Religious Comparisons

Thank you.

The Flood:

There are a lot of different religions and places where the flood idea is common, granted they are all a little different they still have a lot of similarities. These religions and Cultures are (in alphabetical order): Acadian, American Indian, Babylonian, Catholic ,Chinese, Christian, Germanic, Greek, Inca, Indian, Indonesian, Irish, Jewish, Muslim, Maya, Polynesian, Sumerian, and other Bible based religions, I named the most common, but there are many branches.   

Sacrifice:

There are a lot of religions that sacrifice in some way. Pretty  much all religions sacrifice in some way. A few examples of this are (in no special order.)

§Christian§

Sacrifice/offerings: All sacrifices are taken care of with the once-for-all-self-offering of Jesus.

 Festivals:

wAdvent
Date: The Sunday nearest Nov. 30 (Nov. 15 for Eastern Orthodox Church) until Christmas Eve.
 

Age: unknown
 

What is it about?
Advent is the beginning of the Church year. I started as a time of fasting, repentance and preparation for Christ's second coming (also Judgment day.) Though many people don't practice fasting anymore, repentance, and preparation does still happen.
 

Practices
Incorporation Blue and Purple into services
Fasting (by some)

wAsh Wednesday
Date: 40 days before Easter
 

Age: unknown
 

What is it about?
Ash Wed. is the first day of Lent (see below). Ashes used from the burning of the blessed branches from the last Palm Sunday celebration (see below for Palm Sunday), are blessed, sprinkled with holy water, and fumigated with incense. Then the ashes where placed on the forehead to symbolize mourning and penitence. Some people was the ashes off before leaving the church symbolizing that they have been cleansed of their sins, some people leave the ashes on and believe the are carrying the cross with them out into the world.
 

Practices:
Ash crosses on foreheads.

 

wChristmas
Date: December 25
 

What is it about?
The birth of Jesus Christ is observed on this day. This holiday was not observed until the late 3rd century AD as a Christian alternative to Pagan winter holidays. Some food for thought is that some early Christians opposed the idea for Christmas because they believed that birthdays where for Pagans not Christians. There was some issues on choosing the date for Christmas in fact the early Eastern Church the holiday was called epiphany and was held on Jan. 6th.
 

Practices:
A lot of practices where derived from the Yule( under Wicca section), and where seen as a victory of a way to convert more Pagans to Christianity.
Worship services are giving on this day, and the use of candle light is often at midnight.
Some people observe midnight mass.
Christmas Carols
Light décor
Christmas trees.
Gift giving.

wLent
Date: a 40 day session preparing for Easter
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
A season of fasting and preparation of Easter. A time where people who are to be baptized on Easter reflect and penitence, and a time for sinners to repent.
 

Practices
This was a strict fasting time for early followers where people where allowed one meal during the evening of a special diet. Though fasting is not very common these days, the Catholic Church still requires this type of fasting for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

wPalm Sunday: Other names (Passion Sunday, Willow Sunday, and Flower Sunday.)
Date: 6th Sunday of Lent
 

Age: unknown
 

What is it about?
This holiday celebrates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Some believe that the holiday started around the 3rd or 4th century AD. This day also marks they beginning of the Holy week, where people focus on the last days of Jesus' life.
 

Practices:
Blessing of Palm branches to be burned on Ash Wednesday. Also palm crosses, and reading "Liturgy of Palms" from the Bible

wSt. Andrew's day
Date: Nov. 30
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
The celebration of Andrew the brother of St. Peter the patron saint of Russia and Scotland.
 

Practices:
Fireworks
porridge making/piping contests
Special Church services

wSt. Patrick's Day
Date: Mar. 17

Age: Unknown

What is it about?
Celebration St. Patrick, the Patron saint of Ireland.

Practices:
Feasting.
Wearing shamrocks
The color green
 Traditional music
Parades

wTwelfth Night
Date. Jan 5th
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
The Twelfth night is the last day of the Christmas season.
 

Practices:
Feasting

After Life: Souls either go to Heaven (paradise) or Hell. (Some Catholics still believe in the concept of Purgatory.)

The fish is the symbol of early Christians because it would not be easily recognized by Christian persecutors.

These letters are the a Latin abbreviation for words that translate to "Jesus Christ, King of Jews"

The five pointed star represents the Star of Bethlehem

The Triquetra represents the Holy Trinity.

The Eye of God, symbolizes God watching over all things.

 §Wicca§

Sacrifice/offering: The offering given depends on what the person wants, along with who they offer it to. Usually offerings are feathers, vegetation, grain, items of the earth.

Festivals:

wShamain (pronounces Sow-in)/Celtic New year, Other names for this holiday are, Hallowmas, All Hallow's eve, Halloween, Samhuinn.

