Beliefs and believers (6)

Beliefs and believers (6) * Beliefs about salvation and staying in tune with whatever it is at the centre of their belief system. * Beliefs in gods (or one single god), spirits (forces beyond nature), angels, demons, ancestors etc. * Beliefs in the creation of the universe (its origin and destiny) * Beliefs about the way in which the universe is structured. * Beliefs in sacred or important people from the past of the religious tradition. * Beliefs in morality and the correct moral code which should be attached to it. Sacred texts and writings (3) * Sacred texts may be believed to be the direct words of God, or they may be written by people inspired by God. * They often contain moral codes and practices which people must follow Ethics (4) * All religions have some code of approved moral conduct. * Every religion has a different code, and neither is all values held in all religions. * Some religions allow certain actions while others don’t * Some religions may approve of having more than one wife; others absolutely forbid such a practice. Rituals (8) * All rituals use definite structures and sacred symbols to make them work. * A ritual is a prescribed pattern of religious behaviour. * Behind every ritual lies a wealth of beliefs. * Rites of passage are rituals which move people from one state to another (e. g. from single to married * Rites of demarcation are rituals which establish a space, animal, object or person as sacred. * Rites of cleansing are rituals which bring a person back to an original state of innocence. * Rites of * Rites of