Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's struggle for the Soul of Islam

Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's struggle for the Soul of Islam

Reading Asra Nomani's book and how she challenged a Mosque in the United States made me think about other Mosques in the United States. I was reminded about how after 9/11, there was a want to build a Mosque not far from Ground Zero and how it was hugely controversial.

Today there are 1200 Mosques in the United States, 80% of them having been built in the past 12 years. It is a very scary idea that these Mosques could be very dangerous. It is known that a lot of Mosques have been built by Wahhabi Clerics. Wahhabism is an extreme type of Islam. There is a lot of threat felt by the number of Mosques and what this sect of Islam practice/believe in.

Standing Alone. Asra Nomani

Islam in America

When reading Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's struggle for the Soul of Islam, I often thought about what Islam was like in America. I can imagine the obvious, that Americans are very cautious around those of the Muslim faith in America.

I think that many Americans believe that all Muslims are foreigners, which isn't true. There are a lot of Muslims living in America. I actually have a twin sister, an anthropology major, who visited a Muslim community in Michigan. I thought it was really cool that she was able to go there and get to understand a little more of the Islamic faith/culture.

I was also able to learn a little about the Muslim faith/culture from a Muslim international. He was very peaceful although I don't believe he was able to understand American culture very well.

Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam

Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam

Asra Nomani, in Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam, talks about Hajar, or also known as Hagar, who was also a single mother. She is seen as a woman who is greatly respected and is filled with the deep faith in 'Allah'.

Her name is always remembered by those who perform the Hajj. A Hajj is the most regularly and largest pilgrimage in the world which demonstrates the solidarity of the Muslim people.


I think that Hagar and the Hajj are very important to the Muslim people, especially to Muslim women. I think it is important that there is an example of a strong woman within Muslim history and also there is a story of a woman having a strong faith in "Allah".

Video: Zen Buddhism

Video: Zen Buddhism

The video on Zen Buddhism I thought was kind of boring to be completely honest, but I think it really explained the importance of meditation in Zen Buddhism. I also understood that meditation allows for people to calmly search for themselves.

I think there are many ways to find out about yourself and who you are, but I think that Zen Meditation or any meditation is one of the calmest ways to achieve the goal of finding out who you really are.

Wisdom vs. Compassion

Wisdom vs. Compassion

Wisdom: I believe that wisdom is knowing what is the right thing to do and what is not. It is the knowledge of people, subjects, beliefs, etc...

Compassion: I think compassion is the actual action of treating people with kindness and also have the respect to treat people with the wisdom/knowledge of what they have learned.

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism

As described in Novak's the World's Wisdom, Zen Buddhism which is Buddhism that was changed by the Japanese. The Japanese reemphasized the practice of meditation in religion and according to the Zen school, every being has the nature of Buddha and meditation actualizes the fact that living things hold the nature of a Buddha. The philosophical roots of Zen Buddhism lays within Mahayana Buddhism.

I really don't understand the differences from Zen Buddhism and Buddhism in general except for the fact that Zen emphasizes meditation. I'm interested in learning and I am actually planning to travel to South Korea to teach English to school children, so I can't wait to be able to travel around Asia.

Buddhist Meditation x2

Buddhist Meditation from class 10/2/2012

I'm the type of person who can focus on the main task while other things while other things pop into my head. I could breath in, 1, breath out, 1. All the way up to ten but that didn't stop me from being able to focus on other things as well.

However, while doing the serenity meditation I have felt the calmest since I had woken up this morning. I worry about being busy and trying to get all my work done. The meditation allowed me to calm down and think about how to do all my school obligations as well as outside obligations.

Instead of believing in a God or any 'high being' I found that I could believe in myself. I have the strength to be myself, to do the things I need to do without the belief that there is someone who could lift me up.

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana is the largest branch of Buddhism is found in China, Japan and Tibet.  Mahayana also moved to Korea, Japan, Nepal, and Vietnam. Mahayana also became the dominant form throughout Asia and the Western world. These areas of the world had found a reason to incorporate Buddhist teachings to fit their needs and habits and I think that the Western World could also relate to the religion. 

