Religious Tradition Analysis

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When studying a religious tradition, there are four categories as defined by William Paden that are useful to use to gain a better insight of the religion. The four categories used to analyze a religious tradition are: myth, ritual, community, and religious experts. All four categories are necessary to properly analyze a religious tradition. The first category necessary to analyze a religious tradition is myth. Many religious traditions have sacred stories and beliefs, which is myth. Myth is important when studying religion because many traditions have at least one scared story or belief that is fundamental for those traditions. Moreover, sacred stories and beliefs need to be studied in great detail in order to further understand the tradition. …show more content…
The category of ritual contains the actions that unites the followers of a particular religion to their god or sacred people. Besides reading the mythic stories of a religion, the followers of a tradition will also dedicate certain periods of time to partake in special action to connect with the sacred of their tradition. The separation and dedication of time and the ability to remain focused through the duration of the period is considered focused. The importance of this is to realize that those who follow a tradition and desire to have a greater connection with their sacred will devote time to solely focus on their sacred ignoring all other responsibilities and commitments during that time. Ritual is an essential part of religions, though it is different from myth it is related to myth. It is often found in the mythic stories of a tradition that shapes the order and content of the rituals performed. For instance, baptism was read about in the bible, a myth, and it is now a critical rite of passage used in Catholicism specifically, though not limited to Catholicism. It has been said that those who are baptized desire to have their original sin removed to be like their god who does not have original sin. Baptism is often performed in a church with a community of followers of this tradition, who will also renew their baptismal promises during the ceremony. This ritual requires preparation beforehand, at least an hour away from daily living and requires focus and dedication during the ritual. The leaders, congregation and those being baptized are not distracted, but have an energy of renewal and seriousness. Though baptism is a ritual it also can be considered a system of purity, a way of separating what is pure and impure of a religion and how the impure is to be rid. Baptism is considered a system of purity because it is removing a person’s original sin which
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