In buddhism gods are not supreme beings, they are subordinate to the buddha, some may call them the derivates or family of "the original Buddha Gautama". Nevertheless these deities are called Bodhisattva and are there to protect the Dhama wich is the way of enlightenement that a person must go through before discovering the truth. The most important Bodhisattvas are:
- Shakyamuni: The historic Bodhisattva, it has the earth touching pose
- 1000 armed Chenresig: The compassion Bodhisattva
- 4 armed Chenresig: The emanation Bodhisattva
- Green Tara: mother of all Bodhisattva, the great liberator and healer
- Medicine Buddha: Of healing
- Maitreya: Future Bodhisattva
- Manjushri: Represents the wisdom of the years and patience
- Vajrasattva: The Bodhisattva of purification
The purpose of these Bodhisattva is to protect the Dhamma, but the Dhamma itself has two asigned protectors wich are:
- Stupa of enlightenment: wich represents the state of enlightenment that is obteinable by all human being by the method of meditation.
- Amitabha Buddha: Who embodies the enlightened speech of all Buddhas, the abbility to pass their findings on in the form of teachings.
By: Maria Jose Lopez
Co-edited by: Santiago Gil
martes, 11 de mayo de 2010
Wicca's Current Population
It is very difficult to know how many people practice this religion, because there have been different estimations. One person said that Wicca has 250.000 people practicing it,
but others said that it has 5.000.000 people, only in North America.
The Wicca religion began in the east of Europe, and then went to North America, Latino America, Canada, Africa, India, and Israel; that places are where there is most commonly practiced Wicca.
Author: Juan José Ocampo
Co-Editor: Daniela Maya
but others said that it has 5.000.000 people, only in North America.
The Wicca religion began in the east of Europe, and then went to North America, Latino America, Canada, Africa, India, and Israel; that places are where there is most commonly practiced Wicca.
Author: Juan José Ocampo
Co-Editor: Daniela Maya
Wicca: Core Ideas
ºWicca is one of the religions that belong to the Paganism group.
ºIts beliefs and practices consist mainly in witchcraft, which includes the use of magic and mental power.
ºEven if they practice witchcraft, it is important to say that they DO NOT FOLLOW BLACK MAGIC; in contrast, their rituals do not involve harming of animals or other people.
ºTheir biggest god or goddess is nature, and most of their actions are aimed to protect it.
ºThe prayer groups are called Covens, which are generally formed by 13 people, but there are some that involve fewer people. Both, female and male, are importantly involved.
ºFestivals or rituals are called Sabbats, where the 4 elements and the 4 directions are used. Sabbats are practiced 8 times through the year.
ºThere are also other rituals called Esbats, and the difference with Sabbats is that these are realized monthly, especially in full moon nights, when the mind is thought to be more powerful magically.
ºWitches believe that human mind has the ability to make changes in certain ways that cannot be explained by science, and this power is only used to help people without harming others.
ºPeople must live in peace with others and with themselves, to have a better reincarnation.
ºWicca is a polytheistic religion; the majority of the gods refer to nature, the most valued thing for them.
ºWicca includes the use of magic; they are always trying to avoid harming others, to construct a better way of life, and living in harmony.
Authors: Margarita and Alejandra Zuluaga
Co-Editors: Daniela Maya and Paola Iza.
ºIts beliefs and practices consist mainly in witchcraft, which includes the use of magic and mental power.
ºEven if they practice witchcraft, it is important to say that they DO NOT FOLLOW BLACK MAGIC; in contrast, their rituals do not involve harming of animals or other people.
ºTheir biggest god or goddess is nature, and most of their actions are aimed to protect it.
ºThe prayer groups are called Covens, which are generally formed by 13 people, but there are some that involve fewer people. Both, female and male, are importantly involved.
ºFestivals or rituals are called Sabbats, where the 4 elements and the 4 directions are used. Sabbats are practiced 8 times through the year.
ºThere are also other rituals called Esbats, and the difference with Sabbats is that these are realized monthly, especially in full moon nights, when the mind is thought to be more powerful magically.
ºWitches believe that human mind has the ability to make changes in certain ways that cannot be explained by science, and this power is only used to help people without harming others.
ºPeople must live in peace with others and with themselves, to have a better reincarnation.
ºWicca is a polytheistic religion; the majority of the gods refer to nature, the most valued thing for them.
