Temples - All Faiths (priest, tradition, churches, pagan, blessing)

[Feathers in Hair]

(Ooops, I'm sorry if I've misinterpreted your thread, Becky! (Since I call it a temple, I'm not sure if I'm off-topic or not.) If I have, I hope it's okay if I answer a question, and then I'll step out.)

Now, do you actually travel into the woods and worship? Or is it more of a looking out and appriciating nature thing?

Thanks for the question, Gnosis! I actually do a bit of both. I'm lucky because I've got woods right in my backyard. (Well, it's more to the side, so I guess it'd be in the sideyard.) When I'm in an area where there are trees, I feel spiritually and physically renewed. I can sit in one space for hours, marvelling at the feeling, or seeing if the local wildlife will wander near me. (In my path, if they do, they usually hold a message.) When I live in a city, or anywhere where's not a gathering of trees easily accessible, I feel off-kilter, like I'm starving spiritually. Looking out on wilderness is also soothing, so I do that, also.

[Master Vigil]

I'd say that it seems eastern religions have more "temples" simply because that is what they are called. But a temple in an eastern definition would also be where the resident monk(ess), or priest(ess) lives. So that may be the only difference between the "temple" and a "church", but other than that. They are both pretty much the same. Just different titles.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

How and why do you distinguish between churches and temples?

I think you're right about the terminology being confusing. Feathers believes the forest is her temple. Who's to say that she's wrong. From an LDS point of view, a temple is a building erected for the express purpose of performing sacred ordinances and for learning "higher" truths than are taught to the those who are not spiritually ready. They're kind of like a spiritual "institute of higher learning." In my Church, anyone of any faith or of no faith at all, is welcome in our churches. Only those who have proven themselves worthy to take the next step in their spiritual walk are permitted to go into the temples. That's probably way different from how most religions see temples. But I am curious as to what the word "temple" means to most people and how they distinguish temples from other houses of worship.

[nutshell]

mt.sinai was moses' temple.

[kreeden]

Thank you for defining the difference Katzpur . But I still tend to think that it is more of a cultural difference then anything . Some churchs have " Bible studies " , which I'm sure isn't what you refer to as " higher learning " but that is a matter of perspective . And some Faiths have schools , collages , and universities . Just different ways of reaching the same end ???

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kreeden

Thank you for defining the difference Katzpur . But I still tend to think that it is more of a cultural difference then anything . Some churchs have " Bible studies " , which I'm sure isn't what you refer to as " higher learning " but that is a matter of perspective . And some Faiths have schools , collages , and universities . Just different ways of reaching the same end ???

Hey, kreeden.

Well, one thing I didn't mention about LDS temples is that in addition to them being a place of learning, they are also places where faithful members of the Church make eternal covenants with God. And only those people who are ready to keep the terms of these covenants are allowed to make them in the first place. So when I say "higher learning," I'm actually referring to something more than Bible studies.

Kathryn

[kreeden]

Hi Katzpur . Yes , when I think of a Temple , I usually think of the Temple of Jerusalem . But I'm not sure if eastern Temples serve that purpose ?

How many Temples do the LDS have ? There was only one Temple of Jerusalem , and as such it was seem { and still would be } as the " seat of God on earth ". The only seat . So if the LDS have more then one Temple , there would be cultural differences { no sure if cultural is the correct term here ? } between those Temples too .

Covenants do raise them to another level though . But as Nutshell said , Mt. Sinia was Moses' Temple . I tend to think that God is too great to place in any one building , so the whole concept of a Temple is more or less symbolic . I mean no offence to anyone by saying that though . To me , life is more or less symbolic .

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by kreeden

Hi Katzpur . Yes , when I think of a Temple , I usually think of the Temple of Jerusalem . But I'm not sure if eastern Temples serve that purpose ?

How many Temples do the LDS have ? There was only one Temple of Jerusalem , and as such it was seem { and still would be } as the " seat of God on earth ". The only seat . So if the LDS have more then one Temple , there would be cultural differences { no sure if cultural is the correct term here ? } between those Temples too .

Covenants do raise them to another level though . But as Nutshell said , Mt. Sinia was Moses' Temple . I tend to think that God is too great to place in any one building , so the whole concept of a Temple is more or less symbolic . I mean no offence to anyone by saying that though . To me , life is more or less symbolic .

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 110 temples in operation and many more being built and planned.