Exploring Religion

Exploring Religion

03-13-03

Exploring Religion Midterm

1.)

A. Theistic belief in one God viewed as creator and ruler of the universe and known by revelation by its people as the maker/creator of all things. The person/people put faith and belief that the God is known to them personally and acts as sole benefactor of their life, creator and destroyer. These people also believe that this is the one true word of holy and that is opposed or non-believing are sin or damned.

B. People who subscribe to non-theistic views see that their understanding lies within things, not outside the living world. It is a belief that this power is impersonal and is capable of being learned and mastered through meditation, objects, rites, incantations, etc. Followers believe that it is up to them to find a harmony with all things about them and allow themselves the choice to do so.

C. The pantheist view is that the holy/sacred focus is the basis of all things, is in all things, and is all things. A particular religion may seem to worship or function in a monotheistic fashion but they actually focus on different aspects.

D. Panentheism... me no likey, me no talky.

E. Deism stems from the belief that one superior force, God/Creator, is responsible for all things living and non-living and their natural laws but has no other function. This is a rational viewpoint for people who accept this as the one main belief as "the way it always has been and will be".

2.) Homeopathic magic is "magic" that is used for a purpose, mostly regarded as medicinal and practical, through herbs, concoctions, extracts, etc. Contagious magic is the form of magic based on prayer, direction, symbols, and affects not only the subject but to those around. In my lifetime, I have thus far used simple homeopathic magic, aka acetylsalicylic acid and seasoned broth made from a common gallinaceous farm bird (Gallus domesticus), for everyday illnesses and head problems.

3.) The main issue about presentational and representational symbols are literal and non-literal. Representational symbols only show the idea or design of what it represents and hold no power or mystery of its meaning. This gives the person viewing the non-literal interpretation of what it symbolizes. Presentational symbols are real and tangible forms of that particular symbolization by which the sacred/holy is made present and made real, giving a literal look into the scared/holy. The non-literal approach to representational symbols is primarily what I lean towards in many ways, mainly for that I haven't been shown any other reason to believe otherwise. Mostly due to the fact that representational symbolism best helps