The Concept Of Religion In Sacred Pathways By Gary Thoma Traditionalist

The expression of worship can tend to become forced and mechanical, because when taught about worship, we are all expected to be able to worship the same way. This however, does not work. Just how we all have our own personalities, we all have our own way in which we worship and feel closest to God. When we worship God, he wants to know the real us, not the person someone else wants us to be. God has created each of us uniquely. Therefore, our worship is unique as well. We affirm Gods work as Creator when we worship him according to the way he made us. In church, we are typically taught all the ways that we will find closeness with God. One of the main ideas pushed is quiet time, taking time out of your day to simply listen and talk to God. While this is important it might not be the way everyone will find closeness with God. We find closeness with God in many different ways. In the book, Sacred Pathways, Gary

In the age of constant progression we live in, rituals and traditions tend to be viewed as outdated and meaningless, but to the traditionalist they can be a very meaningful way to worship God. Rituals and traditions can be used as a way to remember and honor God. The three main elements of the traditionalist pathway are: ritual, symbol, and sacrifice. Reading the bible aloud, starting each day with the same prayer, and scheduled time to read the bible are all ways the traditionalist draws closer to God. The fourth pathway is ascetics. Ascetics best communes with God in solitude and prayer. An example of ascetics from the bible is found in the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist was known for being a loner, spending time in the wilderness, secluding himself and spending time with God. Jesus often to be alone in Gethsemane, to pray and commune with God. The three worlds of ascetics are: solitude, austerity, and strictness. Ascetics show us that it is important to seek alone time and refuge with the