Buddhism

Buddhism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l57sk4Sy1M

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. Buddhism, for most, means the religion of enlightenment. Buddha is a huge symbol in the Asian culture and one of the symbols I can relate to most. I really like the idea of enlightenment and the fact that Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince and into a rich family yet still chose a life outside of what people expected of him.

He chose to become a Buddha instead of a famous Emperor.

Diverse Christiantity

Diverse Christianity

Christianity is supposed to be the most diverse religion or faith, but there are times that I question this. Although there are many different 'sects' of Christianity, it is hard for me to accept that each sect is accepting of diversity. The Catholics are often against other religions.

I have nothing against the Catholic faith, Islam or any other sect of Christianity, but because there are so many sects it is hard to believe that they are really accepting of diversity, but there are so many different beliefs on the subject that they have no other choice of being diverse.

Luke vs. Matthew

Luke vs. Matthew

 

I really liked when we discussed the differences between Luke and Matthew in the bible. I have gone to Catholic school before and never realized the amount of differences between the two books. I think the most surprising difference that had been said was the different time period in which the books are thought to have been based around.

 

Luke:

 

The Generations between David and Jesus are 43

The concern with the fulfillment of prophecy is more of a focus in Matthew

There is an Angel that comes to Mary

An Angel comes to the Sheppherds

It is believed to be around 6-7 CE

Census was asked for amongst romans, Joseph needed to register in Bethlehem

Cercumcission of Jesus

Nazareth

Adam-father of the human race

 

 

Matthew:

The generations between David and Jesus are believed to be 28

The most greatest concern is the fulfillment of prophecy

Joseph has a dream

Magi (priest)

Joseph has another dream

Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Egypt

Herrod kills all children two years or younger

Reign of Herrod / death

Bethlehem

Emphasis on Jewish Law/ Scripture

4BCE

 



Karma

Karma

I have always believed that Karma was a bad thing. That saying that Karma would come back around to those who deserved it, I believe that people would get what they deserved. However, in a lot of Indian traditions it is believed that Karma is just the cycle of cause and effect that is created by an action.

I feel like some pictures can depict Karma rather than what I can explain it.

God on Trial

God on Trial by Frank Cottrell Boyce

The holocaust during WWII was a horrible thing to happen in Europe, the cost of lives being outrageous. During the movie, I could only think about how horrible it would be to live during that time and be apart of the holocaust...but to have to think about if I am being faithful to a religion or not seems even worse.

In a case like the Holocaust, I think I would definitely be praying to a "God" knowing that I and/or other people could be in danger of being a victim to the holocaust. However, being tested on my faith or even testing God would seem out of the question for me. I don't think I could be able to question things at a time like the Holocaust.

Confucianism Vs. Daoism

Confucianism vs. Daoism

From Van Voorst, page 156:

Confucianism: Scholars believe that all Chinese people are somehow related to Confucianism. Scholars don't necessarily see Confucianism as a religion or very "religious". 

Many Chinese see themselves as either Confucian or Daoist and many are Buddhists as well, this makes estimating the followers of these faiths difficult to count.

Confucianism is traceable with a historical founder whereas Daoism is not and grew out of various religious traditions in China. Confucianism, because it had a very different beginning then Daoism, it is a more coherent system to understand.

Confucianism is a Chinese tradition but the influence has spread widely while Daoism has been contained mostly within China and Taiwan.

Qi

Qi

Qi is known as the energy that flows through all things. From Qi, the martial art form of Taichi was formed which means internally soft. I actually had a professor at slippery rock show me and teach me a little bit of Taichi and it was simply away of protecting yourself from any physical harm. The professor who taught me was actually telling us that there was nothing offensive about Taichi, but that it was strictly defensive.

Ghosts

Ghosts

In the Chinese traditions often dealing with Confucianism or Daoism, the idea of a Ghost is an ancestor who has been neglected. The Confucius idea is that the older people in a person's life needs to be respected, so when there are ancestors who have been neglected then it is a huge problem that occurs within a society. Also, people who died mysteriously or because of suicide can also return as ghosts.

It is strongly advised that ghosts must be kept away, but they must also be kept happy.

There is a day called "Ghost day" in which families/citizens of a community would elaborate on the offerings to ancestors as well as hold performances and light lamps to help keep "ghosts" or ancestors happy.

