Introduction
No simple definition can describe all the different religions in the world. For so many people religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, prayers and worship, all dedicated to some supreme being, God, to any kind of idol or Deity (no matter if there is just one or many of them).
People practice religion for lots of different reasons; it gives them feeling of security because of the belief in some divine power that is watching over them. Different countries, cultures, tribes and families are being connected and at the same time divided by their beliefs, due to their heritage but also the way of thinking influenced by the time they live in, and things they have. Recently, people are more and more grabbing into religion just to find something… anything to believe in, or losing their religion.
We study different religious faiths in order to understand other people. Many people have strong religious convictions, and it would be impossible to understand them without first understanding their faith.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic faiths practiced by about half of the world’s population. Monotheism refers to the belief in one God. The faiths are often called western religions to distinguish them from the eastern religions practiced primarily in Asia. Believers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are found on every continent, but tend to be concentrated in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Western Asia and North Africa. Christianity and Islam are growing influences in sub-Saharan Africa, often replacing indigenous faiths.
The Essay on Religion Is A Belief In A Higher Power
Matt Pryor Religion is a belief in a higher power in an organized manor. To have religion is to have faith in something. Faith is needed in life because it makes people feel like they have a reason for being on earth. As if they are here to serve a purpose. Faith comes natural to most people, but is expressed best in a form of organized religion. I think that this should be taught at a young age ...
While western religions are centered on the belief in one God, many believers of eastern religions seek to find enlightenment by looking within themselves. Hinduism and Buddhism are popular faiths in India and Southeast Asia. Since becoming a communist nation in 1949, China has discouraged religion. Many Chinese practice the teachings of Confucius, which is a political movement rather than a religious faith. Taoism is another philosophy centered in China. Shinto is the religious faith of many Japanese people.
Today you will see the hexagram used to identify synagogues and Jewish organizations. The symbol that was once used to separate Jews from the rest of society is now flown on the flag of Judaism’s homeland, Israel.
Indigenous religions continue to be popular around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Indigenous faiths are often animistic. Animism is the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls or consciousness. This is also similar to the traditional beliefs of Native Americans in North and South America.
People are often persecuted for their beliefs. In this century as many as six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. Religious conflicts persist in Ireland, the Middle East and in many other parts of the world. By understanding one another, we can hope to develop tolerance and respect for all people.
Religion is more than just a belief in a deity. Religion is philosophy and a way of life. It can define who you are, how you view the world around you and how you interact within it. There are as many different types of religion as there are different types of people.
Summaries of World Religions
Christianity
Christianity is based of the teachings of Jesus Christ, a Jew who lived about 2000 years ago in what we now call Israel. Jesus taught his followers to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The followers of Jesus called him Christ. Christ is a Greek word that means, “chosen one.” They believed he was the son of God. In time followers of Jesus became known as Christians. Early Christians taught that the sins of the people would be forgiven if they became Christian. Some years after Jesus died, Christians combined the stories of the life and wisdom of Jesus into four books known as Gospels. Gospel means “good news.” The holy book of Christianity is known as the Bible and has two parts. The Old Testament consists of the sacred writings of the Jewish people, and was written mostly in Hebrew long before Jesus. The New Testament of the Bible includes the Gospels, along with letters by Christian writers. The Bible has been translated into more than 1,500 languages and has been read by more people than any other book.
The Essay on Analysis of the Six Major World Religions
... millions of worshipers. The six most popular world religions; Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are practiced by at least four billion people ... Judaism in that both religions worship the same God and read the same Bible. However, Christians also revere Jesus Christ, a prophet, as ...
Christianity is divided into many sects. About half of the world’s Christian population is Roman Catholic. Pope John Paul II is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic is a Latin word that means “universal,” and at one time it was the universal faith of all Christians. Roman refers to the fact that the Pope has lived in Rome for over five hundred years. Christians in Eastern Europe broke away from the Roman Catholics during the Middle Ages to form the Eastern Orthodox Church. Many European leaders, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, protested against the Pope in a period known as the Reformation. The churches they started became known as Protestant sects. Major Protestant sects in America today are the Baptists (34 million), Methodists (13 million), Lutherans (8 million), Presbyterians (4 million), Episcopalians (2.5 million), and Pentecostals (2.4 million).
Christian holy days include Christmas (the birth of Jesus), Easter (when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven), and Lent, a forty-day holy period of penitence and self-denial.
