like the plague. |
Re: Religious Practices by DeepSight(m): 7:24pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
^^^ No, please see the bolded in red: that is where they defined it and that definition refers for the other instances of the usage of the word - a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance In spite of infinitude there are certain practices that are found in almost all religions. ie. Sacrifices, fasting, prayer etc etc etc. It is possible to draw general lines around what religions involve. These examples do not qualify many religions. I have a funny feeling that Enigma won't turn up here, in fact he'll avoid it like the plague. Oh, its way beneath his excellency, you know. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 8:16pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Deep Sight: ^^^ No, please see the bolded in red: that is where they defined it and that definition refers for the other instances of the usage of the word - As indeed the example of "the service and worship of God or the supernatural" does not qualify many religions. Most notable of which is Buddhism. And even in the case of the red bolded the many ways in which the God is served and worshiped have similarities such as the sacrifice of victims, and prayer. |
Re: Religious Practices by Enigma(m): 8:33pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Pastor AIO: Oh just in the way you avoided this post of mine (and others elsewhere) like the plague? From here: https://www.nairaland.com/934799/reasons-why-obama-not-christian/14#11043223 Enigma: . . . There is "criticism" and there is idiocy. Nice. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 9:04pm On Jun 21, 2012 |
Enigma: I read it but I didn't realise that a response was required. I felt you'd made your point and I got what you were saying. Anyway, welcome to this thread. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 7:53am On Jul 02, 2012 |
Enigma: If there is any other post that you addressed to me that I didn't respond to, please let me know. I'll be happy to respond when I find the time. |
Re: Religious Practices by Enigma(m): 11:35am On Jul 02, 2012 |
Pastor AIO: It doesn't really matter. Even I have never considered myself bound to respond to every post directed to me or to engage in discussion with every one who wishes to discuss/debate with me so I'm not about to hold people bound to reply to my posts. |
Re: Religious Practices by buzugee(m): 12:22pm On Jul 02, 2012 |
staying away from pork staying away from your woman during her period not having intercourse with your woman until 7 days after her intercourse staying away from scavengers like shrimps snails lobster not shaving your beard THOSE ARE MOSAIC LAWS |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 12:34pm On Jul 02, 2012 |
buzugee: staying away from pork But they are not common to other religions. Although TABOOS, the avoidance of certain foods and actions are common to almost all religions. |
Re: Religious Practices by buzugee(m): 12:39pm On Jul 02, 2012 |
Pastor AIO:ahhh my bad. you wanted common things to all religions. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 1:17pm On Aug 15, 2012 |
Enigma: I don't think that anybody has called Jesus a bastard here, or even in any thread that I have taken interest in. I generally tend to avoid such threads. The criticism that I'm talking about is of an altogether different kind. I am keen to know why you find this thread so nonsensical. https://www.nairaland.com/1016132/catholic-position-dont-point/4#11815974 |
Re: Religious Practices by Enigma(m): 1:38pm On Aug 15, 2012 |
^^^ I am sorry I am simply not going to get involved in this thread. Those who called Jesus a bastard - at least one on this thread and one or two others not here - know themselves and I am confident you were on at least one (if not more) of those threads. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 2:04pm On Aug 15, 2012 |
Enigma: ^^^ I am sorry I am simply not going to get involved in this thread. So I was right when I said that you'd avoid this thread. So no need to feel insulted na. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 5:22pm On Jul 16, 2014 |
This my thread got derailed by some yeye characters. Put me off my groove. I would like to continue this exploration but I would beseech such folk as the Prophet of Oneness of Infinity to please, if he can, to please keep his distance. Same goes to the worshippers of the divine Bible. |
Re: Religious Practices by PastorAIO: 5:27pm On Jul 16, 2014 |
scapegoat, Hebrew Saʿir La-ʿazaʾzel, (“goat for Azazel”), in the Old Testament ritual of Yom Kippur (Lev. 16:8–10), a goat symbolically burdened with the sins of the Jewish people. Some scholars believe that the animal was chosen by lot to placate Azazel, a wilderness demon, then thrown over a precipice outside Jerusalem to rid the nation of its iniquities. By extension, a scapegoat has come to mean any group or individual that innocently bears the blame of others. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/526601/scapegoat |
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