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Common Elements of Eastern Religious Traditions

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Common Elements of Eastern Religious Traditions
Common Elements of Eastern Religious Traditions
Hamang Contractor, Linda Parris, Samuel Sierra, Brenda Wilson-Stringer
REL 133 World Religious Traditions I
July 11, 2011
Robert Gala, Junior

Team A’s paper and presentation will be covering the contemporary issues facing one Eastern Religious Traditions the team have studied in the World Religious Traditions I class. The Team will discuss the common characteristics of Hinduism religion shared with other eastern religion groups. The team will analyze the interactions between the modern world, and the Hinduism religions, and provide examples of how these interactions influence both the Hinduism religion and the modern world.
Leading a Sacred Life
Hindus lead a sacred life in India from 300 to 1100 C.E. Hinduism permeated the lives of the India’s people, and during this time, a huge devotional movement has been developed. The Hindu religion made it possible for anyone to reach God. The rule was for the people in India to hold accountable toward all religions.
Similarities and Characteristics
Many similarities exist on how various religions practice faith. Pilgrimage is common for Hinduism and Christianity. Many followers make trips to visit Jerusalem, Israel’s Holy Land, and the Vatican in Rome. In Sikhism the Golden Temple in India receive visits from many religious believers, and Buddhists visit the Lumbini in Nepal.
Religious Symbolism
Symbols are presented in most religions. “Water, for instance is used in all sorts of religious rituals: Hindus bathe in the Ganges River; Christians use water for baptisms; Jews use water for ritual purification; and Muslims, and followers of Shinto wash before prayer” (Molloy, 2010). p. 8 Symbols are concrete, ordinary, and universal that helps human beings to represent, and experience something of a greater complexity. For example, water represent spiritual cleaning, a mountain, strength, the sun, health; and a circle, eternity. Symbolism can be define as both


References: Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Leading a sacred life. (2008, October – December). Hinduism Today, 30 (4), I12 – I15. Veylaswami, S. B. (2009, April – June). Introduction to Hinduism. Hinduism Today, 31 (2). 10 Vivekjivandas, S. (2010). Hinduism. Shahibaug, Gujarat: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. Jayaram, V. (2010). The future of Hinduism. Retrieved from http://hindu websites. co
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