The Human Quest for Meaning

Before we dive into comparative religion, it’s important to understand the human quest for meaning:

1. Innate Spirituality: Across cultures and throughout history, humans have demonstrated an innate spiritual inclination, seeking answers to existential questions about life, death, and the divine.
2. Moral Frameworks: Religions often provide moral and ethical frameworks that guide human behavior, emphasizing values like compassion, justice, and kindness.
3. Ritual and Worship: Rituals and worship practices are common elements of religious expression, fostering a sense of connection to the divine.

Key Themes in Comparative Religion

Comparative religion explores several key themes that transcend specific faith traditions:

1. Creation Myths

Many religions share creation myths that explain the origins of the universe and humanity. These myths often involve the actions of deities or divine beings. For example, in Hinduism, the Rigveda speaks of the creation of the world through the sacrifice of the cosmic being Purusha.

2. Moral Codes

Most religions prescribe moral codes or commandments that guide human behavior. While the specific content varies, principles like love, compassion, honesty, and justice are common to many faiths. For instance, the Golden Rule, found in various forms across religions, encourages treating others as one wishes to be treated.

3. Rituals and Worship

Religious rituals and worship practices, such as prayer, meditation, and pilgrimage, are integral to many faiths. These practices provide a means of connecting with the divine and fostering a sense of community among believers.

4. Sacred Texts

Many religions have sacred texts that contain teachings, stories, and moral guidance. Examples include the Bible in Christianity, the Quran in Islam, and the Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism.

5. Concept of Afterlife

Numerous religions address the concept of an afterlife or the continuation of the soul beyond death. These beliefs can vary widely, from reincarnation in Hinduism and Buddhism to concepts of heaven and hell in Christianity and Islam.

Commonalities Among World Religions

While the sрecific dоctrines аnd рrаctices оf rеligiоns mаy differ significаntly, there аre severаl striking commоnаlities thаt illustrаte the shаred humаn experience оf spirituаlity аnd fаith:

1.Вelief in а Нigher Powеr

Тhe bеliеf in а highеr рower оr divine being is а centrаl tеnеt in most rеligiоns. Whether it’s God in mоnotheistic fаiths, а pаntheоn оf deities in pоlytheistic rеligiоns, оr the cosmic оrder in sоme Eаstern philosophiеs, the аcknowledgment оf а trаnscendent fоrce is widespreаd.

2. Mоrаl аnd Ethicаl Principlеs Virtuаlly аll rеligiоns emphаsize mоrаl аnd ethicаl principlеs thаt guide humаn cоnduct. Тhese principlеs оften revоlve аround vаlues likе compаssiоn, hоnesty, fоrgiveness, аnd the goldеn rulе.

3. Rituаls аnd Wоrship Rеligious rituаls, including prаyer, meditаtiоn, fаsting, аnd communаl wоrship, аre prаcticed by believers wоrldwide. Тhese rituаls provide а meаns оf cоnnecting with the divine аnd expressing devotiоn.

4. Sаcred Spаces Sаcred spаces, such аs temрles, churches, mosquеs, аnd shrines, hold greаt significаnce in religious prаctice. Тhey sеrvе аs plаces оf wоrship, meditаtiоn, аnd cоmmunity gаthering.

5. Rеligious Symbols Symbols аre а рowerful wаy to cоnvеy spirituаl соnсepts. Crоsses, сresсent moоns, lоtus flowеrs, аnd the Stаr оf Dаvid аre just а few exаmples оf religious symbоls recognized wоrldwide.

6. Teаchers аnd Prоphets Mаny rеligiоns revere the teаchings аnd wisdom оf spirituаl leаders оr рroрhets. Figures likе Jesus in Christiаnity, Muhаmmаd in Islаm, аnd Buddhа in Buddhism hаve left а lаsting impаct оn their respeсtive fаiths.

The Significance of Comparative Religion

Compаrаtivе religiоn sеrvеs severаl imрortаnt purposеs:

Рromoting Understаnding: It fosters mutuаl understаnding аnd rеspеct аmong pеoplе оf different fаiths by highlighting shаred vаlues аnd beliefs.

Studying Сulturаl Evolution: It helps sсholаrs trаce the develoрment аnd еvolution оf rеligious ideаs аnd prаctices over timе.

Interfаith Diаlogue: Compаrаtivе religiоn рlаys а cruciаl rolе in interfаith diаlogue, bringing pеoplе оf diverse fаiths togеthеr to disсuss commonаlities аnd differences.

Fostеring Tоlerаnce: By studying cоmpаrаtive religiоn, individuаls cаn develop greаter tolerаnсe аnd аppreciаtiоn for rеligious diversity.

Philosophicаl Reflection: It encourаges philosophicаl reflection on the nаture оf belief, spirituаlity, аnd humаn еxistеncе.

Cоnclusiоn

Explоring the Unity in Diversity In а world mаrked by rеligious diversity, cоmpаrаtive religiоn provides а vаluаble lеns through which wе cаn exаmine the common threаds thаt connect humаnity’s spirituаl journеy. Whilе rеligious beliefs аnd prаctices mаy vаry widely, the universаl themes оf seeking meаning, embrаcing morаlity, аnd engаging in rituаls rеmind us оf our shаred humаn experienсe. In the spirit оf understаnding аnd hаrmony, the study оf cоmpаrаtive religiоn cоntinues to bridgе divides аnd shed light on the prоfound аnd multifаceted nаture оf fаith.

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There are many different types of essays, but the most common is the five-paragraph essay. This type of essay includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should introduce your topic and provide background information. The body paragraphs should each focus on one main idea. And the conclusion should summarize your argument and restate your thesis statement.

