RELN1000 take home exam
41504396
RELN1000 – Take Home Exam
Section 1: What are the Five Pillars of Islam and explain their
significance?
The Five Pillars of Islam are the basic acts that all Muslims considered to obligate
(Glasse: 2001). The Five Pillars consist of the Creed (Shahada), Daily prayers
(Salah), Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), Almsgiving (Zakat) and the Pilgrimage
to Mecca (Hajj) at least once in a lifetime. These acts are stated in Qur’an as a
framework for worship and commitment to the faith to God, Allah (Armstrong:
2002, Esposito: 1998).
Shahada, the creed of Islam, means ‘to know and believe without suspicion, as if
it witnessed’1. This first pillar is the Muslim declaration of belief in the acceptance
of Muhammad as prophet of God and in the oneness Allah. The Shahada is the
most important of the Five Pillars. For a person to become Muslim, a single
honest recitation of the Shahada all that is required (Burrell: 1997).
Daily Prayers or Salah is the practice of formal Islamic prayer. It means
‘supplication’ in Arabic. Salah is a ritual prayer, having prescribed conditions,
procedure and times. All adult Muslims must perform Salad in a state of ritual
purity; meaning Salah is forbidden for a female that experiencing menstruation
(Esposito: 1998). Salad is performed five times a day according to the sun
movement. Salah is used as a way to communicate to God, to thank him, to
praise for him and to remind Muslims of his blessing (Robinson: 1999).
The third pillar is Sawm, the fasting during the holy month called Ramadan.
Eating, drinking and anything against Islamic law are prohibited from sunrise to
sunset. The aim is to sympathize with those who are less fortunate, who do not
always have food and drink readily available. Also it is also viewed as a mean to
control the desire of human basic needs and focus more on God; to seek
closeness to God (Khan: 2006).
Zakat or alms giving is the fourth pillar. It is described as the act of giving
personal possessions, such as material and financial wealth, livestock and
agricultural products to charity and those needy and the poor. All the Muslims
who have reached puberty must perform this act, as they believe it is an Islamic
duty that one must give to the community as a way of purifying themselves from
selfishness and greed (Robinson: 1999).
The last pillar is Hajj or a religious duty to visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least
once in a lifetime by Muslims who can afford to do so. The Hajj is believed to be a
demonstration of the solidarity and the submission of Allah from the Muslims
people. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages of the world, which occurs on
the 8th to the 12th of the last month in Islamic calendar. During this visit, many
rituals are performed including Stoning the Devil, and drinks from Zamzam well
(Bianchi: 2004).
1
Glasse C. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Islam. Alta Mira Press. pp. 416.
1
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Some Muslims cannot accomplish these pillars due to many unfortunate reasons
for example, they could not fast during Ramadan because of the medical reasons
or they are the less fortunate financially, therefore they could not fulfil the fourth
and fifth pillar (Huges: 2004).
Section 2: Describe the caste system of Hinduism and its significance
The caste system has been observed since the time of the ancient Persians till
today religions, including Christian and Islam. However, the most observation in
today world of the caste system can be found in India where Hinduism is
generally identified with. Caste system is described as the system of the social
stratification, where social restriction and social classes exist within the
population. This usually based on occupation and family linage. In India, there
are four castes and out-casted social groups. Even though the discrimination
caste-based has outlawed by the Indian Constitution, however the caste system
still survive and exist within the modern Indian population due to a combination
of social beliefs and behaviour and political factors (Flood: 1996, 2005).
The four castes are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Brahmins
consists of priests and teachers who obliged to observe the sacraments and
perform rites and rituals for others (Flood: 1996). The preservation of the
tradition and the pursuit of divine knowledge are expected from people in this
class as examples to other. The second class is Kshatriyas, which consists of the
warriors and the rulers. They also confer gifts to Brahmins, dispense justice,
study Vedas (the oldest scriptures of Hinduism) and abstain themselves from
sensual pleasures. Also their command is to protect the people such that the
king protects his kingdom and his people. The third class is Vaishyas or the
merchant and peasant class. These people are expected to tend cattle, offer
scarifies, study the Vedas and cultivate the land. The men from this social class
are not allowed to marry women from higher castes. The last caste is called
Shudras, the labour class whose duty is to serve other three higher classes.
People in this class do not allowed to study the Vedas or even hear the sacred
chants. Furthermore, they do not allowed to eat or drink food in the present of
the higher classes, and marry the women of higher classes (Jayaram: 2011)
(Milner: 1994).