Almost two billion Christians live on every continent. They comprise the majority of people living in the United States and Canada (86%), Latin America (92%), Europe (76%) and Australia (85%).
Christianity is also the most prevalent faith in Africa (48%).
Christianity is a dominant force on every continent but Asia (9%).
Most of the world’s population is in Asia, so only one-third of the world’s population is Christian.
The Dissertation on Pilgrimage /Christian, Muslim
... this paper are both the Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Although ... ‘the effort’. Ten percent of 600-700 million Muslims make the journey to Mecca each year. However, ... abstain from being earthly governors and that the church should not be linked the material profit ... for ‘visible proofs’ of the existence of Jesus. Of course, there were also many objects and ...
Christians and the Cross
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was both a man and the son of God. They believe God sent Jesus as a messiah, or messenger. The Roman governor of Palestine executed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. Today the cross is Christianity’s most important icon. The cross symbolizes a Christian’s connection with Jesus.
Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church, with 980 million followers, is the largest Christian church in the world. It claims direct historical descent from the church founded by the apostle Peter. The Pope in Rome is the spiritual leader of all Roman Catholics. He administers church affairs through bishops and priests. Members accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible, as well as the church’s interpretations of these. God’s grace is conveyed through the seven sacraments, especially the Eucharist or communion that is celebrated at mass, the regular service of worship. The other six sacraments are baptism, confirmation, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and anointing of the sick. Redemption through Jesus Christ is professed as the sole method of obtaining salvation, which is necessary to ensure a place in heaven after life on earth.
New Testament The second portion of the Christian Bible, which contains 27 books that form the basis of Christian belief. These books include the sayings of Jesus, the story of his life and work, the death and resurrection of Jesus now celebrated as Easter, the teachings and writings of the apostles, and instruction for converting nonbelievers and for performing baptisms, blessings, and other rituals. The New Testament is believed to have been written c. A.D. 100, some 70 to 90 years after the death of Jesus.
Old Testament The Christian name for the Hebrew Bible. It is the sacred scripture of Judaism and the first portion of the Christian Bible. According to Jewish teachings, it is made up of three parts: the Law (also known as the Torah or Pentateuch), comprising the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), which describes the origins of the world, the covenant between the Lord and Israel, the exodus and entry into the promised land, and the various rules governing social and religious behavior; the Prophets , including the former prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel 1-2, Kings 1-2) and the latter prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets), which describes the history of the Israelites, the stories of heroes, kings, judges, and wars, and the choosing of David as leader of the Israelites; and the Writings (including Psalms, Job, Song of Solomon, and Ruth, among others), which describes the reactions of the people to the laws and covenants, as well as prayers and praises of the covenant. Some books of the Old Testament regarded as sacred by the Jews are not accepted as such by Christians; among Christians there are differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants about the inclusion of some books, the order of the books, and the original sources used in translating them. Scholars generally agree that the Old Testament was compiled from c. 1000 B.C. to c. 100 B.C.
The Essay on Eternally Saved God Christians Grace
email: title: Once Saved, Always Saved " You are saved until you sin again," the preacher tells the new convert. Such words can cause a new Christian to have fear of failing and can cause him other to feel like quitting the Christian walk. Jesus Christ has promised that once people ask Him to live in their hearts, they will receive eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for Christian " s sins one ...
Islam
Islam is an Arabic word that means “surrender to God.” Believers in Islam are called Muslims, or “those who surrender.” Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last of a series of holy prophets that included Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. A prophet is a holy messenger. Christians believe that Jesus is God, while Muslims believe Allah is the only God and that Muhammad was his messenger. Allah is an Arabic term that means “the God” (al-El).
Mohammad lived about 600 years after Jesus in what we now call Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that Muhammad was visited in a cave by an angel. Mohammad repeated the words of the angel to others who learned them by heart. Eventually, Mohammad’s followers collected these messages and gathered them into a book known as the Quran. The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It has been translated into many languages, but many Muslims believe that the only true version of the Quran is written in Arabic. This is why Arabic spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Often Muslims will learn Arabic as a second language, as a Jew would learn Hebrew. The Islamic house of worship is a mosque. Unlike Jews and Christians, Muslims do not have a holy day, but many Muslims gather in mosques on Friday afternoon for prayers. Muhammad taught that believers should pray five times every day. Faithful Muslims will stop whatever they are doing and bow down to pray. Mecca is a holy city to Muslims because it is the site of the Kaaba, a small shrine that Muslims believe to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslims orient themselves toward the Kaaba during their daily prayers. Every Muslim who makes the pilgrimage to Mecca walks around the Kaaba seven times. Islamic tradition states that the stone was originally white, but it had become black by absorbing the sins of the millions of pilgrims who have kissed and touched it.