Divination is also important, in which an oracle often comes in to play. The oracle is often there to help keep respect while a certain question is worked on.

                                                   

Wu Xing

In Chinese, the five elements are called Wu Xing.
These elements are Wood, Metal, Fire, Water, and Earth.

These elements remind me of Avatar the Last Airbender. It is a child's cartoon, but it actually explains about the Daoist/Confucius faiths more than I had believed to be. The cartoon is simply about the boy Avatar trying to fix things between different 'countries' while learning to master all the elements. He also learns that learning all the elements and the responsibility he carries isn't something to take lightly.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang

 I knew what Yin and Yang meant for a long time, but I have never heard it expressed as the sunny side verses the shaded side of the hill. I have always remembered it being addressed as the relationship between light and dark, good and bad. There are some opposites that I would have never considered as being associated to Yin and Yang, such as rising and falling. I like how Yin and Yang can be associated to almost anything in life and that Yin and Yang is always about a relationship.

Sikhism and Muslim Violence

Sikhism and Muslim Violence

The Sikhs want the right to have a Punjab state where the Muslims are unwilling to allow them to hold the state. They also reject the Sikh religious rituals. The goals of the Sikh religion is to allow everyone to be equal, get rid of the caste system as well as make creed and gender unimportant.

The Sikhs believe that no one religion holds the monopoly in truth.

Koan

Koan

A Koan is a story that is supposed to wake a person up and makes a person ask questions about "certains" in life. It can also reveal a direct experience and asks about the consciousness of identity, mystics and the experiences of the world.

Koan just emphasizes the need to answer a question or story through meditation and it is supposed to frustrate the rational mind. I like to think I have a "Koan" that questions why I do things or why I think of certain things...but I never attempt to meditate to find an answer. 

Primitive Thinking of Being

Primitive Thinking

When we talked about Primitive thinking, I think the thing I remember most is the cup crashing against the wall. It has been fresh on my mind since the end of class. It really had me questioning why we call things the way we do. What is a mug without the name 'mug'?

I can't really think of how to describe things without putting a name to it and it is something that I have learned from my parents and that is something that they have learned from their parents. It is an unbreakable pattern.

VV: Sikhism

Van Voorst: Sikhism

 The Ten Gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak (1469-1539); Sikhism became a new sect within Hinduism. Muslim rulers were initially tolerant but later became violent against the Sikh faith. Nanak started his own religious community who then passed his leadership and teachings to the community. He preached a lesson of universal love and differences between religions.

I really like the idea of universal love. I wish the world could always work together peacefully.

I also liked Nuruk talking about how his feet were "pointing disrespectfully to Mecca" and although I am not sure if a "God" exists he explained that God should be everywhere and that his feet cannot point disrespectfully because in every direction there is "God".

Meditation

Buddhism and Meditation

In Buddhism, Meditation is important and central in the teaching. Buddhism contains deep meditation along with an earnest morality, but most Buddhists who aren't monks/nuns do not meditate. Buddhism is also kind of unique in the fact that those belonging to another religion can also practice Buddhism.

Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, gained his enlightenment and the title "Buddha" after sitting under a tree in the city of Bodh Gaya for a long meditation.

Jainism x2

Jainism

Explanation of God/the attacking of God

God had to make the material world because if not then he is not the creator. But if he made the Material world, then the world is only his will.

-If God is perfect, why did he feel the need to create?


Jainism attacks "God" only to explain the existence of the world

To have one is to have another. If God is perfect then he must also be imperfect.

Does God have a good reason to create the world or was he just fooling around for no reason?

             If there was no purpose to the creation of the world then what is the purpose of a "God"?

These are all points that were brought up amongst the creation of the world and/or the explanation of God. I think Jainism doubts God, but I don't think they are completely against the idea of God. I think the proof of God is necessary.

Jainism

Jainism

I think Jainism is one of the hardest religions for me to be able to accept. The fact that the religion is against any harm to any living thing seems to be a hard concept. I mean even if I wasn't being physically harmed by a spider or a strange looking bug, I feel the need to kill it. If I was in a position where I could be in possible harm, I would have no doubts of trying to harm/kill whatever was going to harm me or anyone around me.

