CH 4: Religious/Cultural Traditons

Ways of the World (Ch. 4) How would you define the appeal of the religious/cultural traditions discussed in this chapter? To what groups were they attractive, and why?

Most religions come from ancient texts or stories, creating doctrines to spread the teachings, and have powers beyond our imagination that can question reality and humanity itself.  Although many religions and/or cultural traditions have changed throughout the past.  Such as, Hindu tradition changed from a religion of ritual and sacrifice to one of devotion and worship. Also with Buddhism which became more conventionally religious, emphasising on the supernatural, as it evolved from Theravada to Mahayana forms. A male-dominated hierarchical Christian Church was very different from the small house churches that suffered persecution by imperial authorities in the early Christian centuries.  With politicians of the past or those who were in higher power, disregarded or looked down upon these religious practices. Even today, there is much speculation and clash between historians and religious scholars plus scientist trying to prove facts over possible fiction.

I believe that religions and cultural traditions were attractive to the people because it brought them closer to each other, showed their differences among other cultures/religions, and at those times looked out for help which they often sought in unnatural ways.  Many people during those times were not just curious but needed almost an outlet to the reality they were living in or a way to understand how their world is.



Location: Belmont, CA, USA

Comments

  1. LeslieMay 29, 2020 at 7:03 PM

    Oliver, I definitely agree with you about the aspect of unity that religion brings to people. I think that there is also an aspect of comfort. I think that religion explains a lot of the unknown for people, especially looking back on these second wave civilizations. There were so many phenomena that people did not have the knowledge to comprehend. I imagine that having an answer in the form of an old story was soothing. Whether you take the religious stories as doctrine or just nice stories, who doesn't like a good book?

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