Hinduism

Hinduism
Interesting symbol of Hinduism

The swastika is a symbol in the hindu culture that is in the shape of an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. It is often shown meaning “well being”. Today the swastika occurs mainly in modern day culture of northern India, while sometimes as a geometrical motif and even at times a religious symbol. To the Hindu people the two symbols represent the two different forms of the creator god Brahma. The side facing right represents evolution of universe, while the side facing left represents involution of the universe. Additionally it is often seen as pointing in all four directions (north, east, south and west) which signifies a grounded stability. The swastika has a sun symbol that can be seen as a representation of the god Surya. It is considered extremely holy by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate items related to Hindu culture. Throughout India, it can be seen on the sides of temples, religious scriptures, gift items, and letterheads. The Hindu deity Ganesha is often shown sitting on a lotus flower on a bed of swastikas.

Hindu religious rituals

Many people from south india celebrate the Theemithi festival by walking barefoot across a pit filled with burning hot firewood, or sometimes even glowing charcoal. This type of fire walking ritual is done in honour of the Hindu goddess Draupati Amman so rather than hurrying across the put, the devotees have to walk across slowly. The ritual begins when the preist traverses the pit was a pot on his head, filled with sacred water. The prey's is then followed by other men. who seek to proves their piety by withstanding the pain of her burning feet. People that participate in this ritual often suffer from burns on their feet and some even with worse injuries, with some even falling into the burning pit.

A famous festival in India called the thookam festival takes the backs of devoted Hindus pierced by sharp hooks; the men are then lifted off the ground onto a scaffold using ropes. Sometimes, children are even tied to the hands of participants. The ritual originated from southern parts of India but has now been banned by the Indian government after continued pressure from human rights organizations.

Work Cited

 "Hinduism/Religious Symbols of Hinduism." - Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World. Web. 2 Jan. 2016.

"10 Bizarre Indian Rituals - Listverse." Listverse. 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 2 Jan. 2016. 

Buddhism

Buddhism Blog

Descirbe one interesting ritual: Meditation

Buddhist meditation has two different themes which include trasforming the mind and using it to explore itself. Meditation has been practised for centirues but during the time of Buddha it was very common in male and female practitioners.

The first type of Buddhist meditation is Samatha meditation. In the lanugage of the eightfol path samadi is "right concentration." This makes the primary means of cultivating samadhi is meditation. During the development of samadhi ones mind becomes purified of defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous. As soon as the meditator achieves a strong powerful concentration there mind becomes ready to penetrate and gain insight into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all of there surrfering. This cultivation of mindfulness becomes essential to mental concentration, which is needed to achieve insight. The meditation process begins from the being mindful of an object or idea, which is expanded to one's body, mind and entire surroundings, leading to a state of total concentration and tranquility. There are many different ways to practise this meditation, from sitting cross-legged or kneeling to chanting or even walking. But the most common method includes concentrate on ones breath.

One Interesting symbol: Buddhist flag

A recent symbol of buddhism is the Buddhist flag. 

It was designed in 1880 by Colenel Henry Steele Olcott an American journalist. It was first used in 1885 in Sri Lank and is a symbol that represent faith and peace, and is used throughout the worldto represent Buddhism. The five colours of the flag represent the colours of the aura that emanted from the body of the Buddha when he attained Enlightement. 

The colours of the flag are represent here with this image.

Blue: Loving kindness, peace and universal compassion

Yellow:The Middle Path - avoiding extremes, emptiness

Red:Blessings of practice - achievement, wisdom, virtue, fortune and dignity

White: Purity of Dharma - it leads to liberation, outside of time or space

Orange:The Buddha's Teaching - wisdom Works Cited  "Buddhist Symbols." Buddhist Symbols. Web. 29 Nov. 2015. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

Methodist

Methodist

Interesting symbol

The cross and the flame is a symbol part of the Methodist Church adopted after the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The symbol has a cross and a red flame on it with the cross meaning God through Christ while the flame means the holy spirit. The flame on the cross reminds us of the Pentecost when witnesses were unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and saw “tongues, as of fire” (Acts 2:3). The two tongues of a single flame can also be explained to represent the union of two different denominations. The two separated flames on by the cross can represent the Evangelical United Brethren Church with the Methodist Church coming together to form the United Methodist Church. The cross and the flame was registered as a trademark in 1971 as a way to prevent its misuse and is intended mostly for official United Methodist agencies, which include local churches.

5 laws and expectations of Methodists

Baptism

The methodist church believes that baptism is a very important ritual for every believer. Individual churches may choose whether to offer the sacrament by immersion, pouring or sprinkling. This ritual is in the official church hy

mnals, and church members have to respond to the baptism by leaving a promise to live as a godly example to strengthen the newly baptized individual.

Communion

The Methodist church says communion is an integral part of the believer’s worship experience. It is usually celebrated on the first sunday of the month, but they are mostly free to participate more or less often, according to the wishes of the church. Communion is open to all believers, and not just the members of the church. Juice with Communion wafers are most often used as the elements of the ritual.

Confirmation

In the Methodist church the confirmation service includes mostly children between the ages of 9 and 12 who have attended a class and chose to join the church. The church can also accept new adult believers but all who partake must renew their vows with the new members by promising to support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

Marriage

The methodist church believes that Christian marriage is a very sacred covenant between a man and a woman that reflects Christ's covenant with the church. The people that attend the wedding participate in the marriage ritual by giving their blessing to the couple according to “The United Methodist Hymnal.” After the marriage ritual communion may be offered and if so all are invited to participate.

Funerals

The ritual of the funeral occurs with the body present or at a memorial service area. The minister usually begins by offering words of comfort to the family and other attendees. The service celebrates faith and acknowledges belief in the resurrection of those who died. Some offer a salvation message and an altar call for those who not be there.

Work Cited

 Barr, Kathryn. "Worship Rituals in the Methodist Church." EHow. Demand Media. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.

 "Cross and Flame." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.