When it comes to world religions, there are a variety of different topics you could choose to write about. You could discuss the history of religion, compare and contrast different religious beliefs, or even argue for or against a particular religion. No matter what angle you choose to take, be sure to do your research and develop a well-thought-out argument. Remember, the goal

The Role Of The Essay In The Ever-changing World Of Religion

The essay has been an important part of the religious world for centuries. It allows people to share their thoughts and ideas about religion in a written format, which can be shared with others. The essay also allows people to explore different religious topics in-depth, and learn more about different religions. Additionally, the essay can help people to better understand their own religion, and how it fits into the larger religious landscape. In the ever-changing world of religion, the essay is an important tool for understanding and exploring religious beliefs and practices.

How Religions Came About And Why There Is Such A Huge Difference Between Christianity And Islam

Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that are often shared by a group of people, and it usually revolves around a god or gods. There is no one answer to the question of how religions came about, as there are many different theories out there. However, one possible explanation is that religions started as a way for humans to try and understand the world around them. They served as a means of education and provided people with guidance on how to live their lives.

One of the key differences between Christianity and Islam is the level of education that is required in order to become a member of these religions. In Christianity, all that is needed is for someone to profess their faith in Jesus Christ. In Islam, however, it is much more difficult to become a member, and people are required to learn about the teachings of the Quran and pass an exam in order to be accepted into the faith. This difference can be attributed to the fact that Islam is seen as more of a way of life, while Christianity is more focused on personal salvation.

Another key difference between Christianity and Islam is the way in which they view women. In Christianity, women are seen as equal to men and are given the same rights and responsibilities. In Islam, however, women are seen as inferior to men and are not given the same rights or responsibilities. This difference can be traced back to the time when these religions were first founded, as Christianity started out as a religion that was much more accepting of different cultures and beliefs, while Islam was founded in a time when these differences were not as tolerated.

Education and World Religions: An Overview of the Modern World

Education is one of the most important aspects of society. It can be used to help people learn new things, and to improve their lives. In many cases, education is also used to teach people about different religions. World religions are an important part of modern life, and it is important for people to understand them.

There are a number of different world religions, and each one has its own set of beliefs and practices. Some religions are more widely practiced than others, but all of them have a significant impact on the world. It is important for people to learn about these religions, and to understand how they affect the world.

Religion is an important part of many people’s lives, and it plays a significant role in the world today. By understanding world religions, people can gain a better understanding of the world around them. Education can help people learn about different religions, and to understand their impact on the world.

The post The Complete Guide to Essays and World Religions What is an Essay and How to Write One? appeared first on Micah Challenge.

Most of the people in the world today are looking for a way to make their lives more meaningful. In order to do so, they have turned towards religion.

This section will discuss religious beliefs of the world today and how they are changing over time. Here we will also discuss current trends in religion and how they impact our daily lives.

The most popular religious beliefs in the world today are Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.

The world is changing and the most common religious beliefs are not the same as they used to be. This will lead to a shift in the way people think about religion.

Today, the world is full of religious beliefs that are different from each other. This section will discuss the most popular religious beliefs of the world today.

The world is a very diverse place and the beliefs of people are diverse too. This section will give a brief overview of the most popular religious beliefs in the world today.

The world is full of religions and we all have different beliefs. Some people are religious while some are not.

The world is full of religions and beliefs. We have to be aware of the fact that there are several different religions in the world. There is also a difference between what people believe and what they practice.

There are many different ways that individuals can choose to follow their religion (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism). Some people choose to follow a specific religion because it is more convenient for them to do so than another religion. Other people join a specific religion because they believe that it will make them happy in life when they do so (e.g., Buddhism). Still other people join a specific religion because they want to be part of a community where they feel accepted and understood by their fellow members (e.g., Hinduism).

The Buddha, Jesus Christ and Muhammad are just a few examples of the many religions that have been around for centuries.

Religions are based on beliefs, so it makes sense to combine them with content ideas and generate content for specific topics. This is done by using AI writing assistants.

Some are more popular than others. The religions that are not as popular and widely known have a lot to offer the people who follow them.

The word “religions” is usually used to refer to the beliefs and practices of a particular faith. However, it can also refer to the way people interpret or interpret the world around them.

The word “religions” is usually used to refer to the beliefs and practices of a particular faith. However, it can also refer to the way people interpret or interpret the world around them. In this context, what we call “religion” is not just a set of beliefs and practices but rather an attitude towards life. Regardless of whether they are religious or not, we all have some kind of attitude towards life: we may be more open-minded than others or may have more difficulties in expressing our views on certain issues but at least we all have some kind of attitude towards life: we may be more open-minded than others or may have more difficulties in expressing our views on certain issues but at least we all try hard not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

It is a place where people can read about different religions and find out more about them. It also provides information on different religious holidays and events, as well as news on major religious figures.

We all have a religion, a faith that we follow. We can be religious and spiritual in our daily lives, but we are not always religious or spiritual. In fact, some of us may even consider ourselves atheists.

When it comes to faith, there is no one answer that fits everyone. Some people are more religious than others and some people have no particular faith at all. We can all agree that there is something that we do believe in – God or the existence of God – and we can also agree that there is something else that we don’t believe in – such as the existence of aliens or ghosts.

There are lots of different ways to define “religion” so let’s just stick with our own: if you can think of someone who believes in something, then you could call them a “religious person”. If you cannot think of anyone who believes in anything, then you should probably just call them an atheist (or maybe even a agnostic).

We all have a religion, a faith that we follow. It is not just about the religious beliefs and practices we follow, but also the way in which each of us approaches our faith. This section will discuss how AI writers can make sure they are not wasting time on skill sets that they don’t have and instead focus on what they are best at – creativity and emotions.

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Notably, religion has also played a crucial role in helping addicts turn their lives around. For this reason, consultants from Australia’s Rocket Casino spoke to us, and they had some views on religion and addiction.