I think that is the hardest concept for me to get past in Jainism but almost any other concept or idea of Jainism I can easily accept and seem very similar to Buddhism.

Reincarnation: Is it real or not?

Reincarnation:

Do you believe in it?

Or NOT?

 

 

 

 

 

I have thought about this often. Wondering if I have lived a "past life" or if after this life I will be able to live again. I don't really know what I believe. It is common for me to joke around and say that: "In my past life I was..." or "In my next life I will..."

 

I don't know whether to take myself serious with this question or to continue to joke around. I do lean towards believing reincarnation could be possible, but I also think that there are plenty of people who believe that it is impossible.

 

I also think a lot about those who have died. Especially my family, thinking that they could be looking down at us and guiding us through our own lives.

 

I cannot say that I believe in it or not because I still haven't decided what I want to be true.

Hinduism

Hinduism

 Just like the other religions, Hinduism, I believe, was formed to fix a problem for from community tradition. Hinduism was supposedly formed in the Indus River Valley where there were sophisticated cities and a population of 40,000 people. The area was advanced in their plumbing system, weaponry and they had a settled/peaceful society. The area traded internationally and had a writing system. A bathing ritual, yoga, meditation and statues of goddesses were all important in the new religion which is the oldest living religion today.

Hinduism, I believe, was formed to help the communities of the Indus River Valley to create a way of life. Something to believe in while working hard as a nomadic people.

Hinduism and Vedic Religion

Vedic Hymn

 

 

 In class, we talked about the Vedic religion and a certain Vedic Hymn from Philip Novak's book, The World's Wisdom.

 

 

       

Then even nothingness was not, nor existence.

There was no air then, nor the heavens beyond it.

What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping?

Was there then a cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?

 

There is an attempt to find the origin of earth and/or life.
We discussed that if the world couldn't come from nothing or something, then "creation" started with the existence of a God. How did God come into existence?


I'm not really sure if I believe any "creation" stories that exist in any religion or community. Rather, I believe that something happened that no one truly understands that allowed for the creation of the Earth or possibly God.

I'm still debate with myself if Earth came before "God", or if "God" came before Earth...or if God really exists.



Asra Nomani

Asra Nomani and...Standing Alone: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam

 

Asra Nomani received outstanding controversy to one of her books called Tantrika,  which was about her experience when researching about a Tantric sex phenomenon. Tantric is a term, from Tantra, that refers to a religious ritual/meditation of a human body in a sexual way.

 

In Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam, Asra Nomani talks about her pilgrimage. She also discusses about the rights of Women in the muslim world. Before I actually talk about the book, I wanted to talk about Asra Nomani and do research on her to understand her more.

 

 

Asra Nomani was born into a Muslim family and actually grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. I actually found it interesting that she graduated college with a degree in liberal studies which is very similar to what I am doing with my own Professional Studies major. She also earned her her Master's in International Communication which is similar to what I want to do with my life by going to South Korea after I graduate and eventually earn my own masters in either Social Work to work with Biracial children in Asia or Major in Communication to become an interpreter or something of the sort.

 

 

Asra Nomani had a child out of wed-lock and eventually challenged a rule at a Mosque in Morgantown, West Virgina. The way she is able to challenge the people of her own faith allows me to realize how strong she is and she seems to be a very independent woman.

 

I want to be a strong woman like Asra Nomani.

Pre-Axial/Post Axial

Pre Axial vs. Post Axial Religious Traditions

 

 A lot of the Pre-Axial religions started in between 700-300 BCE and included Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism that were born out of China, India and other Asian countries. These religious traditions allowed a major shift in thinking in many different communities.

 

I relate a lot to the Pre-Axial traditions, and these are the ones that I have come to like to study about most since I have been in college and have come to like Asian culture/religion. These religions were focused on maintaining harmony.

 

 

 

Post Axial Religions are religions that are slightly younger than Pre-Axial religions and they allow a transformation to occur, usually amongst humans. These religions focus on the end of time and trying to fix the problems of the "end of the world".

