Question What Is Religion free essay sample

Each person’s definition of religion is different. Each person’s faith is different. This is a question that has been asked for centuries, and regardless of the answer given there is no right or wrong answer. However, according to Emile Durkheim in ;Kenneth D. Allan (2 November 2005). Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World. Pine Forge Press. p. 115. religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church all those who adhere to them. Religion is generally born out of culture where members of the culture create a system of beliefs and values. They also establish symbols that represent the belief structure and hold special meaning for believers. There are five major religions of the world these are: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. We will write a custom essay sample on Question What Is Religion? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Religions can be divided geographically. The content of this essay will focus on Judaism and Islam. This section will begin by the writer giving a brief overview of both religions. Judaism is a one of the oldest religions known to people. Judaism was born about 4000 years ago. Many famous people have been Jewish such as Moses, Jesus, Mahler, Marx, Freud, and Einstein. The history of Jewish people hasn’t been that easy. From the slavery in Egypt to the Holocaust in Europe, the Jewish people have lived a life filled with prejudice. It began with Abraham, the first Jewish person. It is Jewish belief that he made a covenant with God and was promised that he would be the father of a great nation. That nation became the Jewish people. Abraham and his sons and grandsons were called the â€Å"patriarchs†. They were Isaac, his son, and Jacob, his grandson. Jacob’s favorite son Joseph was also an important part of the early history. It was because of Jacob’s sons and their wrong doings that Joseph ended up in Egypt, eventually leading many Jewish people into the land of Egypt. Moses was one of the most famous Jewish prophets. He led the Jewish people out of slavery, led them to Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, a set of rules that people even today still follow. After Moses, the Jewish people had different leaders called judges, and then kings such as David and Solomon to guide them in the land called Israel. Jewish people lived in the land of Israel until 586BCE when they were exiled by the Babylonians. It wasn’t until 1948, about 2000 years later, that Jewish people were able to return to that land. History of Judaism: General Observations. Encyclop? dia Britannica. 2004. Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service. Islam is a monotheistic religious tradition that developed in the Middle East in the 7th century C. E. Islam, which literally means surrender or submission, was founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the world. The Quran, the sacred text of Islam, contains the teachings of the Prophet that were revealed to him from Allah. Essential to Islam is the belief that Allah is the one and true God with no partner or equal. Islam has several branches and much variety within those branches. The two divisions within the tradition are the Sunni and Shia, each of which claims different means of maintaining religious authority. One of the unifying characteristics of Islam is the Five Pillars, the fundamental practices of Islam. These five practices include a ritual profession of faith, ritual prayer, the zakat (charity), fasting, and the hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca). Many Muslims are characterized by their commitment to praying to Allah five times a day. One of the defining characteristics of Islam is the primacy of sacred places including Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Muslims gather at mosques to worship Allah, pray, and study scripture. There is not a sharp distinction between the religious and secular aspects of life in Islam; all aspects of a Muslims life are to be oriented to serving Allah. Islam expanded almost immediately beyond its birthplace in the Arabian peninsula, and now has significant influence in Africa, throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Oxford Handbook of Global Religions (2006) and the Religious Movements Page at the University of Virginia. The writer will also state five similairites about each religion and five differences. one common thing to both is that there is originator of each religion. The people of each religion endured hardships in their beginnings. Each religion had a major prophet, Judaism had Moses and Islam had Muhammad. The prophets of each religion received their book from God. They are also all monotheistic religions meaning both religions believe there is only one God. Both Jews and Muslims deny that Jesus is Divine or the son of God. Both believe that at least at one point in history Israel was the chosen nation by God. They also believe in angels and demons. They also believe that salvation can be given through correct belief and good deeds. The only ritual that these two religions have in common is prayer. The differences existing between both religions are relevant and one should be aware so as to be tolerant of each. In this paragraph this writers main objective is to highlight the differences between the Muslims and the Jews. The holy book of Judaism is called the Torah. The holy book of Islam is called the Quran. Muslims believe that there are some more prophets such as Jesus and Muhammad, whereas Jews reject both. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the Seal of all prophets. Jew do not accept that. The Muslim diet is much less restricted than the Jewish diet. Muslims believe that God had abandoned the nation of Israel as a result of their sins. Jews believe that their covenant with God can never be broken. Having compared both religions the objective of the writer is further expand on of each. The common ritual in both religion is prayer and so it will be explained. â€Å"New step In Religious Education† by Micheal Keene pages 64-65, 1997. Published by Stanley Thornes. States Prayer is the most important part of Muslims worship. There are two kinds of prayer in Islam. The salah is the most vital. The salah is a sequence of prayers done with both action and words. The sequence is called the rak’ah. It is compulsory that two rak’ah are done during the morning prayers, four at noon, three at sunset and four at night. This is preferably done in a mosque or in any clean place. During rak’ah worshippers stand, bows , kneels and touches the ground with his forehead. During Friday prayers in the mosque the imam leads all the worshipers through the sequence. Prayers are said in Arabic . While they pray the entire