There is also an out-casted group is called Chandalas or Harijans or the impure
ones. This caste of the system is classified as the lowest class out of all. Some
people treat them as untouchable because of the uncleaned activities they
perform, for example, magical rites, gory religious practices, penchant for
sacrifices and unclean habits. The area of occupations that these people allow to
work usually seen by other as unpleasant, unhealthy and polluting jobs such as
hunters, human waste cleaners. Despite from being an out-casted, there are also
the sub-classes within this people such as dhobi and nai, who are the out-casted
of the Harijans and these people would not interact with people outside of their
group (Ross: 2010).
2
41504396
Once the person in born, he or she will belong in the same class as their parents,
where both come from the same class, and will remain in the social class for the
rest of their lives. Unlike those who were born by parents from different classes,
these people will get marked as Harijans as marriage between classes is seen as
impure (Silverberg: 1969).
Section 3: Briefly discuss the significance of the Dreaming in Australian
Aboriginal Religion.
Dreaming or Dreamtime is a great and fundamental concept of the Australian
Aboriginal Religion. The Dreaming has many definitions but usually refers to a set
of beliefs, a spiritual dimension of reality that has existed from the beginning, the
foundation and shaping of the ancestor heroes and their spiritual power in the
land, the certain sites and even the fauna and flora. The dreaming is varied
throughout Australia. There are many stories that have been told for many
thousands of years, from generations to generations (Australian Government:
2008). One of the most famous stories is the Rainbow Spirit.
The theology of the Rainbow spirit is believed to foundation of the Aboriginal
religion. They believe that the creator as portrayed by the aboriginal artist as a
snake, who emerged from the land and travelled to many places leaving the trail
of life and return to land through sacred sites such as caves and waterholes. The
Australia indigenous people believe that the Rainbow spirit is a symbol
representing life and rebirth. As the creator, the Rainbow spirit gave life to the
ancestors and all the creatures including trees, plants, animals, birds and even to
the landscape itself. The Rainbow also serves as a guardian of the sacred places
(The Rainbow Spirit Elders: 1997).
The Dreaming can be found in many archaeologically evidences throughout
Australia. Many sacred sites contain painting from thousands of years,
representing the Aboriginal beliefs. Each tribe have some similarities and
differences in their beliefs and sometime these beliefs overlap each other. All
Aboriginal deities are usually described as ancestral beings, and each deity has
its own story and has performed specific activities in the creation period. They
also relate and interpret their dreams as being the memory of the ancestral
beings during the creation period (Aboriginal Culture: 2011).
The Aboriginal believe that the spirits come in many forms and exist before they
become their physical forms. Everything that exists on this land was once a
soul/spirit, including both non-living form such as rocks, rivers, wind, stars and
3
41504396
the sky and the living form such as animals and human. They embrace all the life
events and phenomena as part of a relationship that can be traced back to the
ancestral of spirits of the dreaming. Because of these beliefs, the dreaming
establishes the structures of the society in the Aboriginal community, and it also
ensures the life and the land is continued. Through singing, dancing and telling
stories are the Dreaming transmission that tells the tales of how the creator
travelled the landscapes and sites. Some songlines tell the stories how the
creator travel right across Australia and kept alive by songs and dances perform
by the indigenous people at large gatherings, which frequently organised, and
through the ceremonies. Today, some of the ceremonies still being practice,
especially in the Central Australia where the large number of the Indigenous
people still living in the land of the ancestor (Stanner: 1989, Breeden and Wright:
1989).
Section 4: What are some of the characteristics of the New Age and
how are they manifested?
The New Age movement is developed in the later 20 th century. It is a religion of
free-flowing spiritual movement. Also it can be seen as heterogeneous
movement of the individuals, most graft some of the New Age beliefs onto their
regular religion affiliation. Its central perception revolves around both Eastern
and Western spiritual and metaphysical tradition, with self-help motivation,
parapsychology and consciousness research. Holistic worldview is the aim of the
New Age movement, includes emphasising mind, body and spirit as they unite
and form oneness throughout the universe by embrace both science and
spirituality views. Many people believe that god is a higher consciousness that a
person may reach or the total realization of personal, human potential (Heelas:
1996).
The New Age movement includes many elements and religious traditions. It
believes that all religions are the expression of the same inner reality. The
manifestation of all existence including the spirit, the unknowable and the
supreme consciousness can be known by different names in different cultures.