Various Religion Views on Gambling

Gambling is a moral issue that most religions do not shy about expressing their opinions. Though it is now a legal practice in most countries, it is still a heavily regulated industry. Over the last few decades, gambling has continued to grow as many people join try their luck in various games.

On the flip side, gambling addiction has also increased. The main groups to speak out against this practice are religious organizations. Most world religions do not encourage this practice.

Christianity and Gambling

In the past, most Christians believed gambling was an outright moral sin. However, after the legalization of the practice, it is now not a criminal activity. Gambling is now a glamorous activity in the world.

Additionally, the Bible has very few texts that address gambling. Since the Bible does not outrightly state gambling is a sin, it is now a critical discussion area in Christianity.

In most areas around gambling, Christians apply several biblical principles as a guide. It considers medical, social and emotional aspects.

In Roman Catholic, gambling is not a sin unless it causes harm. Becoming a gambling addict is also a sin. Some churches, such as the Methodist, strongly condemn gambling. It also urges Christians to help those who are addicted.

Generally, Christians find fault in gambling because of the resulting ills. These include addiction, trusting another deity (Lady Luck), promoting materialism and love for money and other views that gambling causes.

Muslims and Gambling

Unlike Christianity, gambling is considered an outright sin in the Koran. It is not a simple pastime activity that a Muslim can engage in. The Koran condemns gambling alongside alcohol abuse. It identifies it as a social disease that is addictive and can destroy the family and personal lives.

The religion prohibits betting, lottery or any other games of chance. However, some Muslim scholars allow playing games such as cards, backgammon, cards and dominoes, but they should not involve gambling. Muslims encourage earning money through honest gains.

Other Religions and Gambling

Apart from those two religions, other religious organizations also hold strong rules on gambling. In the Jewish religion, it is prohibited to gamble professionally, for personal gain or compulsively. The Hindu religion also warns against gambling, which can lead to negative consequences. The Buddhist teachings also speak against gambling dangers.

How Religion Views Prevents Gambling Addiction

In addition to discussing the various religious views on gambling, the consultants also spoke about how these views affect gambling addiction. First, by prohibiting gambling or warning people about the ills that can arise, many religious people avoid being addicted to the habit.

Many religious people also avoid compulsive gambling behaviour. Players who choose to gamble are also protected from developing gambling-related problems. According to studies, religious players have lower levels of problem gambling severity. This study covered both male and female gamblers.

Notably, since most religions prohibit this behaviour, most people do not attempt to go down this path. Hence, they are protected from knowing if they can become pathological gamblers.

Can Religion Intensify a Gambling Addiction?

During the interview, another less-discussed question arose: Can religion worsen one’s gambling addiction? In this issue, the consultants discussed the issue of gamblers who have religious and spiritual struggles.

Notably, religious struggles are also prevalent in society. Some people struggle with having negative emotions towards a deity. These internal conflicts can lead to apathy and struggle between what they know to be right and wrong. Furthermore, others can struggle with feeling purposeless and lacking meaning. Such conflicts have been known to lead to mental health.

This overall drive can increase stress, making gamblers intensify their habits. Being unable to abstain from the perceived vice can worsen the problem. Guilt and shame, which are feelings that accompany a gambler when they revert to the habit, can also be a barrier to treatment. It’s worth noting that comprehensive study in the area of people who struggle with religion and spirituality and its link to addiction is still lacking.

Moreover, religion can prevent an addict from seeking help. In religions that explicitly ban gambling, an addict can hide his addiction which can worsen the situation.

Role of Religion in Gambling Addiction Recovery

The 12-steps used in Gambling Anonymous are borrowed from Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. These meetings emphasize a strong connection between breaking the addiction to faith and other religious values. Using faith and religion is still a strong practice in modern medical practice when helping people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Faith is a positive factor in helping people battle addictions and recover. Unsurprisingly, the same principles are now being applied to help gamblers fight their addictions.

Though gambling addiction can cause shame and affect a religious person from seeking help, it’s worth noting that many organizations assist whenever a person asks. If a person acknowledges they have a problem, many religious leaders are well equipped to deal with it.

These religious leaders provide rehabilitation resources. Some religions, such as Buddhism, Muslim, Christianity and others, encourage meditation and prayer. These coping mechanisms help gamblers when they feel overwhelmed or tempted.

Additionally, they give one a positive outlook when going through hard times. As a result, they address gambling cravings.

Religious Community for Support

Religious avenues offer the best form of support for addicts. Addicts are advised to find a community where they can be accountable and form healthy habits. If one is new in a place and struggles with a sense of belonging, it can be challenging, especially in large cities.

Churches, Mosques and other religious meeting points offer one an instant community of like-minded individuals. Most of these organizations also offer regular weekly meetings for addicts. Problem gamblers can obtain strength in these local meetings. These meetings also encourage openness and understanding. As a result, gambling addicts can share their issues in an environment of trust. Religious people are also helpful and can go out of their way to help one recover.

Rocket Casino Australia consultants also noted that religious organizations are crucial in reinforcing good money habits. For example, Christianity notes that the love of money is the root of evil. It can help gamblers abstain from temptation. Religious values of honesty can also keep a gambling addict from telling lies. In this case, he may have a better chance of maintaining the treatment.

Though many Australian online casino operators would have a problem with the activism from religious organizations, they also benefit from it. These groups help steer the community morally, leading to the avoidance of issues such as gambling addiction. When addiction occurs, they are willing to work with the affected person until they recover.

Read more about Casino Rocket: https://newaustralianonlinecasinos.com/review/rocket-casino/

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The following are just examples of religions in the world:

• Christianity
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Judaism

Christianity

Christianity is the major religion in the whole world having over 2Billion members. Its major teachings are reflected from life, teachings and death of Jesus, the Son of God. As a norm, Christianity has become more than a system in the religious belief. Therefore, it has brought about ideas and practices among people and artifacts that has been passed from one generation to another.