The Essay on Rationalism And Religion God Question Islam
We are the Perfection of Imperfectness The question of the co-existence between rationalism and religion has been argued by many philosophers, such as Descartes. The compatibility between rationalism and religion has brought up many different ideas and thoughts. I do not think that both can be compatible. In English, the word rationalism derives from the Latin word ratio, which means reason. We ...
Ramadan is a sacred month to Muslims, and faithful Muslims fast between dawn and dusk during Ramadan. To fast means to abstain from eating. Ramadan is sacred because it is the month in which the Quran was revealed to Muhammad. Muslims use a lunar calendar, so Ramadan falls at different times each year. Ramadan will begin November 17, 2001.
There are more than one billion Muslims, but only five million live in the United States. Nations with large Muslim populations include Indonesia (180 million), Pakistan (125 million), Bangladesh (109 million), India (84 million), Iran (66 million), Egypt (60 million), Turkey (60 million, Nigeria (52 million), Algeria, Morocco (29 million), Ethiopia (24 million), Sudan (22 million), Afghanistan (22 million), Iraq (20 million) and Saudi Arabia (19 million).
Russia also has a huge Muslim population, but estimates on its size vary.
Icons of Islam
The crescent, star, and the color green are symbols often associated with Islam. The star represents knowledge and light, and the crescent represents progress. You will find these symbols on the flags of many Muslim nations. Islamic art includes calligraphy, or decorative penmanship, but no images of people. The Quran forbids recreating any living thing because no one should copy what Allah has made. This is why you will not find a picture of Muhammad in Islamic literature.
Islam Islam has 840 million followers around the world. It was founded by the prophet Mohammed, who received the holy scriptures of Islam, the Koran, from Allah (God) c. A.D. 610. Islam (Arabic for “submission to God”) maintains that Mohammed is the last in a long line of holy prophets, preceded by Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. In addition to being devoted to the Koran, followers of Islam (Muslims) are devoted to the worship of Allah through the Five Pillars: the statement “There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his prophet”; prayer, conducted five times a day while facing Mecca; the giving of alms; the keeping of the fast of Ramadan during the ninth month of the Muslim year; and the making of a pilgrimage at least once to Mecca, if possible. The two main divisions of Islam are the Sunni and the Shiite; the Wahabis are the most important Sunni sect, while the Shiite sects include the Assassins, the Druses, and the Fatimids, among countless others.
The Essay on The Hebrew Scriptures God Joseph People
The Hebrew Scriptures Truth, scripture and revelation are three concepts that the Bible has been based on. Truth is defined as the way that things are or should be. It can relate to reality or wisdom. Truth can be communicated in a variety of ways. Literally which is facts and figures and can be shown in math and science. Figuratively which is metaphor and simile and can be shown in humanity. ...
Koran (Arabic, al-Qur’an) The primary holy book of Islam. It is made up of 114 suras, or chapters, which contain impassioned appeals for belief in God, encouragement to lead a moral life, portrayals of damnation and beatitude, stories of Islamic prophets, and rules governing the social and religious life of Muslims. Believers maintain that the Koran contains the verbatim word of God, revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. Some of the suras were written during Muhammad’s lifetime, but an authoritative text was not produced until c. A.D.
Judais
Judaism is the oldest religion of the western world and has influenced Christianity and Islam. There are approximately fifteen million Jews throughout the world. The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jewish people and trace their ancestry to Abraham, who left his home in the Mesopotamian city of Ur about 2200BC. The Hebrews were different from others of their time because they were monotheistic; they believed in only one God. The Hebrews believed they had a special relationship with their God and that they were his chosen people. The Hebrews established a nation they called Israel on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. About 1300BCE, many Hebrews moved to Egypt to escape a famine. A famine is a great hunger. At first, the Hebrews were treated well in Egypt, but in time they were enslaved by the Egyptians. According to Hebrew tradition, God sent ten deadly plagues to Egypt when the Egyptians would not release the Hebrew slaves. When the Hebrews did escape, tradition states that Moses, the leader of the Hebrews, parted the Red Sea for just enough time to allow the Hebrews to pass. Once the Hebrews reached the other side, tradition states that the waters returned and the Egyptian army drowned. After their escape across the Red Sea 1250BCE, God revealed Ten Commandments to Moses. The Ten Commandments formed the basis of Mosaic Law and are the model for both Jewish and Christian moral thought.