The interconnected energy, the deeds like believing in karma, feelings and
thoughts, is believed to link all form of lives in all the states (York: 1995, Spencer:
2000)).
The typical characteristics are emphasis on healing, eclecticism and syncretism,
a monistic and impersonal ontology, optimism, success orientation, and
tendency to evolutionary views. Moreover, the psychic powers also emphasise as
4
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well as aura, fortune reading, tarot, astrology and runes (Spencer: 2000). Many
practices can trace back to various sources; Hinduism, Taoism, Gnostic
Traditions, Theosophy, Wicca and other Neo-pagan traditions. For example, using
crystal in healing process, meditating to release oneself from the conscious
thinking and divination to foretell the future, are practices that perform in the
New Age movement. There are no specific spiritual pathways that the believers
must take to unite and become oneness, the pathway of one can be freely
chosen (Naisbitt and Aburdene: 1990).
The New Age Movement has no holy text, central organisation, formal clergy,
geographic centre, dogma, creed etc. The New Age movement was formed to
many reasons that have risen up in the modern society. For example, the
changing role of women in society, perceived failure of Christianity and unstable
political situation such as Cold War, Gulf War and War on Terror. The New Age
movement believe in the introduction of the New World Order or the Age of
Aquarius with one world government, to end the wars, hungers, diseases,
pollution and poverty. The discrimination against gender, racial and religious will
be ceased in the New World. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius is considered
and believed by some astrologers to correlate to various changes in the world.
For instant, the innovative technology, electricity, computer, aviation and even
human rights, are the effects of the upcoming new era (Naisbitt and Aburdene:
1990, Melton: 1993).
Bibliography:
Section 1
Armstrong K (2000,2002) Islam: A Short History. pp. 10–12.
Bianchi R. R. (2004). Guests of God: Pilgrimage and Politics in the Islamic World .
Oxford University Press. London.
Burrell, D. B. (1997) The Pillars of Islamic Faith: what we should know and why.
Commonweal; Jan 31. Vol 124 (2). pp. 17-19.
Esposito J. (1998). Islam: The Straight Path (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.n
London.
Glasse C. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Islam. Alta Mira Press. pp. 416.
Huges, A. W. (2004) The Texture of the Devine: Imagination in Medieval Islamic
and Jewish Thought. Indiana University Press. Indiana.
5
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Khan A. (2006). Islam 101: Principles and Practice . Khan Consulting and
Publishing, LLC
Robinson N (1999) Islam; A Concise Introduction. Curzon Press. Richmond.
Section 2:
Flood G. (1996) An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge.
Flood G. (2005) The Blackwell companion to Hinduism. Blackwell Publishing.
Australia.
Jayaram V (2011) The Hindu Caste System. Hinduwebsite.com.
Milner M. (1994) Status and Sacredness: A General Theory of Status Relations
and an Analysis of Indian Culture. Oxford University Press. New York.
Ross K. L. (2010) The Caste System and the Stages of Life in Hinduism . Friesian
School. Los Angeles.
Silverberg J. (1969) Social Mobility in the Caste System in India: An
Interdisciplinary Symposium. The American Journal of Sociology. Vol 75 (3). Pp.
443–444.
Section 3:
Aboriginal Culture (2011) – Aboriginal Religion and Ceremony. Date accessed: 1
February 2011. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml
Australian Government (2008) – the dreaming. Date Accessed: 1 February 2011.
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/indigenous/dreamtime/
Breeden S. and Wright B. (1989) Kakadu, Looking After the Country - the Gagadju
Way, Simon & Schuster. Brookvale. NSW.
Stanner W.E.H (1989), On Aboriginal Religion, University of Sydney. Australia.
The Rainbow Spirit Elders (1997) The Rainbow Spirit Theolog: Towards an
Australian Aboriginal Theolog, Harper Collins Religious Publishers. Australia.
Section 4:
Heelas P. (1996) The New Age Movement: Religion, Culture and Society in the
Age of Postmodernity, Blackwell Publishing. pp. 116
Melton J. G. (1993) The Religious Fringe, Inter Varsity Press. Illinois. pp. 285-298.
Naisbitt J. and Aburdene P. (1990) Megatrends 2000, William Morrow & Company.
New York.
6
41504396
Spencer N. (2000) True as the Stars above: Adventures in Modern Astrology ,
Victor Gollancz, pp. 115–27.