The church becomes the agent of Christianity and the Christians make up the body of believers. Christianity focusing on Jesus Christ it brings together its practices and beliefs in reference to the picture made in the past.

Planning a salvation or a redemption it is an element of the traditional faith in Christianity. It means that Christians picture themselves in a plight and they need to be saved. Christianity religion is based on redemption view and it is directed to act of being saved. The agent of redemption is Jesus Christ.

Branches of Christianity

The four major branches of the Christianity religion are as follows:

• Catholic Church (1.3Billion Christians)
• Protestantism (920 Million Christians)
• The Eastern Orthodox (230Million Christians)
• Oriental Orthodox (62Milllion Christians) and other smaller church communities existing

Beliefs in Christianity

Since all Christians share common convictions, there are also diverse interpretations of the traditions and the Bible. The major beliefs in Christianity Religion include:

• Creeds (Apostle’s Creed is the major one which its major points are Believing in God the Father, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. The death, descending to hell, resurrecting and His ascension. The holiness of the Church and Communion of Saints. Second Coming of Jesus Christ, day of judgment and salvation)
• Jesus
• Death and Resurrection
• Salvation
• Trinity
• Eschatology

Practices in Christianity Religion

• Communal Worship
• Liturgical calendar
• Symbols
• Baptism
• Prayer

Islam

Islam it is a religion based on Abrahamic monotheistic beliefs with teachings of Muhammad is God’s messenger. It is the second largest religion in the whole world with 1.9Billion believers known as Muslims. They make a majority population in 47 states hence becoming one of the fastest growing known religion in the world. The religion teaches that God is all-powerful, unique and merciful, and the teachings guide humanity via prophets, natural signs and scriptures.

The major scripture in the Islam religion is the Quran, which is believed to be God’s word and it is also inclusive of teachings for instance Sunnah and Hadith. Muslims have to follow the obligatory acts of worship and following Sharia which is the Islamic Law. The three holiest sites in Islam are as follows:

• Mecca
• Jerusalem
• Medina

The following are percentages of how Muslims have spread across the world:

• Indonesia 12%
• South Asia 31% (the largest percentage of Muslims in the World)
• Middle East-North Africa 20%
• Sub-Saharan Africa 15%

Articles of Faith in Islam

The six articles of faith represent the Islamic Creed which is mentioned in the Hadith of Gabriel. All Muslims are obligated to follow the beliefs of the articles. They include:

–God’s Concept

–Angels

–Revelations

–Prophets and Sunnah

–Resurrection and Judgement

–Divine Destiny

Acts of Worship in Islam

The acts include the 5 main practices in Islam and they are obligatory to all believers:

–Testimony

–Prayer

–Charity

–Fasting

–Pilgrimage

Hinduism

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with over 1.2Billion believers called Hindus. It is an Indian religion and dharma way of life. It is a diverse system composed of concepts, philosophies, theologies and among other topics.

The major themes in Hinduism includes the four aims of human life:

• Ethics and Responsibilities
• Prosperity
• Desires
• Liberation

Hindu beliefs are diverse and open therefore regarded as a family of religions not just one religion. Additionally, it does not worship one God, making the religion very unique in the set of other religions in the world. Hinduism does not claim one prophet, it does not follow one religious act, it is a way of life of Hindus.

Beliefs in Hinduism

The following are beliefs in the Hinduism religion:

• Dharma
• Artha
• Karma
• Moksha

Regional Hindu Festivals

• Pongal
• Ugadi
• Shigmo
• Vishu
• Bihu
• Ram Navami
• Gowri Habba
• Onam
• Diwali
• Dashain

Buddhism

Buddhism it is a religion in India that is characterized by teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha It has over 250 Million believers called Buddhists.

The Three Jewels in Buddhism Religion

The jewels (tritatna) are as follows:

–Buddha

–Dharma

–Sangha (refers to community of Monks)

Most Common Buddhist Practices

­­-Hearing and Learning Dharma

-Refuge

-Vinaya

-Restraint and Renunciation

-Meditation

Judaism

Judaism is an ethnic religion that comprises of cultural, religious and legal traditions of the Jewish people. The Jews consider Judaism to be an expression of the agreement that God established with Israelites. Judaism is the tenth largest religion in the world with over 14Million believers.

Judaism it is translated directly from the word Ludaismus in Latin which appeared the first in English translation in 1611 of the apocrypha.

Jewish Observances

These are responsibilities among the Jews that are under the Judaism religion. The observances include:

• Jewish Ethics (traditions and moral principles)
• Prayers (They recite the prayers three times daily, Shacharit, Mincha and Ma’ariv and the fourth one added during holidays called Mussaf)
• Religious Clothing
• Jewish Holidays (such as Shabbat, Purim, Hanukkah, Passover, High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah)

Types of Judaism

There are several types of Judaism which include:

–Orthodox Judaism– The Orthodox Jews are known for their strict observances of the Jewish Laws and Rituals.

–Reform Judaism– This category of the religion, they value ethical traditions over strict observances of Jewish Laws and rituals.

–Conservative Judaism– The conservative Jews respect the traditions of Judaism while still embracing modernization.

–Humanistic Judaism– The Jews in this sect celebrate the Jewish Culture, norms and History without any emphasis put on God.

–Reconstructionist Judaism– the believe in Judaism Religion and its practices are evolving constantly.

Conclusion

The above article clearly explains the 5 major religions in the world andhow they have different beliefs and practices. Christianity lead in the whole world having more than 2Billion Christians followed by Islam religion with 1.9Billions Muslims occupying over 47 States in the world.

Hinduism is one of the unique religions since it does not have the same prophet and observances.

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The Pillars

The pillars of Islam are not listed in the Qur’an, but were known from the hadith of the Prophet. Their elements are agreed upon by most Muslims. Each of the five actions requires an inner spiritual initiation and an outward sign of intention (niyat) as well as the proper completion of each action.