congregation turns towards the mihrab, so they are facing the holy city of Makkah. Worshippers can say his/ her own private prayers at the end of the set of prayers. These prayer du’a , are said in worshippers own language. These are ‘prayers of the heart’ and end with the person wiping their hands across the face to show they have received God’s blessing. The most important paryers are the ones which Muslims join with others. Muslims are expected to pray all the time. All that is required is a clean place, as this cannot be guaranteed, however the strict Muslim will use a prayer mat, called the Musulla. The mat is use facing Mekkah, which is located using a compass. In every religion prayer is an important element recitation of prayers is the central characteristic of Jewish worship. A Jewish law was passed which states that prayer should be done three times aily: in the morning, in the afternoon and at nightfall. These prayers are called morning prayer (shacharit), afternoon prayer (minchah) and evening prayer (arvith or maariv ). At the heart of each service is the Amidah or Shemoneh Esrei. Another key prayer in many services is the declaration of faith, the Shema Yisrael (or Shem a). The Shema is the recitation of a verse from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4): Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad—Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God! The Lord is One! Most of the prayers in a traditional Jewish service can be recited in solitary prayer, although communal prayer is preferred. Communal prayer requires a quorum of ten adult Jews, called a minyan. In nearly all Orthodox and a few Conservative circles, only male Jews are counted toward a minyan; most Conservative Jews and members of other Jewish denominations count female Jews as well. In addition to prayer services, observant traditional Jews recite prayers and benedictions throughout the day when performing various acts. Prayers are recited upon waking up in the morning, before eating or drinking different foods, after eating a meal, and so on. The approach to prayer varies among the Jewish denominations. Differences can include the texts of prayers, the frequency of prayer, the number of prayers recited at various religious events, the use of musical instruments and choral music, and whether prayers are recited in the traditional liturgical languages or the vernacular. In general, Orthodox and Conservative congregations adhere most closely to tradition, and Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues are more likely to incorporate translations and contemporary writings in their services. Also, in most Conservative synagogues, and all Reform and Reconstructionist congregations, women participate in prayer services on an equal basis with men, including roles traditionally filled only by men, such as reading from the Torah. In addition, many Reform temples use musical accompaniment such as organs and mixed choirs. Micheal Keene pages 62-63, (1997). The New Steps in Religious Education ( 2nd Edition). Stanley Thornes. Publishers. Name: Kedesha Pennicook Date: September 27,2012 Question What is religion? There are similarities and differences among the religions of the world. List five similarities and five differences and explain one of each (similiarities amp; differences). Introduction Barns amp; Noble (Cambridge) Encyclopedia (1990), States that the English word religion is derived from the Middle English religioun which came from the Old French religion. It may have been originally derived from the Latin word religo which means good faith, ritual, and other similar meanings. Or it may have come from the Latin religare which means to tie fast. In our society religion means believing in a higher power. This higher power is usually a God and people are taught how this God came to be. When one believes in a God there are set ways of worship and a moral code that is lived by. Not every religion has a God and sometimes there are many God’s or in some instances there is no God. In any case this general definition does not do justice to all the religions because of the different beliefs that each religion has. This paper will provide a definition for religion, tell five simialrities and differences that exist between Judaism and Islam and slow will explain one of each. What is religion? Each person’s definition of religion is different. Each person’s faith is different. This is a question that has been asked for centuries, and regardless of the answer given there is no right or wrong answer. However, according to Emile Durkheim in ;Kenneth D. Allan (2 November 2005). Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World. Pine Forge Press. p. 115. religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church all those who adhere to them. Religion is generally born out of culture where members of the culture create a system f beliefs and values. They also establish symbols that represent the belief structure and hold special meaning for believers. There are five major religions of the world these are: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Religions can be divided geographically. The content of this essay will focus on Judaism and Islam. This section will begin by the writer giving a brief overview of both religions. Judaism is a one of the oldest religions known to people. Judaism was born about 4000 years ago. Many famous people have been Jewish such as Moses, Jesus, Mahler, Marx, Freud, and Einstein. The history of Jewish people hasn’t been that easy. From the slavery in Egypt to the Holocaust in Europe, the Jewish people have lived a life filled with prejudice. It began with Abraham, the first Jewish person. It is Jewish belief that he made a covenant with God and was promised that he would be the father of a great nation. That nation became the Jewish people. Abraham and his sons and grandsons were called the â€Å"patriarchs†. They were Isaac, his son, and Jacob, his grandson. Jacob’s favorite son Joseph was also an important part of the early history. It was because of Jacob’s sons and their wrong doings that Joseph ended up in Egypt, eventually leading many Jewish people into the land of Egypt. Moses was one of the most famous Jewish prophets. He led the Jewish people out of slavery, led them to Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, a set of rules that people even today still follow. After Moses, the Jewish people had different leaders called judges, and then kings such as David and Solomon to guide them in the land called Israel. Jewish people lived in the land of Israel until 586BCE when they were exiled by the Babylonians. It wasn’t until 1948, about 2000 years later, that Jewish people were able to return to that land. History of Judaism: General Observations. Encyclop? dia Britannica. 