ºWicca includes the use of magic; they are always trying to avoid harming others, to construct a better way of life, and living in harmony.
Authors: Margarita and Alejandra Zuluaga
Co-Editors: Daniela Maya and Paola Iza.
Voodoo's Current Population
Voodoo is a religion that is practiced by 60 millions of people around the world. Haiti is considered the capital of this religion, but in the United States of America it’s supposed to be New Orleans. It is also practiced in other countries in the continents of America and Africa, such as, Benin, Ghana, Louisiana, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Fon, Mina, Hebe and Nigeria.
http://vudu2es.galeon.com/
http://www.oraciones.com.es/religiones/vudu.html
Author: Maria Alejandra Pinilla
http://vudu2es.galeon.com/
http://www.oraciones.com.es/religiones/vudu.html
Author: Maria Alejandra Pinilla
Judaism Core Beliefs
Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion and people that practice it believe that God chose them to set an example of holiness and ethical values.
They think there is a single God who created everything and with whom everyone has a relationship. This relationship is covenant because if God is still working in the world, then Jews should give God something.
Jewish people keep God`s law and seek to bring holiness into every aspect of their life. They take the family seriously; they have an important feeling about the community. Jews celebrate Hanukkah and each family has a Sabbath meal.
Jews think people should be judged by the way they live their faith, not by what they have done.
Someone that is not Jewish can convert into Judaism, but it is not easy to do.
To sum up, God exists for the Jews, is transcendent, beyond time, and is personal and accessible. Does not have a body, is omnipresent and omnipotent, and, last but not least, God is fair and also merciful.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/spiritofthings/stories/2009/2749127.htm
Author: Angela Morales
Co-Editor: Maria Andrea Ramirez
They think there is a single God who created everything and with whom everyone has a relationship. This relationship is covenant because if God is still working in the world, then Jews should give God something.
Jewish people keep God`s law and seek to bring holiness into every aspect of their life. They take the family seriously; they have an important feeling about the community. Jews celebrate Hanukkah and each family has a Sabbath meal.
Jews think people should be judged by the way they live their faith, not by what they have done.
Someone that is not Jewish can convert into Judaism, but it is not easy to do.
To sum up, God exists for the Jews, is transcendent, beyond time, and is personal and accessible. Does not have a body, is omnipresent and omnipotent, and, last but not least, God is fair and also merciful.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/spiritofthings/stories/2009/2749127.htm
Author: Angela Morales
Co-Editor: Maria Andrea Ramirez
Important People of Islam
In Islamic religion there had been many prophets, who all brought Allah’s message, but there are three prophets which are the most recognized for Muslims: Muhammad, Jesus and Abraham.
*Muhammad is said to be the most important prophet for Muslims because he is the founder of the religion of Islam, and is considered the restorer of a faith of other different prophets that came before him. He was born in Mecca, and raised by his uncle. He had many different jobs until one day he was tired and he went to a distant cave to meditate, and there he received his first revelation from Allah.
After that episode, he started spreading Allah’s messages and proclaiming that they had to complete surrender to Allah because he was the only God. Muhammad gained a lot of followers which, after some persecutions, helped him to spread the religion of Islam. For having a really big influence on the Arabian Peninsula and for his revelations, Muhammad became the most important prophet for Muslims, which is mentioned many times in the Koran.
*Jesus is also considered a messenger of God, which was sent to guide the people of Israel. Muslims, like Catholics, believe that Jesus was born to Mary as a virginal conception, and he was given the ability to make miracles, but as a difference from Catholic religion, Muslims don’t believe he was killed nor crucified, they think he was raised alive up to heaven. Jesus is considered to have been a Muslim, and the religion of Islam rejects that he was the son of God, and see him as a normal person which was chosen to spread God’s message. Jesus is mentioned 25 times in the Koran.
*Abraham is commonly called as the Father of the Prophets. He was also a messenger of God which made an important sacrifice, by almost killing his own son, just to show his faith and trust in Him. This act of love towards God is remembered in one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the Hajj, which is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Abraham’s life is narrated in the Koran, showing him as an important prophet, and he is also mentioned for times in each of the five daily prayers of Muslims, making him a very important person in the Islamic religion.