The Five Pillars of Islam include five actions obligatory for a faithful Muslim, among them:

• A declaration of faith containing a confession of monotheism and a recognition of Muhammad’s prophetic mission (shahada);
• The five daily prayers (namaz);
• fasting during the month of Ramadan (uraza);
• a religious tax in favor of the needy (zakat);
• pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).

Over time, some religious groups added or modified other elements to the five pillars. The sixth pillar of Islam is most commonly referred to as jihad, which theologically means, first and foremost, “the struggle against one’s own passions.

Witness

The testimony, or shahada, is the utterance of a dogma that proclaims the principle of monotheism: “Ashhadu an-la ilaha lllah, wa ashhhadu anna Muhammadan rasulu-Llah.” A creed that testifies to the believer’s confession of monotheism and recognition of the prophetic mission of the Prophet Muhammad. The recitation of the shahada begins Muslim prayers and any religious or secular event held in Islamic countries. It contains two basic tenets of Islam:

• Confession of monotheism, monotheism;
• recognition of the prophetic mission of the Prophet Muhammad.

The shahada emerged as a prayer and discernment cry by which the first Muslims distinguished themselves from pagan polytheists and other non-believers. During battles, the shahada served as a battle cry, which gave its name to the concept of shahid – martyr. Initially, shahids were called warriors who fell in war against the enemies of Islam with the shahada on their lips.

The Shia shahada differs from the Sunni shahada by adding the words about Ali ibn Abu Talib: “wa `Aliyun Waliyu l-Lah”, which means “and Ali is a friend of Allah”. In general terms, the Shia shahada has the form: “I testify that there is no Deity but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and Ali is a friend of Allah.”

The threefold recitation of the shahada before an official was the ritual of accepting Islam in the Middle Ages. From the point of view of Islam, from the moment of pronouncing the shahada in the Divine Presence (“with sincerity in the heart”) a person is considered a Muslim and must comply with the other decrees of Sharia and Sunnah.

Prayer

Every adult Muslim is obliged to pray five times a day. Namaz is performed at specific times, according to an established ritual. The Qur’an does not explicitly prescribe the performance of prayers, although there are many indications of such specifics as prayer times, prayer formulas, certain movements, etc. The entire order of prayer developed as an imitation of the prayer postures and movements of the Prophet Muhammad and is fixed by the memory of the first Muslims. The uniformity of the prayer has been practiced practically for more than a century and a half and was recorded in writing by the Hanafi theologian Muhammad ash-Shaybani (d. 805).

All prayer formulas and words must be said in Arabic. Depending on the legal school (madhhab), some prayer formulas may differ.

In some cases it is possible to combine the midday prayer with the evening prayer and the evening prayer with the night prayer. It is forbidden to pray exactly at noon and at the moments of sunrise and sunset. In addition to the ritual prayers, a Muslim has the ability to appeal directly to God with a prayer (dua), to be said at any time and in any language.

Namaz can be performed both individually and collectively in any suitable place. The Friday midday prayer (Juma Namaz) is performed in a mosque and has great social significance. It provides an opportunity for Muslims to hear the sermon of the Imam and to feel as one.

The place where the prayer is performed must be ritually clean (taharah), for which the prayers can be spread out on a prayer mat. Muslim ritual purity includes actions whose purpose is to achieve ritual purity and has an “inner” and an “outer” side. “Inner taharah” implies purification of the soul from disreputable thoughts, anger and sin, and “outer taharah” implies purification of the body, clothes, shoes, dwelling, etc.

During the collective prayers, the prayers are in rows behind the Imam who leads the prayers. Women should pray separately from men or stand behind them. During the prayer it is forbidden to talk, eat, drink, laugh, make extraneous movements, etc. No prayers may be offered while intoxicated, stupefied or delirious. The sick and handicapped have an indulgence in the ritual of namaz and can perform it either sitting or lying down, making movements mentally. The ritual of namaz is performed equally by followers of all Islamic streams, except for the most “extreme” ones, which deny any ritual.

The basis of prayer is rakaat, which is a cycle of prayer postures and movements accompanied by the recitation of prayer formulas. All postures, movements and prayer formulas follow each other in a strictly defined order, the violation of which is fraught with the invalidity of the prayer. The prayer is performed in a state of ritual purity (voodoo (ablution)). The praying person must stand facing Mecca (qibla). To determine the exact direction to Mecca in the mosques, niches for imams (mihrab) are built and carpets are laid out in a special way. If the time of prayer catches a Muslim on the way, he can determine the qibla by the sun or by orienting himself to the nearest mosque.

Standing in the direction of Mecca with his arms down along his body, the praying person recites the formula of intention (niyat) aloud or in his mind. Then he raises his hands to face level, palms facing the qibla and recites the formula of exalting Allah (takbir). Taking his left hand by the wrist with his right hand, he presses them to his chest (qiyas) and recites the first surah of the Quran (al-Fatihah), followed by some short surah of the Quran. After reciting the ayats from the Qur’an, a bow of the waist (hand) is made with the utterance of praise to Allah. The praying person straightens up and says: “May Allah hear him who praises him” (tasmi) and kneels down and makes an earthly bow (sujood). When he straightens up, he sits on his heels (jilsa) and says: “Oh Allah forgive me. He then repeats his earthly bow and sits back on his heels. In the second and last rakahat he recites the prayer formula “tashahhud”, and after its completion in the last rakahat he recites the greeting formula “Peace be with you and the mercy of God” to the right and to the left.

In addition to obligatory prayers, Muslims may also perform voluntary prayers, which are considered to be God-pleasing.