Date: Oct. 31, Nov. 2nd, 4th or when the sun is at 15 degrees Scorpio.

Age: Around 6,000 years.

What is it about?

This festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter, or the new year for the Celts. This is the time when they recognized the beginning and the end of all things. This is also a time where the gates between the dead and the living are open, and the dead can roam freely on Earth. Often the Celts would call to their ancestors for advice that might help with the year to come.

Practices on this day (these may be different depending on the coven).

Erecting A shrine to their ancestors

Carving pumpkins and empowering them to repel negativity.

Setting a place at the dinner table for the diseased

wYule/Winter Solstice, other names Mean Geimhridh, Alban Arthuan, Modranicht (mother night).

Date: Dec 20, 21, 22 or when  the sun is at 1 degree Capricorn.

Age: At least 5,000 years old.

What is it about?

{The birth day of the sun (Dec 25) was celebrated by kindling lights in a token of festivity (yes, some Christians took part in this)}

Yule is primarily burning the Yule log in dedication to Teutonic Thor, God of courage, and fire. Whose job is to dispel the cold and dark of the winter.  The log is usually made out of Oak (sometimes Ash), and is decorated with ivy, ribbons and evergreens, also the log is blessed with holy water (this water is different from the Christian/Catholic holy water), ale or wine to bring manifestation. The log is never burned completely burned because each year the new Yule log is ignited by the log of last year. Also the pieces from the log left over are used as charms against misfortune in the next year.

Also associated with Yule is around the time when the Dark God, is represented by the first stranger to come to someone's house bearing gifts. Names for this person are Cernunnos, Herne the Hunter, and Old nick (The term Old nick may be the commonly know Santa Claus or St. Nick or something completely different. I do not really know the origin of  the name.)        

wImbolc, other names: Candlemas, Oimealg, Imbolg, Brigantia, Lupercus, Disting, Lupercalia.

Date: Feb. 2nd or when the sun is 15 degrees Aquarius.

Age: unknown

What is it about?

In the months of the "little sun" (from Hallowmas to Candlemas) is a time when the Celts believed that the lad was controlled by Cailleach (sometimes called Cailleach Bheur) a Female deity for the Scottish. Cailleach was perceived to be a strong tempered woman who started winter my washing her plaids in a whirlpool and her rage was the spring storms. The coming on Imbolc represented the rise of Bried (or Brigit) who was a goddess of healing, poetry, and forging fire. She extends her blessing after Cailleach leaves, and the weather gets better.

Some practices fir this holiday:

Adding a circle of white candles to the altar each one representing a goal the person would like to achieve in the coming year.

Purify the home, with a blessing ritual.

Offering milk to the gods, then pour it on to the ground, or leave it for the animals. (Italian)

wOstara/ Spring equinox, Other names (Ostre, Mean Earraigh, Alban Eiler, Pasch, Caisg, and Pesse)

Date: Mar.20, 21, or 22 when the sun reached 1 degree Aries.

Age: 3000 B.C. or older.

Focus: offerings to the goddess of spring.

What is it about?

One myth of this holiday is the it represents the goddess returning from the underworld (Persephone).

Some practices for the Holiday:

Giving colored eggs (the symbol of life)

Empowering eggs for health, wealth, and prosperity.

Blessing seeds for planting.

wBeltane (meaning: bright/lucky fire)/May day: other names (Valpurga, Beltainne, Roodmas, Calin Mai)

Date: May 1st or when the sun is at 15 degrees Taurus.

Age: possibly the oldest known holiday.

What is it about?

Beltane is one of two major fire festivals (the other being Shamain). The night before Beltane all the fires are put out in the city, and at dawn the next day people gather in the forest, igniting a huge fire at dawn. The fire was thought to purify the air of all evil. People would walked around the fire 3 times to remove any negativity they have or may experience the summer months. In Europe traditions people would jump over the flames of a small fire for purification. Also torches where lit from the Beltane fire and take home to light the new fires. Milk butter, eggs and bread are offered into the fire with incantations (Pre-Christian) or Prayers (during Christian ruling) in hopes of a good growing season. Europeans also practiced tying wands to above the door, and collecting the ashes from the Beltane fire and placed them on the forehead for a purification of the body.

Some practices:

Walking around the fire or jumping over small fires for spirit purification.

Putting the ashes of the Beltane fire on the forehead for body purification

Offering things to the fire.

wMidsummer/ Summer Solstice: Other names (Litha (moon), Alban Heruin, Mean Samhraidh.) 