The Hebrews returned to Israel, but they were conquered by several other cultures. In time, most of the Hebrews were forced to leave Israel, beginning a period known as the Diaspora. The Hebrews were forced to live as minorities in many different lands until the creation of the Jewish nation of Israel in 1948.
Jewish people have often faced severe mistreatment. European Jews were ordered to leave Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and faced organized massacres called pogroms in many nations, particularly in Eastern Europe. In this century, approximately six million Jews were murdered in what we now call the Holocaust, where the Nazi party in Germany attempted genocide, or the planned killing of a whole group of people because of their religion or nationality.
Jews worship in synagogues led by a rabbi. Rabbi is a Hebrew word that means “master.” Their holiest period is the weekly Shabat, which lasts from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Other important Jewish holidays include Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (a Day of Atonement or confession), Simchat Torah (celebrating receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai), Chanukah (a celebration of a military victory), and Passover (a remembrance of the time the Hebrews lived in Egypt).
The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism. The Torah is also holy to Christians, who include it as the Old Testament of their Bible. The Talmud is another holy book in Judaism. The Talmud is a collection of the laws and customs of the Jews.
Most Jews live in the United States (5.8 million) and Israel (4.8 million).
Europe was once home to millions of Jewish people, but most of the survivors of the Holocaust immigrated to other nations. Today only 2.3 million Jewish people remain in Europe.
The Star of David
The most recognized symbol of Judaism is the six pointed Star of David. Jewish legend says that a Hebrew king named David went into battle with the hexagram on his shield. Later, when Jews were minorities in Christian and Muslim nations, they were forced to wear the star on their clothing to identify themselves. Today you will see the hexagram used to identify synagogues and Jewish organizations. The symbol that was once used to separate Jews from the rest of society is now flown on the flag of Judaism’s homeland, Israel.
Judaism
Stemming from the descendants of Judah in Judea, Judaism was founded c. 2000 B.C. by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and has 18 million followers in the U.S. Judaism espouses belief in a monotheistic God, who is creator of the universe and who leads His people, the Jews, by speaking through prophets. His word is revealed in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), especially in that part known as the Torah. The Torah also contains, according to rabbinic tradition, a total of 613 biblical commandments, including the Ten Commandments, which are explicated in the Talmud. Jews believe that the human condition can be improved, that the letter and the spirit of the Torah must be followed, and that a Messiah will eventually bring the world to a state of paradise. Judaism promotes community among all people of Jewish faith, dedication to a synagogue or temple (the basic social unit of a group of Jews, led by a rabbi), and the importance of family life. Religious observance takes place both at home and in temple. Judaism is divided into three main groups who vary in their interpretation of those parts of the Torah that deal with personal, communal, international, and religious activities: the Orthodox community, which views the Torah as derived from God, and therefore absolutely binding; the Reform movement, which follows primarily its ethical content; and the Conservative Jews, who follow most of the observances set out in the Torah but allow for change in the face of modern life. A fourth group, Reconstructionist Jews, rejects the concept of the Jews as God’s chosen people, yet maintains rituals as part of the Judaic cultural heritage.
Old Testament The Christian name for the Hebrew Bible. Talmud A compilation of Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings that is separate from the scriptures of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. It is made up of two parts: the Mishna , which is the oral law itself, and the Gemara , a commentary on the Mishna . The Talmud contains both a legal section (the Halakah) and a portion devoted to legends and stories (the Aggada ).
The authoritative Babylonian Talmud was compiled in the sixth century.
Hinduism
A religion with 648 million followers, Hinduism developed from indigenous religions of India in combination with Aryan religions brought to India around 1500 BCE, and codified in the Veda and the Upanishads, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. Hinduism is a term used to broadly describe a vast array of sects to which most Indians belong. Although many Hindus reject the caste system-in which people are born into a particular subgroup that determines their religious, social, and work-related duties-it is widely accepted and classifies society at large into four groups: the Brahmins or priests, the rulers and warriors, the farmers and merchants, and the peasants and laborers. The goals of Hinduism are release from repeated reincarnation through the practice of yoga, adherence to Vedic scriptures, and devotion to a personal guru. Various deities are worshipped at shrines; the divine trinity, representing the cyclical nature of the universe, are Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer.
