Families of Religions  COMBINATIONS 
     including , Hindu, Christian, Zoroastrian , Wicca, Native American 

Elements of religious  groups combine to enrich  traditions.
  • The blending of traditions produces an endless variety of expressions.  Keeping any one tradition in focus becomes a challenge for the believer.

Shared themes cut across all religious family lines.

  • An example is justice for all ethnic groups/individuals. Christians and Jews in the US are now including Muslims, Buddhists, Baha'is, Hindus and others in efforts to raise justice to a higher level on the national priority scale.

Sacred texts are brought into  combinations. 
  • Texts are explored by an increasing number of interested people. New combinations of texts are presented, incorporated,  reshaped. 
Zoroastrianism  -   A  religion that combines monotheism and dualism.  
The influence of this tradition on Judaism, Christianity and Islam was significant.  The religion continues today in Iran and India as well as other parts of the world including the US.. Zoroastrianism brings ancient root sources. 

Hinduism -  Debate over One Deity or Multiple Deities

A recent email challenged placing Hinduism in the Multiple Deities category. Here is the rationale for the decision to go with Multiple Deities.  

Nearly all religions have the idea of a great single force or reality that stands behind everything. One teacher has called this reality "the ground of being". In order to get at how religions organize themselves for daily life one has to observe the generally accepted practices. It is in this realm that we move beyond the background mysterious reality.

Some religions have deities. The deity may be remote or near by. The deity may be one or many. Names are given to whatever form of deity is commonly accepted in the religion. In Hinduism there are a vast number of gods or deities that express the various insights of the religion. 

This style is in contrast to the Jewish-Christian-Muslim traditions where there is one single deity called by various names. The purpose in this Families of Religions writing is to use broad stroke definition of religions in order to assist curious people to enter the complicated subject of world religions. 
Wicca, Neo Pagan, Asatru - Examples of  pagan nature oriented religious groups.
      
     Places and events in nature are given sacred meaning. Rituals are developed to observe events such as the change of seasons. There are eight major solar holidays in the pagan calendar. The cycle of the natural year is symbolic of the balance evident in the yearly trip around the sun. 

     Geographic sites are chosen for their natural beauty or historic significance and become the location for ritual observances or sites for meditation. Some sites have been used for apparently sacred observance since early in unrecorded human history. An example is Stonehenge in Great Britain.

The following summary of basic principles comes from Dr. Michael Farrell:
       1. The Credo (Basic Belief): All things are part of Nature; All is One.
            Nature is Deity
       2. The Code or Moral Ethics:  One may do what he feel is right so long as no one, 
            including the active person, suffers harm of any kind, mental, physical or spiritual
        3. The Focus of Worship: The Divine in any and all aspects (Goddesses and Gods)

     Web sites giving basic information are:   www.cog.org
           http://www.gladsheim.org/whatis.html 

Native American Religions - North and South American indigenous peoples beliefs and practices.

   Traditional ways that go beyond the usual definition of religion make these traditions difficult to put into the western way of logical ordering. A connection with the preliterate past  is found in these beliefs and sacramental practices. 

   Characteristics of these traditions include: Local places are where detailed knowledge is built and maintained; Participation is more important than belief; Generosity is a religious and social act; Oral narratives are basic.

   Present revival of some of these traditions begins to make the rich store of information available to the wider society. Out of respect, only that information which can be understood as "public" will be on this page. Web sites from native traditions will be listed  here in the near future. If native peoples feel that we include inappropriate information here, send an email. 


Unitarian Universalist - Membership ranges from Christian to Atheist

  Rooted in an early Christian context, this tradition looks to the free use of reason
 in religion as well as the salvation of all souls.  In the 20 century the inclusion of certain pagan traditions marked a broadening of the faith group.  

A site offering basic information  http://www.religioustolerance.org/u-u.htm
Update on 10-18-07
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