World Religions Report - Essay Example

?Running head: WORLD RELIGIONS REPORT World Religions Report and number Nowadays religion and spirituality are important sources of world views and views of life. Both of them constitute not only creative political, but also social forces that greatly influence on people during the whole period of mankind existence. It is possible to say that religion or religious inquiry — is something that virtually all people have in common. People have wondered about the meaning of life since Adam was a boy and they interested in this meaning to the present day. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history people have own beliefs, faith in higher power and question if there is anyone or anything “out there”. We have learned a lot of information about religion and as for me the best way to remember all information and understand its main essence is a personal connection with a real person who will explain major aspects of own religion and show its main advantages. I think that visitation of a real religious site will give me an opportunity to learn much more about chosen religion. Thereby, the main purposes of my paper are to interview person of chosen faith and than compare and contrast this faith with other religion that I was familiar with through my class. I chose Christianity and Islam as religions for my analysis. I think that in the first place it is necessary to remember the definition of concept “religion” and then it will be easier to talk about different kinds of religions and compare two of them. According to Asad (1993), the concept ‘religion’ in general meaning “is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth”. The term “religion”, however, refers not only to the personal practices that directed to communal faith, but also it refers to different group rituals and communication stemming from shared religious convictions. The notion “religion” people sometimes use except the word “faith” and usually these words consider interchangeable variants. I think that there is one big difference between them and this difference is caused by the specific behaviors which are the part of religious system. In the beginning of this paragraph it is necessary to mention that all religions are an attempt of man to know the truth of God. Moreover, thinking about Christianity it is possible to suppose that Christianity is not a religion, but it is God’s answer to our questions. Christians believe that the true and full communion with God can be only through appearance of Christ before people. Of course, the ancient mystics and prophets, the Sufis, the Dervishes, the Indian Brahmins - all of them have their own mystical experience and they use it to be in some way closer to God, but all of this is done through human efforts, through human striving upwards. Only in one case, in the case of Christ, God is able to show own appearance before people. This is the single most direct revelation, and therefore salvation in Christ is a unique, and the most profound approaching to God. Despite the fact that historical interval between Christianity and Islam is about 600 years (I-VII century AD), Koran includes a lot of information about Christianity, moreover, it includes more than other religions facts about Christianity. It can be explained by the fact that both Christianity and Islam, and even Judaism have the same geographical region at various times - the Middle East; and all of them ( the above mentioned religions) were developed among the peoples of Semitic origin (Jews and Arabs). Comparing Christianity with Islam in the way of their appearance it is necessary to state that Christianity is the second world religions by the time of its occurrence. It originated as a sect of Judaism in I century BC in Palestine. This initial relationship with Judaism is extremely important for understanding the roots of the Christian faith and manifested in the fact that the first part of the Bible, Old Testament - the holy book of both Jews and Christians (the second part of the Bible, New Testament, is recognized only by Christians and is very important for them). In Christianity Church considers all these teachings the inspired, written by people that were in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every Christian should worship their content as the supreme truth. Analyzing Islam, it is possible to note that Islam is the monotheist world religion. The word “Islam” has some values; it is literally translated as “world”. Islam literally means “submission (to God)” Other value of this word is “the legend to Allah” (“humility to God”). According to shariah terminology Islam is a full, absolute monotheism, submission to Allah. Its orders and interdictions discharge from polytheism. People who have obeyed Allah were called Moslems. Moreover, according to Koran Islam is the unique true religion of mankind, all prophets are its followers. In a definitive kind Islam has been presented in sermons of Prophet Muhammad who has received data on the new religion in Koran’s form. According to Islam, followers of ancient prophets have departed from an initial way which has been specified them by God, a sacred texts of ancient books were gradually deformed. Comparing holy books that used in both religions we can say that Christians consider the Bible their main guide in the life and the teacher of religion, while Islam faith have the same respect to Koran. In this part of the paper is necessary to pay specific attention to Koran’s