Religion Case

Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature (Wikipedia,2011). Religious traditions describe and encourage many relationships in our lives sometimes negatively. Relationships with: the divine, sacred time, sacred space or the natural world, and with each other. Even if you don't practice or believe in a god that choice still has an effect on your life.

In whichever religion you practice you are expected to have a personal relationship with your God (divine). This relationship should be personal and sacred. You are expected to acknowledge and praise him always, in which ever way your believe requires. For example; praying, spreading his word, attend church.

Sacred time is cyclical, returning to its origins for renewal. By recalling and ritually reliving the deeds of the gods and ancestors, we enter into the sacred time in which they live. In native religions, sacred space may encompass a great mountain, a volcano, a valley, a lake, a forest, a single large tree, or some other striking natural site. For Black Elk and his people, after the Lakota had moved west, it was Harney Peak in South Dakota. In Australia aboriginal religion, Uluru has served as a sacred center. In Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro and other high mountains have been considered sacred spaces (Molloy, 2011chp.2).

Sacred space can also be constructed, often in a symbolic shape such as a circle or square, and defined by a special building or by a boundary made of rope or of rocks, such as Stonehenge in England. It can even be an open area among trees or buildings, such as the great open space between the templates of Teotihuacan, near Mexico City (Molloy, 2011chp.2). For me and my family, our scared space and time is a church, or any quite area where we can pray talk to God in peace and quiet at anytime.

Understanding a person's religion background tells us more about that person's attitudes and values. Such understanding is valuable for successful human relations -in both public and private life. Throughout my upbringing as a Christian the biggest value my family and church taught me was "love thy neighbor". Love thy neighbor means love everyone around you, and everyone you come across. Because, you never know when god is testing you, or watching. Be kind and generous no matter what we all have sinned or done wrong before and everyone deserves love.

The study of religion is not easy; often you come across critical issues. Sometimes the texts of the scriptures are incomplete, or the translations that scholars