York M (1995), The Emerging Network: A Sociology of the New Age and NeoPagan Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 60
7
RELN1000 – Take Home Exam
Section 1: What are the Five Pillars of Islam and explain their
significance?
The Five Pillars of Islam are the basic acts that all Muslims considered to obligate
(Glasse: 2001). The Five Pillars consist of the Creed (Shahada), Daily prayers
(Salah), Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), Almsgiving (Zakat) and the Pilgrimage
to Mecca (Hajj) at least once in a lifetime. These acts are stated in Qur’an as a
framework for worship and commitment to the faith to God, Allah (Armstrong:
2002, Esposito: 1998).
Shahada, the creed of Islam, means ‘to know and believe without suspicion, as if
it witnessed’1. This first pillar is the Muslim declaration of belief in the acceptance
of Muhammad as prophet of God and in the oneness Allah. The Shahada is the
most important of the Five Pillars. For a person to become Muslim, a single
honest recitation of the Shahada all that is required (Burrell: 1997).
Daily Prayers or Salah is the practice of formal Islamic prayer. It means
‘supplication’ in Arabic. Salah is a ritual prayer, having prescribed conditions,
procedure and times. All adult Muslims must perform Salad in a state of ritual
purity; meaning Salah is forbidden for a female that experiencing menstruation
(Esposito: 1998). Salad is performed five times a day according to the sun
movement. Salah is used as a way to communicate to God, to thank him, to
praise for him and to remind Muslims of his blessing (Robinson: 1999).
The third pillar is Sawm, the fasting during the holy month called Ramadan.
Eating, drinking and anything against Islamic law are prohibited from sunrise to
sunset. The aim is to sympathize with those who are less fortunate, who do not
always have food and drink readily available. Also it is also viewed as a mean to
control the desire of human basic needs and focus more on God; to seek
closeness to God (Khan: 2006).
Zakat or alms giving is the fourth pillar. It is described as the act of giving
personal possessions, such as material and financial wealth, livestock and
agricultural products to charity and those needy and the poor. All the Muslims
who have reached puberty must perform this act, as they believe it is an Islamic
duty that one must give to the community as a way of purifying themselves from
selfishness and greed (Robinson: 1999).
The last pillar is Hajj or a religious duty to visit Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least
once in a lifetime by Muslims who can afford to do so. The Hajj is believed to be a
demonstration of the solidarity and the submission of Allah from the Muslims
people. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages of the world, which occurs on
the 8th to the 12th of the last month in Islamic calendar. During this visit, many
rituals are performed including Stoning the Devil, and drinks from Zamzam well
(Bianchi: 2004).
1
Glasse C. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Islam. Alta Mira Press. pp. 416.
1
41504396
Some Muslims cannot accomplish these pillars due to many unfortunate reasons
for example, they could not fast during Ramadan because of the medical reasons
or they are the less fortunate financially, therefore they could not fulfil the fourth
and fifth pillar (Huges: 2004).
Section 2: Describe the caste system of Hinduism and its significance
The caste system has been observed since the time of the ancient Persians till
today religions, including Christian and Islam. However, the most observation in
today world of the caste system can be found in India where Hinduism is
generally identified with. Caste system is described as the system of the social
stratification, where social restriction and social classes exist within the
population. This usually based on occupation and family linage. In India, there
are four castes and out-casted social groups. Even though the discrimination
caste-based has outlawed by the Indian Constitution, however the caste system
still survive and exist within the modern Indian population due to a combination
of social beliefs and behaviour and political factors (Flood: 1996, 2005).
The four castes are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Brahmins
consists of priests and teachers who obliged to observe the sacraments and
perform rites and rituals for others (Flood: 1996). The preservation of the
tradition and the pursuit of divine knowledge are expected from people in this
class as examples to other. The second class is Kshatriyas, which consists of the
warriors and the rulers. They also confer gifts to Brahmins, dispense justice,
study Vedas (the oldest scriptures of Hinduism) and abstain themselves from
sensual pleasures. Also their command is to protect the people such that the
king protects his kingdom and his people. The third class is Vaishyas or the
merchant and peasant class. These people are expected to tend cattle, offer
scarifies, study the Vedas and cultivate the land. The men from this social class
are not allowed to marry women from higher castes. The last caste is called
Shudras, the labour class whose duty is to serve other three higher classes.
People in this class do not allowed to study the Vedas or even hear the sacred
chants. Furthermore, they do not allowed to eat or drink food in the present of
the higher classes, and marry the women of higher classes (Jayaram: 2011)
(Milner: 1994).