Almsgiving

Zakat is a tax in favor of needy Muslims. The faqih interpret the term as “cleansing [of sin]. European scholars see it as a borrowing from the Hebrew zakut (“virtue”) or a penetration from the Syriac language through the Christian Arabs. Genetically, zakat is related to the pre-Islamic custom of creating a kind of “fund” of mutual tribal assistance and sharing the captured loot.

In the Meccan suras, zakat means a good deed, almsgiving, and material aid. Zakat was evidently imposed immediately after the first Muslims moved to Medina. The reluctance to pay zakat after the death of the Prophet Muhammad was one of the causes of apostasy.

Zakat was paid by adult able-bodied Muslims. Women’s jewelry, gold and silver trimmings of weapons were not taxed. The sums collected had to be spent during the year and only in the district where they were collected.

The following were eligible for Zakat assistance: the indigent; the poor; Zakat collectors; “persons deserving encouragement”; muqatabs; insolvent debtors; and visitors who had no means to return home.

The post

Fasting was established by the Prophet Muhammad in 624 and dates back to the pre-Islamic practice of pious seclusion (itikaf). The Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad prescribe fasting. The duration of the fast is 29 or 30 days. The time is from dawn (suhur) to sunset (iftar).

The fast consists in total abstinence during daylight hours from eating, drinking, matrimonial duties, etc., that is, from everything that distracts from piety. After sunset, the prohibitions against eating, drinking and performing matrimonial duties are removed. At night it is recommended to spend time in meditation and the reading of the Qur’an. During the month of Ramadan it is recommended to do more godly deeds, to give alms, to settle quarrels, etc.

Fasting is obligatory for all adult Muslims. Those who cannot observe it due to any circumstances (long-distance travel, war, captivity, etc.), those who cannot take responsibility for their actions (mentally handicapped), as well as those to whom fasting may bring any harm (sick, elderly people, pregnant and lactating women) are exempt from fasting. In addition, menstruating women and criminals who have not served their sentences are not allowed to fast.

Those exempted from fasting due to temporary circumstances must endure it during the following year at a convenient time. Those who break the fast accidentally – must make up for the lost days after the end of the month. Those who violated the fast deliberately must, in addition to reimbursing those days, do penance (tawbah) and make atonement (kaffara). Open disregard and demonstrative violation of the fast is considered an offense and is punished according to the laws of the country in which it occurred.

Pilgrimage

The dream of every Muslim is the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and Medina. Medina contains the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, and Mecca is the main shrine of Islam, the Kaaba. Islamic sources claim that the Kaaba was first built by Adam, destroyed in the flood, but rebuilt by the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail. According to Islamic tradition, the beginning of the pilgrimage dates back to the time of Ibrahim. The ancient Arabs, until the conquest of Mecca by the Muslims, made the pilgrimage to the Kaaba, which housed their idols. In its present form, the Hajj has existed since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad himself made his only (“farewell”) pilgrimage in 632.

Hajj is the duty of every Muslim; those who are unable to perform the Hajj may send a “substitute” in their place. Women can perform the Hajj only when accompanied by men (mahram). The Hajj is performed annually in the month of Zul-Hijj in the Islamic calendar and consists of a series of rituals. The pilgrimage to Mecca takes place two months and ten days after the end of Ramadan and coincides with the Eid al-Adha, one of the two major holidays of Muslims. The Hajj is performed to commemorate the sacrifice that the Prophet Ibrahim intended to make. Each year, more than ten million pilgrims from all over the world gather in Mecca to strengthen Muslim unity and strengthen ties. All pilgrims, regardless of income level, wear the same white garment (ikhram). According to Islamic teachings, the hajj removes a person’s sins.

By 7 zul-hijj, pilgrims arrive in Mecca. After taking the ihram, the pilgrims perform the ritual of “small pilgrimage,” after which those who choose to perform umrah and hajj separately leave the ihram and cut off a strand of hair. Immediately before the hajj, they resume the ihram. Those who choose to combine umrah and hajj (qiran) remain in the ihram until the end of the hajj.

On 8 zul-hijjah (yawm at-tarwiya), the pilgrims stock up on water and travel through the Minah and Muzdalif valleys to the Arafat Valley. Some pilgrims stay directly in the Arafat Valley, while others spend the night of 8-9 zul-hijjah in the Meena Valley.

At noon on the 9th of Zul-Hijjah, the fasting at Mount Arafat begins and continues until sunset. During the fast on Mount Arafat the believers stand with their faces raised to God and offer prayers to Him. Then the pilgrims run to the valley of Muzdalif (ifada).

On 10 zul-hijjah (yawm an-nahr), after the morning prayer, the pilgrims head to the valley of Mina to throw seven pebbles into the last of the three pillars (jamrat al-akaba), symbolizing Iblis. This ritual is followed by an animal sacrifice. On this day the entire Islamic world celebrates Eid al-Adha. Having shaved their heads or cut off a strand of hair, pilgrims head to Mecca for a farewell tawaf. Those who have made Hajj without umrah perform sai after the tawaf. The sai is performed in memory of Hajar (Hagar) who sought water between the hills of Safa and Marwah.

From 11 to 13 zul-hijjah (ayyam at-tashriq) pilgrims continue to perform sacrifices, throwing pebbles at all three pillars in the Minah Valley.

The basic rituals of the Hajj were determined by the Prophet Muhammad himself. The ritual of the pilgrimage was developed in detail by representatives of the main religious schools (madhhabs). Hajj played an important historical, cultural and socio-political role in the medieval Muslim world. It retains its ideological and political significance at the present time.

In addition to the hajj, there is the “small pilgrimage” – umrah, which can be carried out at other times of the year. Umrah is considered a God-pleasing deed, but it is not equal to hajj. People who have made the pilgrimage are generally respected and given the title of hajji.

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A Christian denomination is a religious group within the broader Christian umbrella. A denomination is identified by such things as leadership, name, doctrine, and other things. There are several factors that are used to distinguish denominations. These factors include such things as the nature of Jesus, eschatology, and others.

