Modern expressions of religion

Many different ways of worshiping God are found every year, they are new and modernized but not always good. The new ways are placed into schools, work, home and many different types of church services. Whichever church you go to you will have different ways of worship that evolve every day.

People worshiping God

If you have experienced going to two or more different churches you will surely notice to difference in worship. Some might have a very quiet peaceful service while others would be a very loud, expressional and lots of teen pop music to get more young people to join. Does it matter which type of worship you choose?  

There was a article in the Courier Mail that addresses people that are across the road of churches complaining about the loud pumping music in the early mornings of the weekend, it said that people have spoken to the church and they have gotten many warning about this but they still continue to worship in a loud manner. Why should they need to worship loudly, you can still connect with God when it is peaceful or at least a bit quieter. I think it is alright to praise god by singing but the loud music that comes with it in the mornings and late at night should stop, I assume they use this technique to lure more people of a young age like teenagers.

But these church services are not just help for young children to teenagers, there are adults and elderly people. They might not appeal to the music whilst others would think it is utterly rude and bring earplugs to wear while the music is playing.

Many people have different tastes in music and one type can please everyone. But is loud and pumping the right type for the majority of people at church or just across the road? It shouldn’t even matter how we worship or what type of music is, the churches should focus on the fact that the most important thing is that you are actually worshiping an almighty God, the God that created us and His son Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins for he had never sinned for he is pure.

Worship at Second church New London

To worship our creator shouldn’t be a big hassle, the churches are just performing different ways to focus on our liking of style. But it shouldn’t matter whether you sing, dance, write, pray or use poetry or any other ways to worship, it’s just our own way of being ourselves when we want to be with God. God loves everybody no matter what they have done in their lives or how we worship Him, He will always love us for eternity. If you are uncomfortable worshiping God in a loud church you could always change churches and find the right one for you.

Aboriginal Sacred Space



As Christians we believe that God created the heavens and the earth (GEN 1:1), but by acknowledging the stories of ‘The Dreaming’ we are acknowledging the sacred space of the aboriginal people.

  

Aboriginal dancers telling Dreamtime
stories at Sydney Olympics
opening ceremony


The Dreaming (sometimes referred as The Dreamtime or Dreamtimes) for Indigenous people is when the Ancestral Beings moved across the land and created life and significant geographic features, then after a while the Ancestors turned into a rock, plant, or something of the landscape. Aborigines have the longest continuous cultural history of any group of people on Earth. Before European settlement of Australia, there were around 600 different Aboriginal nations based on language groups. Aborigines valued the land a lot because of their ancestors past and because of the dreamtime.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Northern Territory, Australia is Uluru (most commonly called Ayers Rock.) Uluru is located in Kata Tjuta National Park around 280 miles (450km) southwest of Alice Springs. The site has many tourists visiting it from all over the world, half from Australia. Uluru is recorded to be the biggest rock in Australia, Uluru is owned by the Aboriginal people.



Uluru (Ayers Rock)



There is still one issue that appears when addressing whether or not tourists or just anyone would be allowed to climb it. Some people think that you shouldn’t because over time it could to damage to it, others say that it is the Aboriginals land and that it should be left alone and preserved for them and that it is their sacred space, they say that you wouldn’t like it if someone intruded your sacred space so why should we intrude theirs. Others when they visit don’t tend to think about the background of the rock, they are just there for the experience of being on the biggest rock in Australia and to see the land from the top, it also takes a nice picture and brings in a lot of tourists.



Birds-eye view of Uluru



There have been recorded of some injuries and deaths accruing at the rock, mostly for natural reason like if they can’t handle the heat and get a heatstroke or if they aren’t fit enough, there are many different reasons but many people know of this but still visit the rock for the thrill.

So why should we respect their sacred space, which their sacred space is Uluru?

The Aboriginal people believe that the rock holds many stories that have originated in the Dreamtime. It is also their land but they don’t have much control over who visits so it is up to us to respect them because everyone deserves respect. Every single little detail of the rock has its own meaning that relates to the aboriginals, everything to the massive caves and water pools to the tiny little grooves and cracks.
I think we should defiantly respect the Aboriginals sacred space as it is one of their most famous sacred spaces and respect their wishes towards Uluru.

Do we need Sacred Space to be with God?



St Andrews Church, Brighton



Different religions have different types of sacred space, but do we really need sacred space to be with God? I personally think no we don’t need a sacred space because God in a Christian sense is always with you. I’m not saying I’m against sacred space because it is useful to some people who believe that it is a calm place where they can be with god and some people if it is in their mind that you need a sacred space to be with God then it would be easier for them to communicate to god. A church for Christians is usually referred to as 'the house of the Lord' so many Christians feel they have to be in the right place to be with Him. Also Christians don’t just have a place for sacred space but they have items such as a bible or a cross and they use prayer to connect with God and to teach us His plan with having to go anywhere.

