World Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

World Religion - Essay ExampleEven the smallest of objects and ideas in a practice holds several(prenominal) sort of symbol for that practice. Colors, scents, figures, fifty-fifty deities, have a significance to the need of that individual during that time. Religions were defined as being a system of symbols ... (Geertz). To make the practices more realistic - and in some New Age paths, more efficient and beneficial - symbolism is used.Paganism is a New Age belief system that has a rather long emphasis on the use of magic in their practices. Their very act of communing with Nature and divinity is considered magic unfortunately, it is their type of magic that has given them a good-for-nothing name within organized religions. The magic of pagans involves making use of symbols, chanting, reciting, or singing their aspirations, and building up energy to release into the universe in go fors of achieving what they hope to.In a religion such as Catholicism, the magic can be seen in the ir prayers and their taking of communion. In a sense, in regards to a Catholic praying, it is the same as a pagan performing a ritual - specific words and symbols are used to achieve one thing, and all of that is released to the portend to allow it to manifest and become something. When taking communion, the practitioner is drawing themselves closer to the divine, as the wine and wafers of the communion symbolize the divine itself.That is the similarity between the 2 religions - turning thoughts and hopes into something, regardless of what it is foreshadowed, magic or prayer. Symbolism is an important part of both of them, as it helps to focus the intentions of the individual. No matter what each religion decides to call it, many of the acts can be seen as magic, as they are playing with a force that is outside their full understanding, hoping to get close to the divine and channelize their lives