blog schedule.
blogs marked * are required research for seminars
blog 12 |
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blog subject:Compare what you have read about the formal religion of the people compared to what you see in practice. |
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reading: |
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resource questions for blog research:religion |
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| What religious trends are underway among this people? | |
| What is the percentage of this people adhering to each of the main religions? | |
| What peculiar characteristics or deviations from the mainstream of these religions exist among this people? | |
| What minority religions or sects exist? | |
| What is the status of Scripture translation into this language? | |
| What is the predominant religion? | |
| What do they turn to in a time of crisis? | |
| Do they participate in more than one religion? If so, when, where, and concerning what do they express each faith? | |
| Where do festivities take place? | |
| What are the principal characteristics of the festivals? | |
| What is the relationship between people and nature – the earth, plants, and animals? | |
| Are there any taboo words or names (e.g. the names of the dead)? | |
| What is the purpose of the festivals? | |
| Where do people go when they or a family member is sick? What power do they rely on? Can people find out what will happen to them in the future? How? | |
| Do the weapons have to be dedicated? | |
| Who or what sustains life? | |
| What is the origin of the celebration of each festivity? | |
| Can one carry some type of spirit protection with him? How does one acquire this? | |
| Can spirits be deceived by humans? | |
| Can anyone practice sorcery or witchcraft? | |
| Who can become a shaman? How is the shaman chosen? | |
| Is there only one world in existence? Is there another world? If so, how did it get there, and what is in it? | |
| How is the earth made fertile? | |
| Who does a person first go to for help? Why do they go to them? | |
| Who enforces the taboo? | |
| Who initiates festivities? | |
| Is supernatural power available to both sexes? | |
| What are their ideas of Christians? | |
| Does the shaman have power over the spirits? | |
| Can anyone practice sorcery or witchcraft? | |
| Can one carry some type of spirit protection with him? How does one acquire this? | |
| Is the shaman (or spirit-manipulator) paid? When? | |
| Can the shaman (or spirit-manipulator) foretell events? How? | |
| Is there circumcision? Clitoridectomy (female circumcision)? Piercing of ear lobes or nasal septum? At what age? Who does it? Why is it done? | |
| May ceremonial objects be sold? | |
| What determines the rhythm of life and festivities? | |
| Are there any special ceremonies connected with planting or harvesting? | |
| What kind of festivities are celebrated? (e.g. fertility festivals, birth or name, puberty, engagement, wedding, ceremonies relating to war, hunt, religion, officials, rank, mourning, burial, victory, dedication of property) | |
| What is most important – the past, the present, or the future? | |
| For what purposes is the family important? Marriage? Festivity? Soul power? Status? | |
| What are their ideas of Jesus? | |
| Is there any struggle for spiritual power? | |
| Was reburial ever practiced? For what reasons? | |
| Does God punish? How often? How? (sickness, death, loss of property or honour/respect) | |
| Are there sacred places? Where? Why are they sacred? | |
| How is the control of spirits exercised? (e.g. magic, special words, ceremonies, rituals, sacrifices) | |
| Are there any deeds considered taboo? Are there taboo people? Are there any taboo objects? | |
| Are there polluted or defiled places? Where? Why are they polluted/defiled? | |
| What are their ideas of sin? | |
| What are their ideas of man? | |
| What are their ideas of God? | |
| How are the results of sexual relations dealt with? (e.g. ritual washing to be made clean) Do both men and women have to do it? | |
| What are the major rituals of the people, and what themes are expressed in them? | |
| What kind of power does the shaman have over the spirits? | |
| Is God like a policeman who watches behaviour? | |
| Determine what priority people give to obtaining spiritual help | |
| What do they think is man's destiny? Man's origin? | |
| What do they think will provide a full and meaningful life? | |
| What are their ideas of the supernatural? | |
| What moral system do they actually try to live by? | |
| Does punishment have any kind of religious sanction? | |
| If a meeting exists among this people, in what ways has Christianity enhanced their sense of their heritage? | |
| Are certain body parts good? Are others considered bad? | |
| Why do people die? | |
| How is the shaman (or spirit-manipulator) chosen? | |
| Who can become a shaman or person who can control of manipulate spirits? | |
| Does a shaman (or spirit-manipulator) become possessed by spirits? | |
| Is there any relationship between human fertility and the fertility of the earth? | |
| Can spirits be controlled by men? | |
| Can people control the spirits? How? | |
| Can a spirit enter a person’s body? How? Why? What happens to the person? | |
| Identify why people seek spiritual help | |