There is also an out-casted group is called Chandalas or Harijans or the impure
ones. This caste of the system is classified as the lowest class out of all. Some
people treat them as untouchable because of the uncleaned activities they
perform, for example, magical rites, gory religious practices, penchant for
sacrifices and unclean habits. The area of occupations that these people allow to
work usually seen by other as unpleasant, unhealthy and polluting jobs such as
hunters, human waste cleaners. Despite from being an out-casted, there are also
the sub-classes within this people such as dhobi and nai, who are the out-casted
of the Harijans and these people would not interact with people outside of their
group (Ross: 2010).
2
41504396
Once the person in born, he or she will belong in the same class as their parents,
where both come from the same class, and will remain in the social class for the
rest of their lives. Unlike those who were born by parents from different classes,
these people will get marked as Harijans as marriage between classes is seen as
impure (Silverberg: 1969).
Section 3: Briefly discuss the significance of the Dreaming in Australian
Aboriginal Religion.
Dreaming or Dreamtime is a great and fundamental concept of the Australian
Aboriginal Religion. The Dreaming has many definitions but usually refers to a set
of beliefs, a spiritual dimension of reality that has existed from the beginning, the
foundation and shaping of the ancestor heroes and their spiritual power in the
land, the certain sites and even the fauna and flora. The dreaming is varied
throughout Australia. There are many stories that have been told for many
thousands of years, from generations to generations (Australian Government:
2008). One of the most famous stories is the Rainbow Spirit.
The theology of the Rainbow spirit is believed to foundation of the Aboriginal
religion. They believe that the creator as portrayed by the aboriginal artist as a
snake, who emerged from the land and travelled to many places leaving the trail
of life and return to land through sacred sites such as caves and waterholes. The
Australia indigenous people believe that the Rainbow spirit is a symbol
representing life and rebirth. As the creator, the Rainbow spirit gave life to the
ancestors and all the creatures including trees, plants, animals, birds and even to
the landscape itself. The Rainbow also serves as a guardian of the sacred places
(The Rainbow Spirit Elders: 1997).
The Dreaming can be found in many archaeologically evidences throughout
Australia. Many sacred sites contain painting from thousands of years,
representing the Aboriginal beliefs. Each tribe have some similarities and
differences in their beliefs and sometime these beliefs overlap each other. All
Aboriginal deities are usually described as ancestral beings, and each deity has
its own story and has performed specific activities in the creation period. They
also relate and interpret their dreams as being the memory of the ancestral
beings during the creation period (Aboriginal Culture: 2011).
The Aboriginal believe that the spirits come in many forms and exist before they
become their physical forms. Everything that exists on this land was once a
soul/spirit, including both non-living form such as rocks, rivers, wind, stars and
3
41504396
the sky and the living form such as animals and human. They embrace all the life
events and phenomena as part of a relationship that can be traced back to the
ancestral of spirits of the dreaming. Because of these beliefs, the dreaming
establishes the structures of the society in the Aboriginal community, and it also
ensures the life and the land is continued. Through singing, dancing and telling
stories are the Dreaming transmission that tells the tales of how the creator
travelled the landscapes and sites. Some songlines tell the stories how the
creator travel right across Australia and kept alive by songs and dances perform
by the indigenous people at large gatherings, which frequently organised, and
through the ceremonies. Today, some of the ceremonies still being practice,
especially in the Central Australia where the large number of the Indigenous
people still living in the land of the ancestor (Stanner: 1989, Breeden and Wright:
1989).
Section 4: What are some of the characteristics of the New Age and
how are they manifested?
The New Age movement is developed in the later 20 th century. It is a religion of
free-flowing spiritual movement. Also it can be seen as heterogeneous
movement of the individuals, most graft some of the New Age beliefs onto their
regular religion affiliation. Its central perception revolves around both Eastern
and Western spiritual and metaphysical tradition, with self-help motivation,
parapsychology and consciousness research. Holistic worldview is the aim of the
New Age movement, includes emphasising mind, body and spirit as they unite
and form oneness throughout the universe by embrace both science and
spirituality views. Many people believe that god is a higher consciousness that a
person may reach or the total realization of personal, human potential (Heelas:
1996).
The New Age movement includes many elements and religious traditions. It
believes that all religions are the expression of the same inner reality. The
manifestation of all existence including the spirit, the unknowable and the
supreme consciousness can be known by different names in different cultures.
