Tyanna+Pleasant

__**Tyanna Pleasant**__ __**Silver stream**__

My topic is Religion and ritual. The religions I am going to study are Santeria, Jainism, and Sikhism. I want to research how are their rituals and their beliefs relate to each other and how they do not. I chose these religions because I do not know a lot about them.This brochure will give a little information about each religion, then a paragraph about what I gained from the information. The general message is to be able to determine the differences and the similarities of the three random picked religions.

**How are their beliefs and rituals compare?** Many religions have a very unique way of celebrating, thinking, and living.They also have their differences but they eventually relate in certain traditions or rituals. One thing that is commonly alike in each of these religions are, that they each have a source that motivates them to promote and encourage their religion. The three religions I focused on are all alike in many ways. Sikhism and Jainism are alike because they each believen in peaceful things, and they do not believen magic and sacrificing people and animals unlike Santeria. Santeria is the outcast of the three religions I chose to study. Santeria does magical rituals and they believen magic and that there are gods that come to earth as a Orisha or basically a messenger from their god Olodumare. All three of these religions are alike because they worship a higher power.

 Interesting painting Some of the Santeria Orishas  A Santeria ritual called Bembé. __**Santeria**__  Santeria focuses on building relationships between humans and powerful, buy mortal, spirits (Orishas). Santeria is a religion that is passed down by words of mouth and it has no holy book or it isn’t written down. In Santeria they believe in one god known as Olorun or Olodumare which is the source of ashé, the spiritual energy that makes up the universe, all life and all things material. In order to become Santerian, you have to know a lot about the religion and it’s history, and you also have to complete certain initiations. During the first year of a initiation to priesthood, the initiate or Iyawó must dress in all white, cannot look into a mirror, allow to touch anyone or let anyone touch them, go out after night, and cannot wear makeup. Emissaries called Orishas are how Olorun communicate with the world and humankind. Orishas rule over every force of nature and every aspect of human life. They are approachable and are counted on when their followers need aid guiding them to a better life spiritually and materially. People of the Sanitarian religion communicate with the Orishas by ritual, prayer, divination, and ebó or offerings, including sacrifices. Bembé is a ritual that invites Orishas to join them in drumming, singing, and music. **__What I learned__** The insights I get from the two articles I read are that Santeria is a very spiritual religion. They have one god name Olorun or Olodumare but he is not as much worshiped or recognized as his Orishas are. It is based on magic and beliefs of Orishas, emissaries from Olodumare. Orisha’s is also their belief of why they way things are similar to Greek mythology but they have different names. They communicate with their Orishas by invinting them to join their ceremonies with drumming, singing, and music. They also are approachable when aid is needed by one of their followers by different rituals and sacrifice of animals.

 Sikhism symbol (The Khanda) Sikhs meditating The Shri Guru Granth

**__Sikhism__** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Sikhism was created by a man named Guru Nanak and 10 other Guru’s in 1469. A Guru is a Sanskrit word-meaning teacher, honored person, religious person or saint. This religion is based on understanding and experiencing god and eventually becoming one with him. Sikhism preaches devotion and remembrance of god at all times. They believe that In order to live a good life, you must do good deeds and meditate to god everyday, also that superstitions and rituals have no value. The name of their holy book is called the “Shri Guru Granth” which was created by the fifth Guru of the Sikh religion. Sikhs believe the cycle of birth, life, and rebirth. They also believe in Reincarnation and Karma. The only way to escape the Laws of Karma is to gain a total knowledge of and union with God. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**__What I learned__** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The insights that I get from the articles I read are that the Sikh people are very honest and giving people. They support others by giving to charity and they always keep god on their minds as a priority in life. They believe in life after death and they follow the Laws of Karma which determines how they will live their after life. They meditate and try to become one with god. All people of the Sikhism religion are equal under god. Living honestly to them means not only avoiding crime; Sikhs avoid gambling, begging, or working in the alcohol or tobacco industries

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Jainism symbol (Ahmisa Hand) The 24 Tirthankaras <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**__Jainism__** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Jainism is a religion where the follower is expected to help themselves towards salvation, through thinking and acting in the proper way. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In the Jainism religion, they do not believe in and Gods or spiritual being that will help human beings. When Jains worship, they do not do it to please a god or ask for something in return. When Jains pray, they worship Tirthankara, people who are role model and leader for people seeking spiritual guidance. Jains meditate (//samayika//) every morning to achieve a peaceful state of mind. Jains believe that humans, animals, and plants have living souls and are treated as equal and with respect. They are strict Vegetarians. A quote from a man named Acharya Kundakunda is “ Some Religions preach that an individual can be saved by devotion to God, the savior, or to God’s incarnations and intermediaries. Jainism teaches that we can attain true peace and happiness only through behaving and thinking righty.” Many believe that Jainism is action not devotion. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**__What I learned__** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> The insights the articles I read give me are, that Jainism is a religion about action and the way to act that determines the way you live. Jains do not believe in any god or spiritual forces that help humans live their lives it’s the human its self. When they pray, they are worshipping the Tirthankaras, which are the people who has achieved liberation and enlightenment by destroying all of their soul restricting (ghati) karmas.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**Bibliography**__
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> . "What is Santeria?." // http://www.orishanet.org // . OrishaNet Articles, 2005. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.orishanet.org/santeria.html>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> . "Religion:Santeria." // http://www.bbc.co.uk/ // . BBC news, 2012. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/santeria/>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Singh Brar, Sandeep. "Sikhism, Religion of the Sikh People." // http://www.sikhs.org/ // . N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> . "Religion: Sikhism." // http://www.bbc.co.uk/ // . BBC news, 2012. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> . "Religion: Jainism." // http://www.bbc.co.uk/ // . BBC news, 2012. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> . "Rituals and Practices." // http://www.religionfacts.com/ // . Dreamweaver, 2010. Web. 22 Feb 2012. <http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/practices.htm>.