 

 

I believe I relate to Confucianism/ other Asian Religious traditions because I like to maintain harmony amongst my friends and I would like to be able to believe in peace in the world, which is often brought up amongst the Pre-Axial religions.

Animism/Manaism

Animism vs. Manaism

 

 

Animism is the individual souls within nature where as Manaism is the power behind all things.

 

 

Animism comes from the Latin anima which means soul/spirit. It is also the belief that individual spirits exist not only in people but also in all individual things in nature, whether they appear to be alive or not; individual animals, plants, rocks, thunder and lightning, and mountains, lakes and rivers (Van Voorst, 30).

 

Cultural anthropologists held that the first stage of all human religion was Manaism. Manaism is the belief that there is a spiritual power and energy that permeates the world. Manaism is pre-animistic because the power is not connected to spirits or a species (Van Voorst, 32).

 

 

I like the idea of Manaism most. It seems more correct that there is a power that circles around the earth rather than a soul or a spirit controlling power

Does Religion cause violence?

Violence and Religion

 

Looking at history, I believe that Religion can and did cause violence. There was massive destruction and violence in order to have a large number of converts into a religion. Also, there seemed to have been a large number of people who had been forced to convert.

 

 

However, I don't believe that because there is relgion that there has to be violence. It kind of reminds me of the discussion of the British Philosopher, McGinn, that we talked about in a previous class. As long as those of a religious faith was able to criticize another religion but were not allowed to persecute others for their beliefs.

 

 

 

There are certain things that lead to violence that should be avoided such as:

 

Uncritical Obedience: Important factor that leads towards violence.

Dualistic Thinking: Thinking that there is "us" and then there is "them"

                                    Us=saved; They=not  saved.

Focus on the next world: Focus is not on reality or the present

Celebration of Martydaum: Giving one's own life in order to defend a religion

Zealous Puritanism: Purify a religion from "fake" believers

 

 

 

If there were certain religions who were to rid themselves of some of the beliefs from above, I believe the world would be a lot less violent due to Religion.

Define God

September 6th,

Define God

 

 

Is there a way to define God? In my own opinion, everyone holds God in a different standing. He may be someone that they go to often, where as others occasionally think about Him. Personally, I usually only think about him if I am in a tough position or during certain holidays.

 

 

Also different religions have different beliefs on God.

There are Polytheists who believe in many gods, Henotheism which means that there are many gods but there is one supreme god, Monotheism which is the belief in only one supreme god. There are also Pantheism, Atheism and Agnostics.

 

 

Richard Dawkins came up with a 7 point scale which could help answer the question: "Do you believe in God"

 

#1-No Doubt

#2-Fairly certain, but have some doubts

#3-Lean towards belief but not confident

#4-Exactly Middle or maybe have no opinion or can't decide

#5-Leaning towards rejection that God exists

#6-High degree that God doesn't exist but there is still doubt

#7-Certain God doesn't exist

Philosophy opposed to Theology and/or Religion

September 6th,

Philosophy

 

In class, we discussed how philosophy is the nature of the self. It could also be the nature of an alternate reality. Compared to Theology and/ or Religion, I believe that philosophy comes out of whatever is studied. It is what is to be believed about Religion or the study of theology.

 

 

For example, in each religion there are teachings that each person should take away. However, I think each person will respond differently to what they have learned and have opinions. This is their philosophy to what religion/theology is teaching the human race.

 

 

With philosophy there is a need for tolerance, as we had brought up the British Philosopher, McGinn. He said that tolerance was not refusing to criticize a person's beliefs or ideas, but also not persecuting someone for what they believe in.

Theology vs Religion

September 6th,

Theology vs. Religion



In class we discussed the difference between Theology and Religion. Through the discussion in class it was said that Theology is a study of religion from the inside whereas Religion is a study without being a part of a religion. In Robert Van Voorst's book, Relg, Theology is the study of a religion based on a religious commitment to that religion, in order to promote that religion (12-13).

I always believed that this was the other way around. That the study of Religion was actually being a part of a certain religion and that Theology didn't necessarily have a certain religion. However, after talking in class about this I realized that I have been wrong in thinking this.

The study of religion involves many religions and not one, while having knowledge and being able to discuss about certain things within a religion is strictly theology.