Bhagavad Gita A Sanskrit poem that is part of the Indian epic known as the Mahabharata . It describes, in a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna, the Hindu path to spiritual wisdom and the unity with God that can be achieved through karma (action), bhakti (devotion), and jnana (knowledge).
The Bhagavad-Gita was probably written sometime between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200. Upanishads The basis of Hindu religion and philosophy that form the final portion of the Veda . The 112 Upanishads describe the relationship of the Brahman , or universal soul, to the atman , or individual soul; they also provide information about Vedic sacrifice and yoga. The original texts of the Upanishads come from various sources and were written beginning c. 900 B.C. Veda The sacred scripture of Hinduism. Four Vedas make up the Samhita , a collection of prayers and hymns that are considered to be revelations of eternal truth written by seer-poets inspired by the gods. The Rig-Veda , the Sama-Veda , and the Yajur-Veda are books of hymns; the Atharva-Veda compiles magic spells. These writings maintain that the Brahman , or Absolute Self, underlies all reality and can be known by invoking gods through the use of hymns or mantes. The Vedic texts were compiled between c. 1000 B.C. and c. 500 B.C., making them the oldest known group of religious writings.
Buddhism
Buddhism has 307 million followers worldwide. It was founded in southern Nepal in the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. by Siddharta Gautama, known as the Buddha (Enlightened One).
The Buddha achieved enlightenment through meditation and he gathered a community of monks to carry on his teachings. According to Buddha, meditation and the practice of good religious and moral behavior can lead to Nirvana, the state of enlightenment, although before achieving Nirvana one is subject to repeated lifetimes that are good or bad depending on one’s actions (karma).
Existence, for Buddhists, is a realm of suffering. Desire, along with the belief in the importance of one’s self, causes suffering. Achievement of Nirvana ends suffering. And Nirvana is attained only by meditation and by following the path of righteousness in action, thought and attitude.
Confucianism
Confucianism is a community springing from Confucius, a Chinese philosopher in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., whose sayings and dialogues, known collectively as the Analects, were written down by his followers. Confucianism, which grew out of a strife-ridden time in Chinese history, stresses the relationship between individuals, their families, and society, based on li (proper behavior) and jen (sympathetic attitude).
Its practical, socially oriented philosophy was challenged by the more mystical precepts of Taoism and Buddhism, which were partially incorporated to create neo-Confucianism during the Sung dynasty (CE 960-1279).
The overthrow of the Chinese monarchy and the Communist revolution during the twentieth century have severely lessened the influence of Confucianism on modern Chinese culture.
The Analects A collection of Confucius’ teachings thought to have been recorded by his students. They are considered the only sayings that can safely be attributed to him.
Five Classics Five works traditionally attributed to Confucius that form the basic texts of Confucianism. They are the Spring and Autumn Annals, a history of Confucius’s native district; the I Ching (or Book of Changes ), a system of divining the future; the Book of Rites , which outlines ceremonies and describes the ideal government; the Book of History ; and the Book of Songs , a collection of poetry. Together they promulgate a system of ethics for managing society based on sympathy for others, etiquette, and ritual. Although the dates of these books are uncertain, they were probably written before the third century B.C.
Taoism
Both a philosophy and a religion, Taoism was founded in China by Lao.tzu, who is traditionally said to have been born in 604 B.C. Its number of followers is uncertain. It derives primarily from the Tao-te-ching, which claims that an ever-changing universe follows the Tao, or path. The Tao can be known only by emulating its quietude and effortless simplicity; Taoism prescribes that people live simply. spontaneously, and in close touch with nature and that they meditate to achieve contact with the Tao. Temples and monasteries, maintained by Taoist priests, are important in some Taoist sects. Since the Communist revolution, Taoism has been actively discouraged in the People’s Republic of China, although it continues to flourish in Taiwan.
Tao-te-ching (The Way and Its Power) The basic text of the Chinese philosophy and religion known as Taoism. It is made up of 81 short chapters or poems that describe a way of life marked by quiet effortlessness and freedom from desire. This is thought to be achieved by following the creative, spontaneous life force of the universe, called the Tao. The book is attributed to Lao-tzu, but it was probably a compilation by a number of writers over a long period of time.
PROTESTANTISM
Baptists
Founded by John Smyth in England in 1609 and by Roger Williams in Rhode Island in 1638. The Baptist Church has 31 million members, and no creed; authority stems from the Bible. Most Baptists oppose the use of alcohol and tobacco. Baptism is by total immersion.
