Anita Houck's Three Tools For Studying Religion

1414 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Islamic tradition fasting

According to Anita Houck’s Elements of Religion or TCREB, every religion has rituals and practices that can help create a connection to the transcendent. For Muslims, participating in the holy holiday of Ramadan is a way to connect to the transcendent. In Faiza Saleh Ambah series of articles published by The Christian Science Monitor Ambah explains her struggle with committing to Ramadan and getting connected to the transcendent. Throughout Ambah’s struggle with Ramadan, rituals have played an important element in in her experience of Ramadan and connecting her to the transcendent.
Rituals and practices are an element of TCREB from Houck’s Three Tools for Studying Religion. Houck’s TCREB chart, “Is a distillation of many different scholarly …show more content…

Each element plays a significant role in defining religion. As stated in Houck’s TCREB chart, “Rituals and practices are actions that people perform usually in a set way [and] usually at regular times [,] which allow members to connect to the transcendent.” Ramadan is a prime example of Houck’s definition of rituals. According to the glossary of World Religion in Dialogue, Ramadan is a ritual that occurs once every year and is when Muslims fast (127). It is a holiday that occurs around the same time. Ramadan is a very important holiday because fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. In World Religion in Dialogue George-Tvrtković says there are five pillars of Islam and fasting during Ramadan is the forth pillar (George 90). In Ambah’s article she adds, “Fasting during Ramadan, the third pillar of Islam, is …show more content…

According to George - Tvrtković, the hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is a pilgrimage that, “All Muslims who are financially and physically able to travel to Mecca during the month of the hajj are required to do at least once in a lifetime” (90). At the hajj, Ambah felt a great connection of the transcendent. As explained in Ambah’s articles, the five days of the pilgrimage were the most spiritual days of her life and she had never felt so connected to God before (3). She experienced the feeling of being connected to the transcendent and it was beautiful. Several weeks later, the feeling of “floating in God’s palm” was gone (Ambah 3). Ambah described feeling “spiritually abandoned” after the feeling of being connected to God “broke” (3). Ambah went on a spiritual journey and got connected to the transcendent in such a way that she did not want to lose the feeling again. As a result, she is having a hard time understanding Ramadan and committing to it. She doesn’t want to feel the feeling of something beautiful and then lose it in a matter of time. Despite being afraid of losing the feeling of being connected to God again, Ambah takes a step and commits to

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Laura Deeb's 'An Enchanted Modern'

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    The spiritual development of a community is a component absent in western formulations of modernity. For Deeb’s interlocutors the process of spiritual modernity is manifested in public piety and “authenticated Islam.” Deeb argues that women are essential participants in the construction of piety and “authenticated Islam” within the enchanted modern. Forms of public piety and social participation, including veiling, community service, and hosting Ashura majlis are necessary components in shaping this enchanted modern. Deeb further examines women’s roles in shifting away from a perceived religious backwardness towards a modern society throughout the second part of her book. Her discussion of the Ashura festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn illustrates the shift from a traditional (taqlidi) form of religious worship to “authenticated Islam.” Deeb discusses how latam- self-flagellation- is considered backwards and according to pious Shi’i women the authenticated practice involves learning the lessons from Ashura and applying them to everyday life. The differences in traditional verses authenticated Islamic practices of Ashura reflect the increased participation and roles of women in the commemoration, and in the process of developing public piety and “authenticated

    Read More

  • Karen Armstrong's Homo Religiosus: Analysis

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    As children, we are often told stories, some of which may have practical value in the sense of providing young minds with lessons and morals for the future, whereas some stories create a notion of creativity and imagination in the child. In Karen Armstrong’s piece, “Homo Religiosus”, a discussion of something similar to the topic of storytelling could translate to the realm of religion. Armstrong defines religion as a, “matter of doing rather than thinking” (17) which she describes using an example in which adolescent boys in ancient religions, who were not given the time to “find themselves” but rather forced into hunting animals which ultimately prepares these boys to be able to die for their people, were made into men by the process of doing.