Religion Survey

September 4th,

Religion Survey

 

What surprised me most about the results of the Religion Survey

 

 

I guess what surprised me the most was that I took four years of Religion in Catholic High School and I have just began to realize that I learned a basic Catholic teaching of that religion when I was raised as a protestant Christian. Also, even though I did have four solid years of Religion class, I don't think I was able to learn a lot or at least take away anything from those classes.

 

 

During the survey, I realized that I was not able to answer a lot of the questions including the questions involving the Christian Faith.

 

This survey made me doubt if I am Christian because that is who I am and the religion I belong to, or if that is just the faith that I grew up with.

Community, Problem and Different Dimensions

In class we discussed that in studying religion and in religion in general, the sense of community is very important. I do agree with this because without the sense of community and people who agree with the same ideas I don't think there would be religion.

Also, Religion starts with a problem. I think that this is very similar amongst Religions. Humans want salvation and want to know that they can be "saved" or at least want to find an answer to a certain problem. How religions differ, however, is the way each religion or community takes care of a problem. The means of overcoming the problem is what religion is formed from.

There was something that I didn't quite understand during the lecture which was the different dimensions such as the emotional, aesthetic and cognitive dimensions? I wish we had gone into further discussion about these.

What is Religion

What is Religion

Religion is something that I can't define. Although I would like to believe I have some idea what religion is, I also believe that religion is what people make of it. However, my idea of religion is that it is simply something for me to believe in and debate upon. I have thought a lot about whether I am Christian because that is what I believe or if that is just what I have grown up to believe.

I often think that there are other religions that would be better suited to my own tastes and although confucianism isn't really seen as a religion, I often believe that I am more suited in that direction than Christianity. I'm also really interested in the South Korean culture and they are impacted greatly by the confucious teaching, so I think I am also influenced by that.

Mullah Nasruddin and the Lost Keys

Mullah Nasruddin and the Lost Keys

 

The great Sufi master Mullah Nasruddin was on his hands and knees searching for something under a streetlamp. A man saw him and asked, "What are you looking for?" "My house key," Nasruddin replied. "I lost it." The man joined him in looking for the key, and after a period of fruitless searching, the man asked, "Are you sure you lost it around here?" Nasruddin replied, "Oh, I didn't lose it around here. I lost it over there, by my house." "Then why," the man asked, "are you looking for it over here?" "Because," Nasruddin said, "The light is so much better over here."

There are many ways to interpret this story, but one way might serve as a helpful reminder as we embark on our study of religion. As we search for this phenomenon called "religion" abd study a variety of religious traditions, we might find ourselves using the light of familiar categories to help us understand what we're studying. This story can serve as a cautionary tale about the problems of using what we know from our upbringing or our own religion to illuminate the concepts, symbols and practices of other traditions. It is important that we move outside the familiar, well-lit areas of our life and expand the region in which we search. We will find that the other traditions we study will provide their own sources of illumination, and that rather than try to understand other traditions through our pre-existing categories, we might acquire new categories for understanding, Not only might we find surprising, thought-provoking answers to the questions we bring to the study of religion, we might find that even our questions themselves need to be re-examined.

Berkson could be cautioning his readers, and providing a preview to religion. First, we must be cautious in talking about religion so that we do not offend who/what we are talking about and the history that comes with it. Also, we may take for granted what we do know about religion and be hesitant on learning new religions and what they have to offer.

I think for the most part, Berkson wants people to be open to new ideas/new religions. By being open with different kinds of religion then we can also be open with different kind of people as a whole and be more accepting. Also, by learning religion, people can learn a little more about themselves as well.

Relating Religion to Morality

First day of class (World Religion at Slippery Rock University):

 

Creating a list of Relating Religion to Morality:
                                                    Things that are "common" amongst religion

• There is a "God" or "Devine Beings"
• Afterlife
• Creation
• Place of Worship
• Sense of Community
• Purpose for life- "Why We Are Here"
• Savior
• Lifestyle Choices
• Idea of a soul
• Idea of worship
• Priest
• Sin
• Sacred vs. Secular
• Religion/Philosophy
• Good vs. Evil

These are all things that are common in religion, but not necessarily all religions hold all of these things.