1.3 Religion and Spirituality

1.3 Religion and Spirituality

For many humans, their deeply-held religious beliefs are a strong part of their identities. Spiritual beliefs are practiced in many ways throughout the world.

Many of these beliefs are part of Canadians' identities. In fact, Toronto is considered to be the most spiritually diverse area of the world. Many Canadians claim a Christian identity, but there are also large groups of Canadians who are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, or Sikh. Other forms of spirituality are part of Canadian identity as well.

Many First Nations people are returning to their traditional spiritual beliefs.

Common Elements of Religions

Religions are based on a strong belief in a system or set of guidelines to live by. Moreover, religion can help provide answers for questions that seem unanswerable, such as what is life for and where do we go after we die. Most religions hold that there is a guiding divine power which exists outside of human domain. They believe these powers can control or change human destiny. A religion often includes belief in a life after death, such as heaven, the afterlife, or reincarnation. Many religions practice some form of evangelism, convincing others to join. Because believers in a particular religion are convinced their religion provides them with the answer to life's questions and a formula to change destiny, they want to share this belief with other people.

Usually when we talk about a religion, we are referring to an "organized religion" and not to something someone practices independently. A religious group is structured as an institution, which includes the following elements:

• a hierarchy of leadership

• one centralized "god" figure such as Jehovah, Allah, or Jesus, or, many gods as believed by Hindus

• a written text which sets down the group's beliefs, rules, and laws, stories, and philosophy

• a physical place for worship such as a church, temple, or mosque

Religion is a very powerful force. It shapes our identity, influences our behaviour, provides us with guidelines for behaviour, and gives us a sense of community. It is highly personal. Historically, religion has been a powerful global force, as groups with different views about their beliefs have used those beliefs to create conflict with other groups. Religion has even been used as an excuse for wars, such as in the Crusades.

Religion has had a great impact on global interactions.

People with strong religious beliefs have often believed that those who do not have the same views would be better off and happier if they followed those beliefs. To this end, different religions have sent missionaries out to convert others to their beliefs. This evangelism has enabled many religions to spread their beliefs throughout the world. Unfortunately, some forms of evangelism have brought intolerance for the others' beliefs. The supreme rightness of their religion has been used to impose their tenants of belief. In some extreme cases, it has been used to conquer and repress the local culture of people. Such was the case with the Spanish conquest of Central and South America. Catholic missionaries, in their zeal to convert the Indigenous people, destroyed whole libraries of Mayan literature and histories to subvert old ways and replace it with their beliefs.

The image to the right is the only existing example of one of the thousands of Mayan books destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors and priests. It is located in a museum in Dresden, Germany, and was likely a souvenir taken from the Mayans by a Spanish priest and given to the king of Spain who was also the king of Austria.

Spirituality carries with it some elements similar to religion, but it has many differences. It is similar in that it has a set of beliefs which will guide the growth of the human spirit and help understand the world around you. However, spiritualism differs from religion in that it relies on personal experience rather than shared communal experience. Some forms of spiritualism believe that animals and even the earth has a spirit, or essence, that can be felt and experienced. For some spiritualists, the spirit is a primal essence out of which mind, energy, and matter are manifested. Still, there is an inner sense that something greater than the self exists. Activities for spiritualists involve attempts to renew, lift up, comfort, heal, and inspire. A spiritual person tries to follow his or her own path, believing that a vital element of life goes beyond the self. It is possible for a person to be spiritual without being a member of any organized religion.

Native Spirituality

Native spiritualism is based on personal experience and connections with the Creator and the natural world. Some Canadian Aboriginal groups include many different characters in Creation, such as the raven.

Oral traditions pass on the beliefs that relate to creation and behavioral laws. Moreover, there is no building associated with native spiritual beliefs because the land is held sacred. There are, however, some traditional practices, such as the sweet grass ceremony and the Sacred Circle, the sweat lodge, and traditional dance, used to express spirituality. Aboriginal spirituality does have codes of conduct emphasizing the idea of a whole human who is just and righteous. The Creator spirit can reveal to a human how to achieve this state by showing a totem during a spirit quest. A totem, or sign, is different for different people. Some might see an eagle, while another might see a wolf. Always, however, the sign is connected to the land.

For many people throughout the world religion and spirituality is an important part in defining their identity. It helps to create a sense of belonging both as an individual and as a community member.