    Read More

  • Sufism: Its Mystical Contribution to an Understanding of the Islamic God

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sufism is often described as being the mystical branch of Islam – a spiritual path that speaks to the very heart of the believer and brings to the fore, a very real sense of God’s immediacy within the context of daily life and religious practice. As a mystical tradition, it propositions a God that has shared His divine essence with mankind – a God who is available to address and dwell within the human condition. By discussing Sufi practice and its development of traditional Islamic precepts including prayer and fasting, this essay will place it within the context of Islam with a look at how its mystical notions contribute towards a more immediate understanding of God. Furthermore, the practice of dikhr s well as the Sufi path of divine love as a journey towards divine unity will be discussed in showing how Sufism involves a sense of self-denial in favour of comprehending the divine nature of God. Sufism’s intersection with Greek science and philosophy will also be outlined in illustrating the all-encompassing nature of the Sufi God. Comparing different viewpoints, this essay includes critical commentary that will suggest that as a progression of the Islamic faith, Sufism indeed makes a substantial contribution to an understanding of the Islamic God – one that is relevant within the context of modern day society.

    Read More

  • Hajj.

    1717 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hajj the Sacred Mosque Islam has two main celebrations. The first is after the completion of Ramadan, the Islamic month during which Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset as part of an effort towards self-purification. This holiday is known as Eid ul-Fitr. The second main celebration takes place during the time of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah. This week-long event occurs during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, and it's a holiday known as Eid ul-Adha.

    Read More

  • Religious Observation Paper

    2192 Words  | 5 Pages

    Every religion embodies a plethora of recognized rituals that are significant to its teachings. Customs exclusive to each religion can include acts such as: attending a weekly mass, praying five times a day at specified hours, celebrating the transition from childhood to manhood, along with endless others. The similarity shared amongst all religious rituals is that the follower of faith must believe whole-heartedly in what he/she is doing or saying. Dhikr, or the remembrance of God, is a ritual based in Islam that does not receive the attention it deserves from mainstream Muslims, and is highly under appreciated for its value (Robson 238). Its myriad versions allow it to be very personal, whereas other rituals are more structured, which is

    Read More

  • Comparing The Pilgrim In The Monkey And The Monk

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith and it is mandatory that it must be undertaken at least once in the life of a mature able-bodied Muslim adult. The Hajj is said to mirror many of the journeys taken in the Qur’an that are important in the Islamic faith such as the journey taken by Adam and eve when they were expelled from Eden and the journey of Abrahams wife, Hagar, as she searched between the two hills of Safa and Marwa in search of water for her son and finally, it is thought that the journey is to trace the footsteps of the prophets Abraham and Ishmael during the journey that Allah sent Abraham to sacrifice his son. The importance of pilgrimage in the Muslim faith cannot be over looked and it is written in the

    Read More

  • Essay On Shabbat

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    The monotheistic religion of Judaism observes Shabbat as one of the most important holy days as it is the only one to be mentioned in the Ten Commandments. It consists of several interrelated components of rest, remembrance, commandments and expression of gratitude for creation and freedom from slavery. During this twenty-five hour gift from God, Jews are commanded to set aside their weekly concerns to emphasise a day of devotion to one’s family, God, rest and studying the Torah. As a time of spiritual enrichment, it is expected that one refrains from all work, to bring joy to the ritual and sanctify the Shabbat. Each of the dual commandments, to remember and to observe, are linked extensively to the Torah, Talmud and Commandments divinely revealed through one God. History of the story of Creation in Genesis and Exodus out of slavery in Egypt for the people of Israel is remembered to reference the Covenant, Moral Law and prohibitions as principle beliefs of Judaism. The eagerly awaited weekly rituals of Shabbat distinguish a day of rest from the working week to bring a sense of spirituality, belonging and gratitude to God in a dynamic society.

    Read More

  • The History Of The Pilgrim To Mecca

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    Among the most beloved traditions and rituals of the Islamic faith is a pilgrimage that unites Muslims around the world. It is known as the Hajj, an Arabic word meaning “to set out for a place” (“Short History of Hajj”). It is one of the five pillars that define the Islamic faith. The Hajj itself is a five day trip into Mecca, the Islamic holy city, as well as surrounding areas. It is a trip that thousands of Muslims undergo each year. It is a staple of Islamic faith, as well as a spiritual and emotional journey that brings Muslims closer to God.