Church of Christ
Organized by Presbyterians in Kentucky in 1804 and in Pennsylvania in 1809. It has 1.6 million members. Members believe in the New Testament, and they follow what is written in the Bible without elaboration. Rites are simple. Baptism is of adults.
Church of England
King Henry VIII of England broke with the Roman Catholic Church with the Act of Supremacy in 1534, which declared the king of England to be the head of the Church of England. The Church of England has 6,000 Anglican Orthodox Church members in the U.S. Supremacy of the Bible is the test of doctrine. Emphasis is on the most essential doctrines and creeds and on the Book of Common Prayer. The Church of England is part of the Anglican community, which is represented in the United States mainly by the Episcopal Church.
Episcopal Church
This U.S. offshoot of the Church of England has 2.7 million members. It installed Samuel Seabury as its first bishop in 1784, and held its first General Convention in 1789. The Church of England broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534. Worship is based on the Book of Common Prayer and interpretation of the Bible using a modified version of the Thirty.Nine Articles (originally written for the Church of England in 1563).
Services range from spartan to ornate, from liberal to conservative; baptism is of infants.
Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church, with 8 million members in the U.S., is based on the writings of Martin Luther, who broke with the Roman Catholic Church and led the Protestant Reformation. The first Lutheran congregation in North America was founded in 1638 in Wilmington, Delaware. The first North American regional synod was founded in 1748 by Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg. Faith is based on the Bible and the Augsburg Confession, written in 1530. Salvation comes through faith alone. Services include the Lord’s Supper (communion).
Lutherans are mostly conservative in religious and social ethics; infants are baptized, the church is organized in synods. The two largest synods in the United States are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Methodist Church
Methodism has 13.5 million members in the U.S. It was founded by the Reverend John Wesley, who began evangelistic preaching with the Church of England in 1738. A separate Wesleyan Methodist Church was established in 1791. The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in the United States in 1784. The name derives from the founders’ desire to study religion “by rule and method” and follow the Bible interpreted by tradition and reason; worship varies by denomination within Methodism (the United Methodist Church is the largest congregation).
The church is perfectionist in social dealings. Methodists have Communion and they perform baptism of infants and adults.
Presbyterian Church
Presbyterianism in the U.S. grew out of the Calvinist Churches of Switzerland and France. John Knox founded the first Presbyterian Church in Scotland in 1557. The first presbytery in North America was established by Irish missionary Francis Makemie in 1706. For 3.2 million members of the Presbyterian Church, faith is in the Bible. Sacraments are infant baptism and communion. The church is organized as a system of courts in which clergy and lay members (presbyters) participate at local, regional, and national levels. Services are simple, with emphasis on the sermon.
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Grew out of the teachings of William Miller in the 1840s. Formally founded in North America in 1863. For 734,527 adherents, the Bible is the only creed. They emphasize the second coming of Jesus. Members abstain from alcoholic beverages and tobacco. They baptize infants and have communion.
United Church of Christ
Formed in 1957 by the union of the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. Belief in the Bible is guided by the Statement of Faith (written in 1959).
The church is organized by congregations, which are represented at a general synod that sets policy. Services are simple, with emphasis on the sermon. They practice infant baptism, and communion.
Other Christian-based Communities
Orthodox Eastern Church
With 158 million followers, the Orthodox Eastern Church is the second largest Christian community in the world. It began its split from the Roman Catholic Church in the fifth century. The break was finalized in 1054. The followers of the Orthodox Church are in fact members of many different denominations, including the Church of Greece, the Church of Cyprus, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Orthodox religion holds biblical Scripture and tradition, guided by the Holy Spirit as expressed in the consciousness of the entire Orthodox community, to be the source of Christian truth. It rejects doctrine developed by the Western churches. Doctrine was established by seven ecumenical councils held between 325 and 787 and amended by other councils in the late Byzantine period. Relations between the Orthodox churches and Roman Catholicism have improved since the Second Vatican Council (1962.65).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
Founded by Joseph Smith, in upstate New York in 1830, then in Ohio in 1831. After two more attempts to establish a permanent home for the church (the second one resulting in Smith’s death at the hands of a mob), the Mormons trekked to Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young, and established headquarters in what was to become Salt Lake City in 1847. For its 9.5 million members, faith is based on the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price, all of which are considered scripture as well as the Holy Bible. Stress is placed on revelation through the connection of spiritual and physical worlds and through proselytizing. Members abstain from alcohol and tobacco and believe in community and self reliance. Public services are conservative. Mormons have baptism, the laying on of hands, and communion. They have a temple for certain secret ceremonies, including baptism for the dead.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Founded by Charles T. Russell in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Some 893,000 members believe in the imminent second coming of Christ and the potential salvation of mortal souls during the millennium. All members are ministers who proselytize their faith with door.to.door missionary work. Members refuse service in the armed forces, will not salute national flags or participate in politics, will not accept blood transfusions (but will accept all other forms of medical treatment), and discourage smoking, drunkenness, and gambling.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Founded by George Fox in England in the seventeenth century, who preached a doctrine of Inner Light, and inveighed against organized churches. The Friends,. who have 113,000 U.S. members. believe in reliance on the Inner Light, the voice of God’s Holy Spirit experienced within each person. Meetings are characterized by quiet meditation without ritual or sermon. Quakers are active in peace, education, and social welfare movements. They refuse to bear arms or take oaths. Earlier schisms are still reflected in three main affiliations of Friends.