Catholic Church

The Catholic Church considers itself a pre-denominational church. That is, it considers itself non-dominant because it precedes all other denominations. It has 24 autonomous Latin churches and another 23 Eastern Catholic churches. Catholics make up the largest percentage of Christians. About 1,285,000,000 people live in this denomination.

Protestantism

Protestants are Christians who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation. The branches also began to divide into other branches, although, strictly speaking, some branches cannot be considered Protestants.

Other Affiliates

There are other denominations among Christians that also have substantial followings in the world. Some of these include Anglicanism (85,000,000), the Eastern Orthodox Church (270,000,000), and Eastern Orthodoxy (86,000,000).

The Eastern Orthodox Church has the second largest number of followers in the world. This denomination follows Orthodox jurisdiction, and like Catholicism, the church can trace its origins to the time of the apostles. Nevertheless, for this denomination, most of its churches are national churches that emphasize the independence of their building blocks.

Another particularly interesting denomination in this category is Independent Catholicism, whose membership numbers some 18,000,000 worldwide. This particular denomination identifies itself as Catholic, but it is in no way affiliated with or recognized by the Catholic Church.

Summary

With over 1 billion people identifying with the beliefs of the Catholic Church, this denomination is the only one with followers over the 1 billion mark. In second position, Protestantism is close to 920,000,000 people, but still short of one billion. However, an interesting argument arises. When it comes to the distinction between Protestants and non-Protestants, the distinction is a bit blurred. For example, some religious scholars argue that Anglicans are part of Protestantism. If we follow this logic, there are about 1.5 billion people in the world who practice Protestantism. This figure would make Protestantism the most popular denomination, followed by Catholics with about 1, 3 billion.

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Buddhism is a world religion that originated in the 4th century B.C. in the northeast of what is now India; therefore it has a close connection with the ancient Indian philosophy. The number of its adherents exceeds 450 millions, and the main part of their number is concentrated in Asian countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri-Lanka. It is possible to become a Buddhist regardless of one’s previous faith, as well as one’s eye color, skin color, or class.

Directions

There are many schools of thought – on average, there are 18 of them. So, briefly about the main branches of Buddhism:

• Theravada. It is the oldest branch, the second largest in number. In the 21st century it has almost 40% of adherents.
• Mahayana or “Great Chariot”. Adherents make up the main mass, more than 50% of all Buddhists in the world. Centers are concentrated in Japan, Mongolia, China, Korea and Tibet.
• Vajrayana – “the Diamond Chariot”. Tantric branch, formed inside Mahayana (tantra is the most ancient self-improvement system, which helps to improve the body, extend the life, develop spirituality).
• The Tibetan branch (formed on the basis of Mahayana and Vajrayana) is the smallest in number (6%). The centers are located in Mongolia, Buryatia, Tyva, Kalmykia, Manchuria, and Northern China.

Some scholars believe that Buddhism has only three branches, while others speak of two main branches-the Theravada and the Mahayana.

Theravada

The teachings of the elders. Theravada is based on texts that were composed after the Buddha’s departure for nirvana. Adherents of this school believe that a lot of later teachings are innovations which distort the essence of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching, and in some cases contradict it completely.

Some apply the name Hinayana or Little Chariot to Theravada. This is not quite correct. Hinayana originated within Mahayana and literally means “inferior,” “narrow,” “despicable. However, to apply such “epithets” to the Teachings of the Elders, one of the oldest schools, is not quite correct.

Theravada is an ascetic school. It teaches to repeat the path of the Buddha in order to achieve nirvana. And that means you have to give up all earthly things, break up family ties. Ideally, it teaches to become a monk – that’s the only way to achieve true enlightenment.

Theravada is not a holistic doctrine. Its followers are plagued by doubts about the correctness of the Buddha’s texts. Because of this, in the course of its existence the school was divided into several religious-philosophical currents:

• the soundtantics;
• Vaibhashiki.

Theravada differs significantly from Mahayana, the “Great Chariot. Whereas the former emphasizes that one should follow the path of Buddha and attain nirvana, the latter says that one should help other people to achieve enlightenment and think of oneself last, because helping others is already part of the path to awakening.

True Buddhism is different from the rest of the world’s religions–there is no such thing as “God. Its founder, Siddhartha Gautama, is a real person. Through spiritual practices, he reached a state called nirvana. It is believed that if an ordinary person follows his path, he will be able to replicate it exactly.

Mahayana

It is often referred to as northern Buddhism. Mahayana has its origins in India, from where it spread throughout Asia to Nepal, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, China and parts of Russia. Its emergence is attributed to the end of the first century B.C.

Mahayana is the opposite of Theravada. It features deification of Buddha as well as the theory of trinity, somewhat reminiscent of the Christian religion: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, only in Mahayana this is called differently:

• The real person, Siddhartha Gautama, is a projection of God on earth (Sambhogakaya).
• The earthly body can take many forms. One of them is Amitaba, which people see, respect, and worship.
• Nirvana is attained by the essence or Dharmakaya, that which is the original source in the universe.

The basis of Eastern doctrine is the personal experience of a real person. Siddhartha Gautama’s knowledge of himself and the world was based not on religious dogmas, which are unproven and accepted only on faith, nor on mythical tales, but on what his own senses “tell” him. Those who study Buddhism in depth often refer to it not as a creed, but as a philosophy.

Vajrayana

The Tantric or Tantrayana (path of the Result) is the youngest of the major movements in Buddhism. It was formed in the 5th century A.D. as part of Mahayana. It is most wide spread now in Tibet, Mongolia, Nepal, Japan, some regions of Russia (Tyva, Buryatia, Kalmykia). Vajrayana followers have borrowed much from the teachings of the indigenous peoples of Tibet (Bon).

