Traditions and Religion
Traditions refer to human beliefs and practices that are upheld in different communities. Some cultures are often defined by their type of traditions. On the other hand, religion refers to organized practices and processes that reflect belief in a supreme being. In this paper, I will examine the factors that must be evaluated when conducting a study on religions.
Traditions Turning into Religions
Traditions can become religions if they embrace faith in a higher power that controls the universe. Many religions believe that God created the physical and spiritual heavens. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are united on the belief that God exists (Bowker, 2015). However, differences could be seen in how these religions interpreted the concept of monotheism. Islam and Judaism believed that there was one God with supreme power while Christians such as Roman Catholics believed in Trinity (Bowker, 2015). The latter felt that God existed in three distinct forms. Hence, this trait defines traditions that turn into religions.
Aspects of Worship Defining Religion
Furthermore, a tradition could become a religion if it allowed for a system of worship. Aspects such as prayer, religious institutions, and communion define religion (Bowker, 2015). Christians worshiped in churches, Muslims congregated in mosques, while Jews used temples. Some traditions require people to adhere to certain moral principles while avoiding sinful practices (Bowker, 2015). The three religions condemned murder, sexual immorality, and other cardinal sins. However, subtle differences in doctrine created differences among adherents. In this manner, traditions are transformed into religions.
Approaches to the Study of Religion
Different fields of study approached religion in several ways. Theology usually focused on an individual's religious practices (Molloy, 2013). The latter field of study analyzed the religious traditions of distinct groups. Theology was more applicable among religious icons with a desire to understand their traditions. For example, Muslim leaders may perform theological studies to obtain deeper insight into the origin of Islam. On the other hand, mythology studied religions on the basis of texts, stories, and art (Stone, 2016). Various forms of literature were used to reveal the origin of patterns and traits that defined a particular religion. Although Christian religions used the Bible as the standard source of divine information, it was possible to find texts with ancient narratives. Therefore, mythology focused on the legends and stories of different religions.
Anthropology usually examines the interrelationship between people and various phenomena (Molloy, 2013). In this regard, anthropology approached religion by examining the circumstances under which characters lived. Righteous servants of God were exposed to diverse conditions owing to the historical period. For instance, Abraham lived in tents and had children from several wives. Conversely, Paul was a tent-maker and adhered to exalted Christian standards. Christians were prohibited from having multiple wives while polygamy was tolerated during Abraham’s lifetime. Even people with common religious backgrounds usually had different experiences (Molloy, 2013). Although the apostles were members of the Jewish community, some were fishermen while others were tax-collectors and physicians. Therefore, anthropology identified variations in personal circumstances.
Critical Issues in the Study of Religion
There are several critical issues in the study of religion. For example, it was important for people to consider the insider/outsider issue. People could not determine whether their views were objective or biased (Martin, 2017). In this respect, it was probable that an individual was imposing the doctrines and beliefs of a different faith. The insider/outsider problem was subtle since only other people could identify it. For instance, a researcher studying about Islam could essentially evaluate the religion based on Christian perspectives. It was impossible to maintain objectivity if an individual was hampered by previous biases (Martin, 2017). A Catholic priest could never provide a proper critique of the Roman Catholic Church. Adherents of a certain religion would never entertain the prospect of praising other types of faith.
Another critical issue in the study of religion concerned the impact of observation. People would often behave differently if they knew that others were watching their actions. For instance, a researcher may sense that his subjects are clumsy or anxious while performing religious observances. Consequently, there was a high potential for acquiring false information.
Conclusion
Indeed, researchers must consider numerous factors when conducting studies on religion. Human traditions were often the source of religious observances. In this respect, tradition could be transformed into religion in three ways. Firstly, traditions became religions when they recognized the presence of a powerful and intelligent creator. Belief in a higher power was consistent in many religions. Moreover, a tradition could become a religion if rites of worship were implemented. Activities such as prayer, communion, and singing transformed tradition into religion. Mythology, anthropology, and theology were three fields of study that approached religion in different ways. Mythology focused on spiritual texts and stories while anthropology examined the exposure of people to different circumstances. On the other hand, theology analyzed the traditions of various religions. Critical issues in the study of religion were identified with regards to observation and the insider/outsider problem.
References
Bowker, J. (2015). Beliefs that changed the world: The history and ideas of the great religions. London, UK: Hachette.
Martin, C. (2017). A critical introduction to the study of religion. Boca Raton, FL.: Taylor " Francis.
Molloy, M. (2013). Experiencing the world's religions: Tradition, challenge, and change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Stone, J. (Ed.). (2016). The essential Max Müller: On language, mythology, and religion. New York, NY: Springer.