    Read More

  • Similarities and Differencces between Christianity and Islam

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jaoudi, Maria. Christian and Islamic spirituality: sharing a journey. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1993. Print.

    Read More

  • Approaches to the Study of Religion

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    The sociological approach looks at religious belief and practice in relation to the society. Sociologists are interested in two themes, the centrality of religion in society and the diversity of forms it inhabits (Hamilton 1995/2001:1). It regards religion as a social fact subject to empirical observation, which produces empirical evidence (Dillon 2003:7). The sociology of religion is a product of the enlightenment, from which it inherited a tendency to dismiss religion as incompatible with rationality (Dillon 2003:6). This dismissal has had significant impact on the attitude towards religion and it is the basis for the most influential paradigm in the history of the field; secularisation. The secularisation theory claims that religion is or will be on the decrease in society. So profound was its impact that modern sociology often aims to account for the continued presence of religion in society and has generally held a rather negative view of religion as being an unworthy subject of study(Davies 2007:2).

    Read More

  • What Is The Reflection Of Ibadah By Al-Ghazali

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    INNER DIMENSIONS OF ISLAMIC WORSHIP consists of selections from Al-Ghazali's Ihya', translated into English by Muhtar Holland, wherein he leads us in his characteristically powerful and inspiring way, into those dimensions of Islamic worship rites-Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, Pilgrimage and so on which are essential to the fulfilment of their inner quality and reaping the rich harvests of spiritual, moral and social upliftment that must be their reward. The book will be of immense help to the countless young men and women of our times who are rapidly growing in their commitment to Islam and ever trying to bring their lives under the sovereignty of One God and a task which is impossible unless one can develop the immense inner resources which Islamic worship offers.

    Read More

  • Enduring Ramadan in College

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some students need to rethink the concept of studying and working during the blessed month of Ramadan. Many students worry during their day as when to find time for spiritual activities during their busy class schedules and other activities, while waiting the whole day to get back home or to visit the mosque. What students should take into consideration is that these spiritual activities are not limited to vising sacred places where they can be close to god, but they should make their lives sacred by their intentions and actions.

    Read More

  • Essay About Holidays

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    But the reality of the matter is that religion is still a prominent authority in society and the world. Just with holidays alone, what religion you are deems what holidays you celebrate because of religious ideology. Even though Hanukkah, and Christmas are seen as the same, they are different celebrations for different religions, and are also based off of different sets of ideologies. One of the most important holidays for people who are Jewish is Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement which is a holiday that strictly Jewish people celebrate. Ramadan which is a whole month of fasting, because fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, is a holiday that only Muslim people partake in. Even if you don’t practice Christianity or Catholicism chances are you still celebrate Christmas and Easter which are religious holidays. No one really gets the opportunity to choose which holidays that they want to celebrate because there are already set holidays for people to celebrate based on their religion and what area of the world that they live in. A lot of people do not get to form their own basis of beliefs because one is already chosen for them by their parents or location. Although many countries have the freedom of choice, many people do not exercise that freedom on holidays.

    Read More

  • On Hajj

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    (5) performing at least once in their life, the major. pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj). Hajj is a pilgrimage carried out by people who follow the Islamic religion. The sex of the sex. Most of the world religions have a pilgrimage that its followers make a difference.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Fasting In The Islamic Life

    1473 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ramadan is a very special month in the Islamic life. It is consider being a blessed month by the muslins. It is practice in the ninth month of every year and it is place on the Islamic Lunar calendar. It is also very important in the Islamic life because it focus on fasting (sawm or siyam) observe from sunset to sunrise. Which the muslin minds are place on reflection and discipline. During this month of fasting helps make it to contribute to God’s blessings, to help the poor and answer their needs, to repent for their sins, to make stronger their moral characters and to remember that all their glory goes to God. The fasting is usually base on abstinence of drink, food and some different physical needs between the daylight hours. Sometimes,

    Read More

More about Anita Houck's Three Tools For Studying Religion

Open Document