Indigenous religions have dynamic characteristics that set them apart from modern religions. Some of the key features prevalent in indigenous religions include the belief in a supernatural being, worship in secluded sacred places, incorporation of rituals and artifacts into prayer, and distinct beliefs related to passage rites and taboos’ function and position community. While there are common overlapping elements in indigenous and other religions, such as the belief in a supernatural being, some beliefs, doctrines, and observation of religious norms differ significantly ( Cox, 2016). Indigenous religions, for example, had unwritten laws and taboos but significant world religions such as Christianity and Islam have doctrines that guide their religious undertakings. Some beliefs also differ significantly. For example, in indigenous religions, the pouring of libation and offering of sacrifices to ancestors was prevalent. In other religions practiced today, a supernatural being, God or Allah among Christians and Muslims respectively, takes precedence in all worship and reverence-related undertakings.
Common concerns across different religions are the need to live morally right and according to the given religious doctrines. Other concerns entail tapping from the power of a supernatural being, hence overcoming some challenges prevalent in the world. The most important questions in indigenous and other religions are the extent of the supernatural being’s power and immortality of the spirit. Common practices in different world religions include the offering of sacrifices, worshiping, and significant advocacy on caring about one’s neighbor ( Cox, 2016). Regardless of the religion, spirituality is an experience common in different religious contexts. Even in indigenous religions, people lived as a community and communed together in different places of worship. The main concern was therefore living right before gods and fellow men. The main questions were, however, the position of ancestors and gods in human life.
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Although religion has significantly evolved, ancient religions still impact us today because of the basis they form in different religions in the world today. The spiritual world, for example, is a prevalent aspect in ancient religions, an aspect that remains highly significant today ( Clarke, 2006) . Whether in consultation of God who is a spirit or other supernatural beings with power, just as it was in the past, today, there is a distinction between the spiritual and the physical world. If human beings wronged the spirits, there was a need to appease them. Regardless of the approach, today, sacrifices and special occasions are also held to appease spirits or even ask for special favors. Besides the above, events in ancient religions that necessitated worship in specially designed spaces affect us today. While initially individuals convened in shrines, caves, and other sacred places such as mountains today, this basis is still prevalent today in different religions where designated places of worship are setup ( Clarke, 2006) . More so, sometimes Christians and Muslims convene in sacred worship places, for example, Mecca for Muslims. Protocols followed in worship in indigenous worship, therefore affect us today.
Religion affects my life by ensuring my spiritual wellbeing. For example, I believe that God is an omnipotent, omnipresent being who is mighty and can intervene in any situation beyond me. This is as long as I live according to the bible’s teachings. This has ensured serenity and sometimes a reduction in stress because of the surety that it is not by my power that I act or accomplish different things but by the power of a supernatural being to who I owe my life.
References
Clarke, P. B. (2006). New religions in global perspective: a study of religious change in the modern world . Psychology Press.
Cox, J. L. (2016). From primitive to indigenous: The academic study of indigenous religions . Routledge.