For Vajrayana followers, the personality of the Guru is very important. Only he can choose the right practice for the student.

Tibetan Buddhism

Another name is Lamaism. Based on the teachings of Mahayana and Vajrayana as well as Theravada (monastic vows). Here there is a complete preservation of late Indian Buddhism.

In Tibet this religious teaching did not begin to assert itself and develop until the 7th century A.D. The main difference from traditional Buddhism lies in the way in which authority, both secular and spiritual, is transmitted. In Tibet it took place as a reincarnation (tulku) of the same individual, while in other countries that practiced the same religion it was by inheritance or through the organization of elections. Eventually this led to the unification of the clergy and the secular authorities. The Dalai Lama became the unified ruler of Tibet.

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Beginning in the 7th century, Islamic theology became interested in such theoretical problems as: the problem of faith, the status of man who committed a grave sin, predestination, the ratio of the divine essence and attributes, the “createdness” of the Quran, etc. The divergence on these questions led to the emergence of a number of currents, among which the Sunnis, Shiites, Harijites, Murjites, and Mu’tazilites stand out. As a result, there was no official orthodoxy in Islam, and theological polemics remained an integral part of Islamic religious life for many centuries. In the late nineteenth century, there was no official orthodoxy in Islam, and theological polemics remained an integral part of Islamic religious life for many centuries.

Sunnis

Sunnism is the largest strand in Islam (about 85-90% of Muslims). It acts as a “majoritarian” Islam, expressing the opinion and customs, theory, and practice of the majority of the community. Sunnism is characterized by an orientation toward the “correct” doctrine, which is the middle ground between extremes, as well as conformism (or pragmatism) and an attitude toward legitimizing the status quo and legitimizing established rites, beliefs and institutions. Sunni theology, developed by the two schools of kalam, the Asharite and Maturidite, also developed as a “middle school.

In the eighth and eleventh centuries, legal schools (madhabs) emerged in Sunnism: the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali madhabs. Although there are differences of opinion on some issues among the madhhabs, all Sunni madhhabs are considered legitimate and equivalent. The most widespread of the madhhabs (which is followed by about a third of all Muslims in the world) is Hanafism, officially adopted in the early 16th century in the Ottoman Empire and now predominant among Muslims of the former Soviet Union. Hanbalism is also a theological school, and its adherents, especially the Wahhabis, are noted for their rejection of dissent, literalism in understanding the sacred texts, intolerance for any kind of innovation, and extreme strictness in observance of religious rites and norms.

Shiites

The Shi’ite Imamites (binary) recognize 12 Imams from among the direct descendants of Ali ibn Abu Talib, the last of whom Muhammad al-Mahdi mysteriously disappeared at the end of the ninth century. Shiites believe that Mahdi will appear before the Last Judgement and establish equality and justice on earth. The Shi’a, like the Sunnis, recognize the sanctity of the Qur’an, and the Sunnah recognizes its own collections of hadiths. In addition, Shiites have their own “holy scriptures” (akhbar), which include hadiths about Imam Ali. Besides Mecca the places of worship of Shiites are the Iraqi cities of Nedzhef and Kerbela, as well as the Iranian cities of Qom and Mashhad. The most influential Shiite clerics are major mullahs (mujtahids), among which the most respected have the title of ayatollah and grand ayatollah.

Shiites recognize temporary marriages (muta) as legal and practice pious concealment of their faith (taqiyya). Shiites are allowed to perform midday and afternoon prayers at the same time, as well as evening and night prayers. The Sunnis combine prayers only when traveling.

Kharijites

There is currently one Kharijite community, the Ibadis. The other Kharijite communities (Azhradites, Azraqites, Maimunites, Najdites, Yazidites, etc.) have lost their former strength and are now practically inactive.

Sufism

Sufism is a mystical movement in Islam. The Sufi movement emerged under the Umayyads, and initially took ascetic forms, expressing social protest against the sharp differentiation of the Muslim community, the luxurious and idle life of the ruling elite. In the eighth and ninth centuries, Sufism matured into a current that focused on mystical cognition of God and opposed scholasticism in theology, ritualism, and the jurisprudence of fiqh. In the next two centuries, disparate Sufi communities and cloisters began to unite into dervish orders or brotherhoods (tarikat) that had their own systems of mystical practice, initiation and investiture rites, and external signs of distinction. In the XIII century, Sufism became the main form of “popular” Islam through the activities of tariqats.

According to Sufi teachings, everyone is able to achieve communion with God through self-denial, asceticism, and prayer under the guidance of a spiritual master.

Sufism consists of four stages:

• Shariah – the rigorous observance of Islamic laws;
• Tariqat – the period of obedience as a student, the desire to subordinate his will – to the will of the teacher and God;
• Marifat – extra-experienced knowledge attained in an irrational way;
• khakihat, the comprehension of divine truth.

An important element of Sufi practice is zikr, during which prayer formulas are repeated many times. The zikr may be silent (khafi) and loud (jakhr), including the use of music and drums.

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There are four main ideas:

• The middle way;
• the four noble truths;
• the Eightfold Path;
• the five commandments.

The middle way is a concept that means cutting off extremes. You don’t have to go into total asceticism or plunge into the abyss of pleasure.

4 truths is nothing more than a statement of the following facts:

• the earthly world is full of suffering;
• the causes of suffering are the passionate desire for pleasure;
• The way to get rid of suffering is to limit oneself to pleasure;
• the attainment of nirvana.

The Eightfold Path is an opportunity to pass through seven interconnected stages of personal perfection, where the reward is nirvana (the eighth stage). Everything here is subject to logic. It is impossible to pass through the steps step by step – everything works in a complex, the center of which is the human mind.

The precepts are:

• Thou shalt not kill;
• do not lie;
• do not steal;
• do not commit adultery;
• Do not use “hellish potion” (drugs, alcohol, tobacco).

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