Author: Maria Andrea Ramirez
Co-Editors: Melissa Lopez and Sara Aguirre
*Muhammad is said to be the most important prophet for Muslims because he is the founder of the religion of Islam, and is considered the restorer of a faith of other different prophets that came before him. He was born in Mecca, and raised by his uncle. He had many different jobs until one day he was tired and he went to a distant cave to meditate, and there he received his first revelation from Allah.
After that episode, he started spreading Allah’s messages and proclaiming that they had to complete surrender to Allah because he was the only God. Muhammad gained a lot of followers which, after some persecutions, helped him to spread the religion of Islam. For having a really big influence on the Arabian Peninsula and for his revelations, Muhammad became the most important prophet for Muslims, which is mentioned many times in the Koran.
*Jesus is also considered a messenger of God, which was sent to guide the people of Israel. Muslims, like Catholics, believe that Jesus was born to Mary as a virginal conception, and he was given the ability to make miracles, but as a difference from Catholic religion, Muslims don’t believe he was killed nor crucified, they think he was raised alive up to heaven. Jesus is considered to have been a Muslim, and the religion of Islam rejects that he was the son of God, and see him as a normal person which was chosen to spread God’s message. Jesus is mentioned 25 times in the Koran.
*Abraham is commonly called as the Father of the Prophets. He was also a messenger of God which made an important sacrifice, by almost killing his own son, just to show his faith and trust in Him. This act of love towards God is remembered in one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the Hajj, which is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Abraham’s life is narrated in the Koran, showing him as an important prophet, and he is also mentioned for times in each of the five daily prayers of Muslims, making him a very important person in the Islamic religion.
Author: Maria Andrea Ramirez
Co-Editors: Melissa Lopez and Sara Aguirre
History of Islam
Known as a monotheistic religion, it’s based on the Qur’an book which establishes that “there is just one god”, who is Allah.
Islam has existed many years ago in many countries, but it is most known since it was reformed by Muhammad. He was a very important prophet, which at the age of 40 he retreated to a cave for meditation and reflection, where he received a revelation from Allah saying he was the only god and people had to complete surrender to him. Muhammad spread this message, and that way he founded the religion. He is regarded by Muslims as a messenger of God.
Muhammad spread Islamic religion through most of the Arabian Peninsula, and he united the tribes of Arabia into a single Muslim religion polity. Then the religion continued spreading in many other continents around the world, such as Africa and Europe, even after Muhammad’s death. Today it still continues spreading not only in Africa and Europe, but in America too, and it is the second biggest religion.
Historically this religion was a strong foundation based in revelations and prophets of god, their theology of the Islamic scriptures had aspects of Muslim life and culture. People are used to write hadith, which is a collection of sayings and stories which are commonly related back to the life and sayings of prophet, Mohammed.
Islam has a practical doctrine that encourages Muslims to pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, declare 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet' and pay money to the poor people. People define Islam as a “submission”, submitting you’re will to god. Their practices include the “five pillars of Islam” acts of worship. There is an Islamic month, on which they celebrate Islamic holydays and festivals , and the most important belief for them is faith.
Author: Melissa Lopez
Co-Editors: Juanita Jaramillo and Maria Andrea Ramirez
Islam has existed many years ago in many countries, but it is most known since it was reformed by Muhammad. He was a very important prophet, which at the age of 40 he retreated to a cave for meditation and reflection, where he received a revelation from Allah saying he was the only god and people had to complete surrender to him. Muhammad spread this message, and that way he founded the religion. He is regarded by Muslims as a messenger of God.
Muhammad spread Islamic religion through most of the Arabian Peninsula, and he united the tribes of Arabia into a single Muslim religion polity. Then the religion continued spreading in many other continents around the world, such as Africa and Europe, even after Muhammad’s death. Today it still continues spreading not only in Africa and Europe, but in America too, and it is the second biggest religion.
Historically this religion was a strong foundation based in revelations and prophets of god, their theology of the Islamic scriptures had aspects of Muslim life and culture. People are used to write hadith, which is a collection of sayings and stories which are commonly related back to the life and sayings of prophet, Mohammed.
Islam has a practical doctrine that encourages Muslims to pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, declare 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet' and pay money to the poor people. People define Islam as a “submission”, submitting you’re will to god. Their practices include the “five pillars of Islam” acts of worship. There is an Islamic month, on which they celebrate Islamic holydays and festivals , and the most important belief for them is faith.
Author: Melissa Lopez
Co-Editors: Juanita Jaramillo and Maria Andrea Ramirez
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)