Unitarian Universalist Association
The denomination’s 171,000 members take their origin from the merger of the Universal Church of America (organized in 1779) and the American Unitarian Association (founded in 1823).
They profess no creed. They have strong social, ethical concerns, and emphasize the search for religious truth through freedom of belief. They accept theists, humanists, and agnostics in religious fellowship. They are making efforts to create a worldwide interfaith religious community. Many members come from other denominations and religions.
Rosicrucianism
Rosicrucianism is a modern movement begun in 1868 by R. W. Little that claims ties to an older Society of the Rose and Cross that was founded in Germany in 1413 by Christian Rosencreuz. The number of its followers is uncertain. The Rosicrucian Brotherhood was established in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, by Reuben Swinburne Clymer in 1902. The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crusis (AMORC) was founded in San Jose, California, in 1915 by H. Spencer Lewis. Both sects could be classified as either fraternal or religious organizations, although they claim to empower members with cosmic forces by unveiling secret wisdom regarding the laws of nature.
Sikhism
Sikhism: A progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
SUMMARY
Are all religions heading toward the same goal?
Topic
In the Eastern religions
In Christianity
1. Ultimate Reality
In most cases impersonal. Hindu pantheism proclaims the impersonal Brahman as the source of any existence. The gods are mere products of its manifestation. In Tantrism and Hatha Yoga, Shiva and Shakti are the two aspects (static and dynamic) corresponding to Brahman. In the Yoga-darshana of Patanjali, Ishvara is an impersonal macro-purusha, with a symbolic role in the system. Theistic Hinduism accepts personal gods as Ultimate Reality, but karma and the periodical dissolution of the universe limit them. Theravada Buddhism is agnostic about it; no Ultimate Reality is stated. Mahayana Buddhism states the impersonal void (shunya) as Ultimate Reality. In Taoism there is the Tao as impersonal principle that rules the universe.
God is triune and personal (the Holy Trinity), distinct from His creation. (In Judaism and Islam, God is also personal, but not triune.)
2. The physical world
Manifestation of the impersonal Ultimate Reality (in Hindu pantheism, Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism), and generator of illusion from which man has to detach himself. Manifestation of the primordial substance (prakriti) in the dualistic Samkhya-Yoga. Transformation of a primordial substance by the gods of Hindu theism. (In Gnosticism and other dualistic philosophies matter is the creation of an evil god.)
God’s creation out of nothing (ex nihilo).
Matter is not illusory and is not bad in itself.
3. Man
Manifestation of the Ultimate Reality, according to the pantheistic schools, which has in itself a divine essence (atman, purusha) of an impersonal nature. Product of the five aggregates, according to Theravada Buddhism, which generate the illusion of personal existence. Personhood is always illusory and a hindrance in attaining liberation. (In Gnosticism man is a spiritual being imprisoned in a material body.)
Creation of God with a personal status. Personhood has nothing bad or illusory in itself. However, man does not have the divine nature of God.
4. Man’s present condition
Ignorance in getting to know his true divine nature. Ignorance and karma are closely linked and force man into the reincarnation cycle.
Fallen into a state of alienation from God, called sin.
5. The meaning of salvation
According to the pantheistic religions, detachment from the illusion of personal existence and merging of the divine self with the impersonal Ultimate Reality. In the Samkhya-Yoga darshanas purusha remains forever isolated from prakriti. In Theravada Buddhism, annihilation of any existence. (In Gnosticism salvation means souls’ return to the original angelic state.)
Return to a personal relation with God, which will endure forever.
