Assignment 2.1 – Symbols, Rituals, Heroes
Symbols are essential in defining cultures. One religious symbol is the cross among the Catholics. The cross portrays the holy trinity, which signifies the presence of a higher being. The human relationship with gods and God is essential in any culture. In this particular symbol, Catholics as one of the religious groups in the would view the cross of Jesus as a sign of holiness and divine power. Other religions tend to have different symbols that represent their gods. Additionally, some Christian churches also use the cross symbol as a form of identification as a holy place for worshippers. According to (Trisno & Lianto, 2018 ), avers that the catholic church cross is a” symbol of divinity and ideogram.”( 865). For instance, there are different regions scared symbols in both Asian and American cultures that probably represent the same higher being. Regardless of the symbols, one universal character is sacredness.
Ritual in culture is essential since many people tend to engage in processes with the intent of getting the desired result outcomes. In a religious context, one ritual in Christianity is baptism. In which some churches engage in different ways. The reason for this ritual is mainly to reduce grief anxiety, boost faith, and confidence. For such a ritual of baptism to be certain successful norms are required as conditions. It is essential to understand why rituals are crucial; for instance, it tends to serve as a bridge between the outer and inner realms. Rituals are paths in which cultures follow to be closer to the spiritual and social circles. One feature is being sacred as baptism offers a sense of belonging and identity. Protestants do not baptize with water like Catholics, which happens on different occasions. More importantly, the ritual is considered as key passages in which individuals have to abide by the traditions and accompanied ( McGrail, 2016).
Heroes are viewed as individuals or mythological figures who impact on society. In most cases, a hero is aal person who risks their own lives without wanting reward. One religious hero among the Christian religion is Jesus, who died for mankind to save them from sins. Jesus was not rewarded by anyone for being crucified on the cross (which is also a symbolic element). In a religious context, many religions like Islam view Mohammed as their hero, who usually varies in many cultures. In modern society, people viewed fight fighters, police, and religious leaders as heroes for the contribution they have on people.
References
McGrail, P. (2016). The rite of Christian initiation: adult rituals and Roman Catholic ecclesiology. Routledge.
Trisno, R., & Lianto, F. (2018). Catholic Church is the Divinity Symbol with the Case Study of Santa Theresia Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 10(3), 865-872.