origin as it was previously paid to the Bible. Thus, it is a well-known fact that the Qur’an is the religious text of Islam. According to Kurian, G. & Molitor (1996), there are a lot of views about origin of this word. According to one opinion, it is a verbal noun (masdar) of the Arabic verb qara`a, meaning “he read” or “he recited.” Another source says that it is the Syrian equivalent qeryana, which refers to “scripture reading” or “lesson”. The Qur’an has many different meanings such as Quran, Kuran, Qur’an, Coran, Koran, or al-Qur’an. In Islam, Koran is a constitution which Allah has granted to the envoy in order to each person could adjust mutual relations with the Lord, with itself and a society in which he lives and to execute the vital mission how it was wished by the Lord. Moslems accept this favor, adhere to a divine management, follow its instructions, submit to its commands, avoid its interdictions and don't break its restrictions. In addition, Christianity and Islam have their own believes and as it was stated above both of them have their own holy studies. The Koran consists of 114 chapters of unequal length. Each chapter is called sura in Arabic, and every sentence of the Koran has its literary meaning as ‘sign’. In contrast to Koran the Christian Bible has another structure, because the Koran was written by one person, while the Bible was written by several persons. Being more detailed in our description of the Bible it is necessary to say that the teaches of the Bible proclaim that each person is created by God and after death a soul will spend eternity in heaven or in hell, depends from the person’s behavior intra vitam. There are many sites with information about Christianity, but during the preparation for my work I have chosen the site www.christianfaith.com.au, because it is very interesting site, and I have found there a person to obtain an interview. In the information about this website at www.christianfaith.com.au is said that “this website is a collaborative effort of 5 local Coffs Harbour Christian blokes who all share committed evangelical convictions”; and it has free membership for all people who are interested in Christianity. I noticed that the site has own motto: “Christian Faith… helping you grow in Jesus”; and it is not a simple motto, but the motto with a special meaning and own long history of inspiration. In the part where it is explained what the Christian faith is at the site www.christianfaith.com.au I found the next words: “The Christian faith is faith in Jesus, not a religion. God has revealed Himself in history through Jesus Christ, His Son “…He [God] has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2)”. To find a person for the obtaining the interview, I registered the previously described site and interviewed one of its members. This person wished to stay anonymous and I respect this wish and don’t want to permit his name (I will call him Anonymous in the text). Summarizing received answers I could conclude that every person could choose Christianity as own religion and take conversion into this religion. It is not only a religion but also a philosophy or ‘way of life’ for many Christians. As we know philosophy “means love of wisdom” and main principles of this “wisdom’s love” are the part of Christians religion. Anonymous emphasized them as: “to lead a very moral life, to be really mindful and aware of bad thoughts and actions, and to develop not only wisdom, but also understanding of existing reality in own life, making the world better by own good deeds and thoughts”. I would never think that Christianity has so deep roots in religious world and before my conversation with Anonymous I knew only that Christianity is a kind of spiritual tradition and that’s why it focuses on personal spiritual development. I want to mention that this religion attracts many people due to possibility understand the world better and Christian spiritual enlightenment allows to look deep insight into the true nature of life and may be to look into own internal world. Anonymous explained me that Christianity teaches that all life and all events in our life are interconnected, so compassion is natural and even important. According to the words of Anonymous, I understood that Christianity, in principle, can not be reduced to a dogma, to morality, to the tradition, because, initially, in its deep essence, it is not the faith in doctrine, but the faith in the personality, the faith in the unique divine-human Person of Jesus Christ. Moreover, it is not only the faith, but it is even an opportunity to connect with the symbol of faith in inner closely Union, to enter into direct live contact through good deeds and prayers. All Christians live on the certain laws of their studies and these studies usually called Christian Studies. Anonymous stated that, according his religion, the most important aspect (that is the essence of Christianity) is the right ordering of human spirit. In this case, Christianity offers own meaning what distinguishes it from the teachings of all religions. First, the doctrine of God, and secondly, understanding the essence and purpose of man's spiritual life, then - the doctrine of the Resurrection and much more. So, the first thing that is peculiar to Christianity, not to any other religions - is the claim that God is love. In other religions people believe that God is considered a righteous, merciful judge, but nothing more. Christianity says something specific: that God is love and only