6. The way of attaining salvation
Man has all resources in himself for attaining liberation. He can choose the way of devotion (bhakti marga), the way of selfless living (karma marga), or the way of knowing his divine nature (or the illusion of any permanent existence – in Buddhism) by meditation and asceticism (jnana marga).
In most cases of theistic Hinduism and devotional Buddhism, the gods (or bodhisattvas) can help man only if he deserves it, as a result of his own efforts. Grace plays a minor role, except in a few particular cases (prapatti in Hinduism and Pure Land Buddhism).
Man cannot attain salvation by his own efforts. God took the initiative and gave the only solution for man’s salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Man has to accept this grace. (In Islam and Judaism man is not saved by grace, but by the good deeds he has to perform).
7. The moment of attaining salvation
Only spiritually evolved masters can attain liberation during one life. Most people need many lives to live out the consequences of karma and overcome illusion and ignorance.
This is our only life (Hebrews 9:27) and is enough in order to accept God’s grace.
8. The meaning of man’s freedom
The present life is shaped entirely according to the dictates of one’s karma. There cannot be real freedom in this condition, so man has to accept his preordained destiny.
Man didn’t live previous lives and is free to choose his eternal destiny. Although man inherits a fallen nature, he can always accept God’s grace.
9. The identity of Jesus Christ
Guru, avatar, enlightened master, saint, etc. He is a perfect example of what any of us can become.
God the Son incarnated, one of the hypostases of The Holy Trinity. (In Islam just a prophet, in Judaism a blasphemer against God.)
10. The meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross
Irrelevant. Man can escape from his karma and find liberation only by his own efforts. (According to Gnosticism it was either an illusion or a historical hoax.)
The only solution for our salvation, sufficient for all mankind (John 14,6).
(In Islam it is not accepted as true. In Judaism it is the right punishment Jesus got for blasphemy.)
11. The view on Jesus’ physical resurrection
Absurd. Spiritual progress cannot mean a return to the physical body. (According to Gnosticism a ghostly appearance.)
The proof of His divinity and efficient atonement for our salvation. (In Islam and Judaism not accepted as true.)
12. The nature of evil
Illusory, as all existence is a manifestation of the Ultimate Reality. Suffering is a result of karma and man’s ignorance of his true nature.
Evil is real, although not of the same ontological nature as that of God. Its origin is a being, Satan, who once rebelled against God and now acts against Him and man. Man’s sin is perpetuating evil and suffering in our world.
13. The relation between the Ultimate Reality and evil
Evil (as illusion) is generated by the manifestation of the impersonal Ultimate Reality. Without its manifestation there would be no subject to experience evil.
Satan is opposed to God, acts against Him, but will be isolated forever in hell at the judgment day.
14. God’s solution for the problem of evil
None, as evil is illusory. Man has to work out his own karma and do his best to escape suffering by transcending personhood. The Hindu avatars are just reminders of the right spiritual path. Buddhist bodhisattvas help people to attain a spiritual realm where they can hear the proper doctrine and attain liberation easier.
God solved the problem of evil through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At the end of history He will judge and punish all evildoers.
15. Man’s attitude toward suffering
Ignoring the problem, withdrawal from its reality. He can only accept the misfortunes of his life and that of others as dictates of karma. Any opposition would only worsen his future condition.
Man has to oppose suffering, according to the principle of loving your neighbor (Matthew 22,39).
16. The role of compassion and charity
Mere instruments for one’s cleansing oneself of egoistic attachments. They do not seek the welfare of the one that is suffering, but are only means for escaping the world of illusion by the one who performs them.
Means of expressing one’s new identity in Christ, following His example, for the benefit of others (John 13,34).
17. Man’s social involvement
Absurd, it would be an obstacle in attaining liberation because of the attachments it produces. Only detached social involvement is possible, devoid of any personal motivation (as the Bhagavad Gita requires).
The Christian has to be an example of social involvement in the society (Matthew 5,16).
18. The meaning of moral values
Morality has no value in itself, as it produces false attachments. It can be used in attaining liberation as an instrument for defeating egoism.
There are positive and negative moral values, between which one has to exercise discernment (Galatians 5,17-23).
19. The view of history
Cyclical. Periodical dissolution of the universe determines an endless repetition of world’s history.
Linear. Human history has a beginning and an end.
20. The way the two perspectives consider each other
Christianity is, at best, a mere inferior way (a bhakti type) of attaining liberation.
As man cannot attain salvation by himself, and Jesus said He is the only way to God (John 14,6), other religions cannot play the same role.