Date: June 20, 21, 22 or when the sun is at 1 degree Cancer

wLammas: other names (Lughnasadah and Lunasdal)
Date: Aug. 1 or 2
Age: unknown
What is it about?
Lammas is the first of the harvest celebrations. Also temporary handfasting (handfasting in Wicca is a marriage. Temporary ones last for a year at the consent of both partners.) where held in medieval documentation.
Practices:
Blessing marriages, babies, and homes
Feasting
Harvesting grains and hay

wMabon/Fall equinox: other names (Harvest Home, Alban Elued, Mean Fomhair)
Date: Sept. 20,21,22 or when he sun is 1 degree Libra.
Age:3000 B.C. or older
What is it about?
Mabon is the second of three harvest festivals, this one concentrating on fruits and vegetables. This is the celebration on the last harvests of fruits and veggies. Usually the last ear of corn from the field was believed to embody the spirit of the corn and to ensure a good harvest it was necessary to keep the spirit alive so it was the center of the rituals for Mabon. Usually a corn doll was made in hopes of blessing and good fortune for families.
Practices:
Making corn dolls
Deity offerings
Rituals preformed in harvested fields.

After life: The soul can choose to stay near the earth for a period of time. When the soul does leave the earth plain it goes to a paradise type land, and there the soul can choose to stay, or return to earth through reincarnation.

Some Wicca Symbols

The symbol of the Wicca religion, the points on the star meaning the different elements, Earth, Water, Fire and air, with the top point representing Spirit.

This symbol is the symbol of the God.

This symbols is the symbol of the Goddess.

The Moon which play a key role in a lot of Wicca rituals

The Sun, which as you can see sets the date for festivals.

This symbol represents Spring.

This symbol represents Summer.

This symbol represents Autumn.

This Symbol represents Winter.

This is a Celtic sign for female power.

§ Hinduism§

 Sacrifice/Offerings:  Hindus offer Food from a meal to the Gods, Cursory offering made to all beings, a mixture of water and sesame is offered to the spirits of the diseased.

(The age of the festivals of Hinduism probably originated around the 1800's when the religion became a more wide spread. Also most festivals have varying dates due to the lunar calendar.)

 Festivals:

wLohri
Date: January 13
 

What is it about?
Celebration of the Punjab. This festival marked the end of winter.
 

Practices:
Lohri songs.
Bonfires.
Dancing.
Fairs.

wPongal-Sankranti
Date: January 13/14/15/16 (four day festival)
 

What is it about?
This festival celebrates the rice harvest in South India.
 

Practices:
Feasting.
Cattle racing.

wHoli
Date: Late February or early March (date changes)
 

What is it about?
National celebration of Spring and the new year.
 

Practices:
Noisemaking relates to the story of Holika.
Throwing colored powder.
Bon Fires.

wShivaratri
Date: March
 

What is it about?
People honor the god Shiva.
 

Practices:
Fasting during the day and and all-night vigil in Shiva temples.

wSri Vaishnavas
Date: April
 

What is it about?
This festival is celebrated in Madras in the beginning of the hot season, it honors Vishnu the god who preserves the universe and Sri Vishnu's consort.
 

Practices
Images of Vishnu are taken from temples and moved to the seashore.

wRathyatra
Date: May
 

What is it about?
The birthday of the Lord Jagannath.
 

Practices:
Chariots in Puri.
 

wJanmashtami
Date: August (day varies)
 

What is it about?
The birthday of Krishna, who came down to earth and protected the people from demons and demigods.
 

Practices:
Fasting during the day. The fast is broken at night followed by special worship.

wDusserah
Date: September
 

What is it about?
A celebration good winning over evil, in honor of Durga (incarnation of Devi the mother Goddess) or Rama(7th incarnation of Vishnu) Both helped fight the demons who threatened the Gods.
 

Practices:
The story of Rama's victory over the demon Ravana is reenacted. As well as Durga's victory over the buffalo demon.

wGanesh Chaturthi
Date: September
 

What is it about?
The birthday of Ganesh, the son of Shiva
 

Practices:
Images of Ganesh are paraded.
 

wDiwali:
Date: Late October or Early November.
 

What is it about?
A national celebration of Rama's return from exile.
 

Practices:
Inviting Lskishmi (goddess of wealth) into the home.
Gifts are exchanged.
Lamps are lit to drive out Alakshmi (misfortune)

After life: Hinduism has a form of reincarnation for an after life, where the soul is reincarnated millions of times in the heavens, hells, and earth. Depending on Karma (moral law.) Though there is a release from reincarnation called Moksha.

Some Hindu Symbols

The Om or Aum, this symbol represents three Triads, The three worlds: Earth, Heaven and Atmosphere, The three major Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva and the three sacred Vedic sculptures : Rg, Yajur and Sama. Also the Aum is a sacred sound.

The Lotus represents beauty and nonattachment.

