The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Chris Buck likes to play with these kinds of categories. I'll let him answer.

On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Stephen Gray <[email protected]> wrote:
> The Baha'i Studies Listserv
>
> Exeriential, Mythic, Doctrinal, Ethical, Ritual, Social, and Material. I got
> these out of my testbook on the study of world religions.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups
>
> Judaism
> Experiential-knowing God through Kabbalah, Jeremiah's call to be a prophet
> Mythic-the Haggadah (recited on Passover)
> Doctrinal-the Covenant, the Shema, Maimomedes's thirteen principles of faith
> Ethical-the Ten Commandments and other rules of Torah
> Ritual-daily prayer, the Sabbath meal and observances, Passover's Seder,
> reciting the kaddish
> Social-cohesion of the Chosen People, Hasidism's zaddik
> Material-yarmulke, mezuzah, shofar, matzo, huppah
>
> Christianity
> Experiential-experiencing the "fruits of the Spirit", relationship with
> Jesus, emotional effects of the Eucharist
> Mythic-Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth and other aspects of Jesus's life
> (such as the Last Supper which underlies the ritual of the Eucharist)
> Doctrinal-the Incarnation, the Trinity, apocalypticism, the Apostles' Creed,
> the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Chalcedonian Creed, original
> sin, predestination
> Ethical-the Beatitudes, Jesus' commadment to love one's enemies
> Ritual-elebration of the Eucharist, baptism, and other sacraments
> Social-the Church, communities of monks and nuns, hierarchies within the
> Church (bishops, presbyters, deacons), the Pope, the Patriarch of
> Constantinople
> Material-cathedrals and churches, icons
>
> Islam
> Experiential-fasting during Ramadan, al-fana
> Mythic-sacred narratives of Abraham's founding of Mecca and of Muhammad's
> Ascension to Heaven
> Doctrinal-Shahada (emphasizing monotheism), Sharia'a
> Ethcal-wealth sharing, regulations against pork and alcohol
> Ritual-prayer five times daily, various observances while on the hajj
> Social-the Umma, the Imam, the Shaykh, the Pir
> Material-the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Ka'ba, mosques
>
> How would you create a profile of the Baha'i Faith using these stats?
>
> Baha'i Faith
> Experiential-
> Mythic-
> Doctrinal-
> Ethical-
> Ritual-
> Social-
> Material-
>
> More examples:
>
> Buddhism
> Experiential-enlightenment, Nirvana
> Mythic-biography of the Buddha, stories and descriptions of bodhisattvas
> Doctrinal-Middle Way, Three Marks of Existence, Four Noble Truths
> Ethical-Five Precepts, Eight Precepts, Ten Precepts, Bodhisattva Vows,
> ideals of wisdom and compassion
> Ritual-Mahayana acts of relgious devotion and prayer to the bodhisattvas,
> Vajrayana chanting, mandalas, and mudras
> Social-Sangha, figure of arhat, Dalai Lama, lamas
> Material-bodhi tree, mandalas
>
> Zen Buddhism
> Experiential-satori
> Mythic-the legend of Buddha's choosing Mahakasyapa as his successor
> Doctrinal-the distinction between sudden awakening and gradual awakening
> Ethical-a concern for justice
> Ritual-doukusan, zazen
> Social-the dividion into the Five Houses of Zen, the master-disciple
> relationships
> Material-the meditation hall, the encouragement stick, sumie, Japanese
> garderns
>
> Taoism
> Experiential-living in accord with the Tao, as perfected by the sage
> Mythic-legendary account of the birth and life of Lao Tzu
> Doctrinal-philosophy of Tao, wu-wei, cosmology based on yin and yang
> Ethical-views of nonagression and passive rule, Five Precepts, Ten Precepts
> Ritual-in popular/religious Taoism, breathing exercises and other techniques
> for the pursuit of immotality
> Ritual-in philosophical Taoism, it notably de-emphasizes ritual because
> ritual is not true to the Way of Nature
> Social-figure of the sage
> Material-yin and yang symbol
>
> Shinto
> Experiential-unity with the kami
> Mythic-an accounts of the origins of Japan
> Doctrinal-beliefs regarding the nature of kami
> Ethical-the primary virtues of bushido
> Ritual-worship at the kamidana and shrines, the Great Purification
> Social-Shinto priests and priestesses
> Material-kamidana, torii, the Grand Imperial Shrine at Ise, Nachi Waterfall,
> Mount Miwa
>
> Confucianism
> Experiential-knowing and being in harmony with Heaven and Tao
> Mythic-acient accounts of the good rulers and ancestors of China's legendary
> past
> Doctrinal-Confucius's many teachings as set forth in the Analects
> Ethical-jen, te
> Ritual-behavior resulting from the doctrine of li
> Material-paintings and sculptures of Confucius, Confucian temples
>
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