The interconnected energy, the deeds like believing in karma, feelings and
thoughts, is believed to link all form of lives in all the states (York: 1995, Spencer:
2000)).
The typical characteristics are emphasis on healing, eclecticism and syncretism,
a monistic and impersonal ontology, optimism, success orientation, and
tendency to evolutionary views. Moreover, the psychic powers also emphasise as
4
41504396
well as aura, fortune reading, tarot, astrology and runes (Spencer: 2000). Many
practices can trace back to various sources; Hinduism, Taoism, Gnostic
Traditions, Theosophy, Wicca and other Neo-pagan traditions. For example, using
crystal in healing process, meditating to release oneself from the conscious
thinking and divination to foretell the future, are practices that perform in the
New Age movement. There are no specific spiritual pathways that the believers
must take to unite and become oneness, the pathway of one can be freely
chosen (Naisbitt and Aburdene: 1990).
The New Age Movement has no holy text, central organisation, formal clergy,
geographic centre, dogma, creed etc. The New Age movement was formed to
many reasons that have risen up in the modern society. For example, the
changing role of women in society, perceived failure of Christianity and unstable
political situation such as Cold War, Gulf War and War on Terror. The New Age
movement believe in the introduction of the New World Order or the Age of
Aquarius with one world government, to end the wars, hungers, diseases,
pollution and poverty. The discrimination against gender, racial and religious will
be ceased in the New World. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius is considered
and believed by some astrologers to correlate to various changes in the world.
For instant, the innovative technology, electricity, computer, aviation and even
human rights, are the effects of the upcoming new era (Naisbitt and Aburdene:
1990, Melton: 1993).
Bibliography:
Section 1
Armstrong K (2000,2002) Islam: A Short History. pp. 10–12.
Bianchi R. R. (2004). Guests of God: Pilgrimage and Politics in the Islamic World .
Oxford University Press. London.
Burrell, D. B. (1997) The Pillars of Islamic Faith: what we should know and why.
Commonweal; Jan 31. Vol 124 (2). pp. 17-19.
Esposito J. (1998). Islam: The Straight Path (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.n
London.
Glasse C. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Islam. Alta Mira Press. pp. 416.
Huges, A. W. (2004) The Texture of the Devine: Imagination in Medieval Islamic
and Jewish Thought. Indiana University Press. Indiana.
5
41504396
Khan A. (2006). Islam 101: Principles and Practice . Khan Consulting and
Publishing, LLC
Robinson N (1999) Islam; A Concise Introduction. Curzon Press. Richmond.
Section 2:
Flood G. (1996) An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge.
Flood G. (2005) The Blackwell companion to Hinduism. Blackwell Publishing.
Australia.
Jayaram V (2011) The Hindu Caste System. Hinduwebsite.com.
Milner M. (1994) Status and Sacredness: A General Theory of Status Relations
and an Analysis of Indian Culture. Oxford University Press. New York.
Ross K. L. (2010) The Caste System and the Stages of Life in Hinduism . Friesian
School. Los Angeles.
Silverberg J. (1969) Social Mobility in the Caste System in India: An
Interdisciplinary Symposium. The American Journal of Sociology. Vol 75 (3). Pp.
443–444.
Section 3:
Aboriginal Culture (2011) – Aboriginal Religion and Ceremony. Date accessed: 1
February 2011. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml
Australian Government (2008) – the dreaming. Date Accessed: 1 February 2011.
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/indigenous/dreamtime/
Breeden S. and Wright B. (1989) Kakadu, Looking After the Country - the Gagadju
Way, Simon & Schuster. Brookvale. NSW.
Stanner W.E.H (1989), On Aboriginal Religion, University of Sydney. Australia.
The Rainbow Spirit Elders (1997) The Rainbow Spirit Theolog: Towards an
Australian Aboriginal Theolog, Harper Collins Religious Publishers. Australia.
Section 4:
Heelas P. (1996) The New Age Movement: Religion, Culture and Society in the
Age of Postmodernity, Blackwell Publishing. pp. 116
Melton J. G. (1993) The Religious Fringe, Inter Varsity Press. Illinois. pp. 285-298.
Naisbitt J. and Aburdene P. (1990) Megatrends 2000, William Morrow & Company.
New York.
6
41504396
Spencer N. (2000) True as the Stars above: Adventures in Modern Astrology ,
Victor Gollancz, pp. 115–27.
York M (1995), The Emerging Network: A Sociology of the New Age and NeoPagan Movements. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 60
7