The Pratik is the symbol of the "Path of Bliss"

The right-hand Swastika is a symbol in the Hindu religion for luck and prosperity. (Note: this symbol has nothing to do with Nazism in the Hindu religion)

The Trishula is the emblem of the God Shiva.

The Yartra is a geometrical diagram representing the Universe.

 §Shinto§

Sacrifice/offerings: Fish, rice, vegetables and sake are offered to Kami, also dancing and praise is given as well.

Festivals:

wNara Yamayaki
Date: January
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
Celebration of the resolution of a dispute between two local temples.
 

Practices
People burn the hillside of Naga at twilight wearing warrior monk costumes.

wKasuga Matsuri
Date: March
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
A festival for the deity of the Kasuga shrine.
Practices
Ritual dancing

 

wKanda Matsuri
Date: May
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
Festival in honor of the deities of the Kanda shrine in Tokyo.
 

Practices
Floats with portable shrines and dancers are paraded through Tokyo.

 

wGion Matsuri
Date: July
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
Honoring the Historical and Mythological people.
 

Practices
Large floats with musicians and small floats with representations of historical and mythological people are paraded through Kyoto.

wNebuta Matsuri
Date: August
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
A Bon festival
 

Practices
Paper floats of famous people.
Singing and Dancing.

wChichibu Yo Matsuri
Date: December
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
Festival to honor Chichibu deities.
 

Practices
Fireworks and parades.

Afterlife: Shinto doesn't focus much on the afterlife, This religion focuses more on the idea of life.

Some Shinto Symbols.

The Torri are the "purification gates" that are near the the entrance of a temple.

The lanterns are proof of the peoples devotion to their Gods.

There are often statues of wild animals in front of shrines to protect them.

§Sikhism§

Sacrifice/offerings: Money, jewelry, grain, farm produce and flowers to Guru.

Festivals:

wGuru Gorbind’s b-day
Date: Dec/Feb (day varies)
 

Age: after 1666
 

What is it about?
The birthday of Guru Gorbind the founder of the Khalsa. He was also the tenth Guru born in 1666.


wHolly Maholla
Date: Feb
 

Age: Unknown
 

What is it about?
Festival of Holi in memory of Guru Gobind.
 

wVaisakhi
Date:April
 

Age: 1699
 

What is it about?
A celebration like thanksgiving, on it is the celebration of the Khaksa.
 

Practices:

wMartyrdom of Guru Arjan
Date: May
 

Age: 1606
 

What is it about?
A remembrance to the 5th Guru Arjan who was tortured and killed in 1606 by emperor Jahangir.
 

Practices

wCelebration of Guru Granth Sahib
Date: August
 

Age:1606
 

What is it about?
The celebration of the completion of the sacred scripture in 1606
 

Practices:
A decorated carry carries a image of the Guru, led by the Panj Pyare.

 

wDiwali
Date: Oct.
 

Age:1619
 

What is it about?
It is the Hindu festival (see above) appropriated by the Sikhs to remember the release of Guru Hargobind from prison in 1619.
 

wGuru Nanak’s birthday
Date: Oct.
 

Age:1469
 

What is it about?
The birth of Guru Nanak the founder of the Sikh faith.


wMartyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahdur
Date: November
 

Age:1675
 

What is it about?
The martyrdom of the ninth Guru, Tegh, who was executed in 1675.

 

Afterlife: The soul is reincarnated many times before it takes human embodiment. When the soul takes the form of a human it means that the soul is near the end of reincarnation. At the end of a human life God decides if the soul is ready to rest with him, or if the soul need to be reincarnated once more.

    SOME SIKHISM SYMBOLS

 The Ed-Oknar is a symbol that reminds the Sikh of the Universal God.

The Khanda is a very important symbol for the Sikh religion, it represents God's universal and creative power.

The Kara, is a silver or iron bracelet worn by Sikh if they are baptized or not. The bracelet is known to bind the wearer with God.

Kesh, is something that baptized Sikh's do, which is not cutting the hair anywhere on the body. Men usually keep their hair in a bun, called a Joora, then put a Pag, or turban.

Khangha, is the comb that is used by most baptized Sikh to keep the hair clean.

Sources:

www.religionfacts.com

http://www.jref.com/glossary/shinto_traditions.shtml

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/8181-sikh-afterlife.html

Solitary Witch
Silver Raven Wolf
Llewellyn Publications, 2004
St. Paul, Minnesota.

World Religion
John Bowker
DK Publishing,2003
New York, Mew York.

Pictures:

http://pictures.nicolas.delerue.org/japan/best_shrines.php

www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/sikh/khanda.png.

http://www.carm.org/wicca/symbols.htm.

http://www.beginnerwicca.com/wicca_symbols.htm

www.religionfacts.com

http://www.infoaboutsikhs.com/sikh_symbols.htm