A Buddhists sacred space is a lot different than a Christians because they don’t have a God, but they do meditate in a temple which would be their sacred space. The quietness and peace that is provided at a temple help the Buddhists to concentrate on their mind.



Stonehenge



Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest nation icon, it can symbolize power, mystery and endurance. We are unsure what its original purpose is but there have been many theories that have come from the surroundings and how it was built. Many people have thought it used to be a temple made for worship of ancient earth deities. Other people claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from the societies of long ago. It must have been a very important place if they took that much effort into building it, so it defiantly has some religious background. Today Stonehenge is visited by many tourists and over the time it has become ruins but most of it is surprisingly still standing because they made it long ago when they didn't have many machinery or tools. 

Stonehenge was apparently built by people called 'the Druids,' who have been in England for around 2000 years. Most people believe that Stonehenge was and still is a sacred space and that the Druids used it for sacred space too.



Western Wall in Jerusalem



For Jewish people a sacred space would be in the Western Wall in Jerusalem, this is where Jews would come to mourn and grieve at the loss of their temple. To many Jews, this is considered to have a very important meaning. Also many people visit Israel to see some of the places where people like Jesus, Moses and David have been. People, mostly Christians, would find this a sacred space because they feel they are in a higher presence of God.

You can find sacred space anywhere and many religions have different types of sacred space, but I believe all you need for any religion is a quiet peaceful place where you can concentrate and yourself. To some people a physical landscape is the best way to make us feel closer to our god/s but you really don’t need it, you may want it but it isn’t necessary  

The teachings of Buddha and Jesus and their similarities and differences.

Jesus

There are many similarities and differences with the teachings of Buddha and Jesus but they both want one thing, peace and harmony, they just achieve this goal in their own unique ways.

 

Christianity is based on the belief that Jesus Christ, who is the son of God, came down to earth and died for our sins on the cross but then rose from the dead and now he is our lord and saviour. Christians worship God in many different ways, many believe that a church is the house of God and that’s where they would worship, learn, ask for forgiveness, thank him, and learn what God has planned for their lives.



There are some holidays that are for Jesus, like Easter, many think it is all about chocolate and a magical bunny arriving at night and giving you chocolate eggs, but the story behind it is that it’s a celebration of Jesus rising from the dead and the eggs represent new life, the fact that they are chocolate doesn’t really have a meaning, it has just evolved from many years. Also Christmas is celebrated because that is the day that Jesus was born but many people forget this because of the present receiving and giving, and Santa coming.



Holy Bible

Many Christians have a Holy Bible, it is a book that tells the word of God and Jesus. It has an Old Testament which starts with God creative the the universe and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and it also contains Noah and the Ark and stories of Moses and Joseph. Then it has a New Testament which focuses on Jesus and his teaching and life on earth.

Christians believe that if you have faith in God and Jesus and give yourself to Christianity then you will live your life in eternity in heaven when you die and all your pain and suffering will disappear.



Buddha

Buddha is not just a statue or a made up thing, Buddha was a person who used to be a prince who never really saw the outside world for he stayed in his palace. An opportunity came that he could venture out into the world and he took it. He learnt 4 major things, the first was he learnt about aging for he hasn't seen it before, the second was illness, the third was death and the fourth was that he had discovered an ascetic who had given up important things in his life to follow hi religious views. The prince then wanted to learn more about life so he left everything behind, his palace, wife and child.

Nambour Christian College's Mission Statement is: The mission of Nambour Christian College is to provide a secure and supportive Christ-centred learning community, where a commitment to excellence, creativity and service is encourages and modelled.



Nambour Christian College Logo

This statement is saying that they agree with the fact that a school should be secure and supportive but also being a Christ-centred learning community, it treats students and teachers with high respect. Also not that they just expect a high achievement but also that you try to the best of your abilities. This would agree with a Christian views and also you get to learn about Christ and learn about yourself.
The only similarity with Buddhism is that their views are also that you should be secure and supportive.  

 

How does Religion shape our life stories?

Religion shapes our life stories in many ways, from when we are born to when we die. A life story is something that helps keep memories alive as well as preserve the history of every one of us, these stories connect us with our past and the people in our present.

 

It can be obvious how most people's religion can effect their life stories by what their every day routines are to where they would travel to, also their personality and the clothes they wear.
It shouldn't matter which religion you are or whether your atheist or non religious, we all have a life story and its the only one we have so we should make it our best.