Expert: Justin Choo - 3/29/2011

Question
In what tradition were you raised?   In what tradition(s) do you now consider yourself?

What personal religious experiences have you had? 

What do you believe regarding the nature of the universe, what is their cosmology?  

What god or gods are important in your tradition, why?

Would you describe yourself as monotheistic, polytheistic or pantheistic?

What myths are important for your tradition?  What do they feel is the purpose of the myths?

What is the role of ancestors in your tradition?  What has been your experience personally?

What role, if any, do spirits, the spirit realm, communication with the spirit world play in the tradition (revelations, visions, animal spirits, spirits of ancestors, other beings, amakua, menehune etc.)?  What do you believe?

What rituals do you perform as part of your tradition?

What are the general doctrinal beliefs associated with the tradition?

What do you believe?  Is it different from others who may belong to the same tradition?

What is your moral/ethical code?

In what ways do you divide the world between sacred and profane e.g. Taboo (Kapu) and non-taboo?  What is sacred, what is not?

How do your beliefs affect their everyday lives?

How is nature seen in your tradition?  What is/should be the relationship between humans and nature?

What is the community in which you practice their religion/tradition?

Who are the role models for the community?

What do you consider to be ultimate reality?

Answer
Hi Trista,

You certainly have lots of questions.  Please confirm whether this is your assignment, which I shall answer your questions. Otherwise I would not answer them as I am here to answer Buddhist questions and not to be interviewed.

Regards.

Justin Choo