SSP MIDTERMS WEEK 2

3 ELEMENTS OF A RELIGION

ASPECT	FUNCTION
Beliefs	Give religion its mind
Rituals	Give religion its shape
Ethics	Give religion its heart

BELIEFS

Give religion its mind

RITUALS

Give religion its shape

ETHICS

Give religion its heart

RITUALS

-            Provide a tangible way for believers to experience faith.

-            Function:

o   Beliefs exist in the mind, but rituals engage the body.

o   Give texture, taste, form, and function to religion.

RELIGIOUS RITUALS

-            Establish the sacred calendar and holy days.

-            Set ways of celebrating life passages.

-            Focus the mind in a spiritually disciplined way.

EXAMPLES OF RITUALS

RELIGION	RITUAL	NOTES / RESTRICTION
Judaism	Lighting candles on Friday night	Meant especially for Jews (exclusive).
Christianity	Holy Communion (Lord’s Supper / Eucharist)	Only members (e.g., Roman Catholics, Orthodox) can receive it.
Islam	Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)	Only for Muslims.

PRAYER

-            A communication with God.

o   Many believe prayers are answered (supported in Old & New Testament).

o   Miracles and graces reported by the Church and common people.

o   It is done by those who trust the power

oof word and thought.

PURPOSES OF PRAYER

1.     Thankfulness for blessings.

2.     Repentance for sins.

3.     Forgiveness to others.

4.     Mental clarity, calmness, wisdom.

5.     Expression of awe and wonder.

6.     Release from suffering.

WAY OF PRAYING

ASPECT	DETAILS
Postures	Kneeling, standing, eyes downcast, or eyes lifted heavenward
Forms	Alone or as a community
Timing	At prescribed times and in prescribed ways, or whenever the mood arises

CHRISTIAN PRAYER

PRAYER PRACTICE	DESCRIPTION
Catholic Mass	A prayer service that includes the Eucharist, the most important Christian ritual, and defines the community that prays together.
Lord’s Prayer	A model prayer taught by Jesus to guide believers in how to pray. “Our Father”
ACTS Method	A structured prayer method: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.

CATHOLIC MASS

A prayer service that includes the Eucharist, the most important Christian ritual, and defines the community that prays together.

LORD’S PRAYER

A model prayer taught by Jesus to guide believers in how to pray. “Our Father”

ACTS METHOD

A structured prayer method: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.

METHOD	MEANING
Adoration	Praising God for His greatness, power, and majesty
Confession	Acknowledging and repenting of sins; asking for forgiveness
Thanksgiving	Expressing gratitude for God’s blessings and guidance
Supplication	Making requests for oneself and interceding for others

ADORATION

Praising God for His greatness, power, and majesty

CONFESSION

Acknowledging and repenting of sins; asking for forgiveness

THANKSGIVING

Expressing gratitude for God’s blessings and guidance

SUPPLICATION

Making requests for oneself and interceding for others

BUDDHIST AND HINDU PRAYER

-            They pray for many hours.

-            Purpose:

o   Solace and stress relief.

o   Looking inward to experience emptiness.

o   Emptiness frees them from life’s constraints.

ASPECT	BUDDHISM	HINDUISM
FOCUS	Meditation, mindfulness, chanting	Devotion (Bhakti), rituals (Puja), meditation
PURPOSE	To cultivate inner peace, compassion, and wisdom	To express love and devotion to deities, seek blessings, or achieve self-realization
FORMS	• Chanting mantras or sacred texts (e.g., Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra) • Meditation (silent or guided) for insight and focus • Prostrations & Offerings (flowers, incense) to Buddha statues	• Puja (ritual worship with offerings of flowers, food, incense) • Chanting & Mantras (e.g., Gayatri Mantra, Om Namah Shivaya) • Meditation & Yoga (breathing, chanting, uniting mind-body-spirit)

ISLAMIC PRAYER

-            Five times a day, remembering Allah.

-            Content: praise, gratitude, supplication.

-            Purpose: keep life and submission to God in perspective.

JEWISH PRAYER

-            Three times a day, with extra prayers on Sabbath & holidays.

-            Formal service: requires a minyan (10 Jewish adults).

o   Traditional: male only.

o   Liberal: any gender.

TRADITIONAL

Male only

LIBERAL

Any gender

MINYAN

10 Jewish Adults