love. Unfortunately, this Christian understanding of God could hardly find its way to the mind and heart of people. The statement that God is love can be really hardly perceived by contemporary human consciousness. In our conversation Anonymous told me that he likes Christianity and it is the state of his mind now, because this religion makes him the person who he wanted to be through his whole life and only in prayers he could develop own internal world and understood the truth. Due to Anonymous’ words I understood that Christianity teaches practical methods (such as good deeds and prayers) which enable people to realize and utilize its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives and to develop the qualities of Wisdom and Compassion. Many religious studies proclaim that the world truth is permanent, but in Christianity people can find statements which face them to another position, I mean these teaches show that nothing is fixed or permanent and change is always possible. Thus, Christianity has own truth and path like every religion. Finishing the interview with Anonymous it became obvious that Christianity is a kind of religion where people believe in God and people imagine this God through his son Jesus Christ. Comparing Christianity to Islam it is necessary to note that Allah is the standard Arabic name for God in Islam. A word “Allah” is traditionally used in any language, meaning as actually God, and one of his names. Allah is a proper name corresponding to true God, the Creator and the Lord of all real, to the owner of all excellent names and qualities: “Uniform, Unique”. Muslims believe that Allah is the founder and the manager of all real. Besides, they think that nobody possesses these qualities. Allah’s existence is necessary for a universe, and its absence impossible. Allah is eternal and has no beginning or end. According to Neusner, Chilton & Graham (2002), Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable, while Christians believe in trinity that means that “trinity refers to the teaching that the one God comprises three distinct eternally co-existing persons; the Father, the Son (incarnate in Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit”. Both religions proclaim that the main goal of human’s life is to worship God. Comprehension by a human reason is impossible. However, His attributive qualities give in to the approximate description categories of the human conceptual device. It is interesting to mention that many similar features can be found in both religions of our analysis, because each of them believes that only their God possesses absolute will and power. Nothing occurs without ‘His’ permission. Allah in Islam and God the Father in Christianity see and hear everything what each person thinks, and it is impossible to hide something from ‘His’ look. Muslims believe in their turn that except Allah, other gods don't exist, and a unique object for service and worship is only He. According to Christian or Islamic believes, Allah or God the Father forbids service to pseudo-gods. Service to Allah or to God the Father ennobles person, releases him from slavery and releases him from worship various mythical images, forces of nature or other people. Paganism, superstitions, worship elements and mythical characters are sins before both Gods in both religions, moreover these sins ‘He’ (Allah or God the Father) forgives only with the help of sincere repentance. To sum up, the problem of studying and the relationships of different faiths and religions has become more acute and urgent in our time. Many people all over the world profess Christianity and Islam. Nowadays these both religions are considered to be the world religions. For instance, Islam is the second religion in the world after Christianity. The Islamic and Christian ideology continues to have impact on hundreds millions inhabitants all over the world, including Asia and Africa. Moslems and Christians live in different countries; adhere to various sociopolitical orientations, and belong to various nationalities, cultures, classes, layers and groups. For many of them Islam and Christianity are attitude and outlook. Thus, taking into account all above mentioned it is possible to conclude that the best way to understand religion that you are not familiar with is own research work and conversation with a person who believes in it. I think that the interview with the real representative of Christianity changed my point of view and my attitude to Christianity, because I found out a lot of interesting facts. I like the path to Enlightenment that Anonymous described to me, because through his words I understood that it is a way to the development of morality through good deeds, prayers and certain rules implementation. I compared and contrasted two different religious directions and I will never say that one of them is better or vice versa, because both of them are important and they are part of our world. Nowadays it is very important to respect representatives of all religions and be patient and calm in all life situations. References: Asad, T. (1993). Genealogies of Religion. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Christian Faith. Retrieved from http://www.christianfaith.com.au/ Kurian, G. & Molitor, G. (1996). Encyclopedia of Future. MacMillan Reference Books. Neusner, J., Chilton, B. & Graham, W. (2002). Three Faiths, One God: The Formative Faith and Practice of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Brill Academic Publishers. Read More