2004. Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service. Islam is a monotheistic religious tradition that developed in the Middle East in the 7th century C. E. Islam, which literally means surrender or submission, was founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the world. The Quran, the sacred text of Islam, contains the teachings of the Prophet that were revealed to him from Allah. Essential to Islam is the belief that Allah is the one and true God with no partner or equal. Islam has several branches and much variety within those branches. The two divisions within the tradition are the Sunni and Shia, each of which claims different means of maintaining religious authority. One of the unifying characteristics of Islam is the Five Pillars, the fundamental practices of Islam. These five practices include a ritual profession of faith, ritual prayer, the zakat (charity), fasting, and the hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca). Many Muslims are characterized by their commitment to praying to Allah five times a day. One of the defining characteristics of Islam is the primacy of sacred places including Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Muslims gather at mosques to worship Allah, pray, and study scripture. There is not a sharp distinction between the religious and secular aspects of life in Islam; all aspects of a Muslims life are to be oriented to serving Allah. Islam expanded almost immediately beyond its birthplace in the Arabian peninsula, and now has significant influence in Africa, throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Oxford Handbook of Global Religions (2006) and the Religious Movements Page at the University of Virginia. The writer will also state five similairites about each religion and five differences. one common thing to both is that there is originator of each religion. The people of each religion endured hardships in their beginnings. Each religion had a major prophet, Judaism had Moses and Islam had Muhammad. The prophets of each religion received their book from God. They are also all monotheistic religions meaning both religions believe there is only one God. Both Jews and Muslims deny that Jesus is Divine or the son of God. Both believe that at least at one point in history Israel was the chosen nation by God. They also believe in angels and demons. They also believe that salvation can be given through correct belief and good deeds. The only ritual that these two religions have in common is prayer. The differences existing between both religions are relevant and one should be aware so as to be tolerant of each. In this paragraph this writers main objective is to highlight the differences between the Muslims and the Jews. The holy book of Judaism is called the Torah. The holy book of Islam is called the Quran. Muslims believe that there are some more prophets such as Jesus and Muhammad, whereas Jews reject both. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the Seal of all prophets. Jew do not accept that. The Muslim diet is much less restricted than the Jewish diet. Muslims believe that God had abandoned the nation of Israel as a result of their sins. Jews believe that their covenant with God can never be broken. Having compared both religions the objective of the writer is further expand on of each. The common ritual in both religion is prayer and so it will be explained. â€Å"New step In Religious Education† by Micheal Keene pages 64-65, 1997. Published by Stanley Thornes. States Prayer is the most important part of Muslims worship. There are two kinds of prayer in Islam. The salah is the most vital. The salah is a sequence of prayers done with both action and words. The sequence is called the rak’ah. It is compulsory that two rak’ah are done during the morning prayers, four at noon, three at sunset and four at night. This is preferably done in a mosque or in any clean place. During rak’ah worshippers stand, bows , kneels and touches the ground with his forehead. During Friday prayers in the mosque the imam leads all the worshipers through the sequence. Prayers are said in Arabic . While they pray the entire congregation turns towards the mihrab, so they are facing the holy city of Makkah. Worshippers can say his/ her own private prayers at the end of the set of prayers. These prayer du’a , are said in worshippers own language. These are ‘prayers of the heart’ and end with the person wiping their hands across the face to show they have received God’s blessing. The most important paryers are the ones which Muslims join with others. Muslims are expected to pray all the time. All that is required is a clean place, as this cannot be guaranteed, however the strict Muslim will use a prayer mat, called the Musulla. The mat is use facing Mekkah, which is located using a compass. In every religion prayer is an important element recitation of prayers is the central characteristic of Jewish worship. A Jewish law was passed which states that prayer should be done three times daily: in the morning, in the afternoon and at nightfall. These prayers are called morning prayer (shacharit), afternoon prayer (minchah) and evening prayer (arvith or maariv ). At the heart of each service is the Amidah or Shemoneh Esrei. Another key prayer in many services is the declaration of faith, the Shema Yisrael (or Shema). The Shema is the recitation of a verse from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4): Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad—Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God! The Lord is One! Most of the prayers in a traditional Jewish service can be recited in solitary prayer, although communal prayer is preferred. Communal prayer requires a quorum of ten adult Jews, called a minyan. In nearly all Orthodox and a few Conservative circles, only male Jews are counted toward a minyan; most Conservative Jews and members of other Jewish denominations count female Jews as well. In addition to prayer services, observant traditional Jews recite prayers and benedictions throughout the day when performing various acts. Prayers are recited upon waking up in the morning, before eating or drinking different foods, after eating a meal, and so on. The approach to prayer varies among the Jewish denominations. Differences can include the texts of prayers, the frequency of prayer, the number of prayers recited at various religious events, the use of musical instruments and choral music, and whether prayers are recited in the traditional liturgical languages or the vernacular. In general, Orthodox and Conservative congregations adhere most closely to tradition, and Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues are more likely to incorporate translations and contemporary writings in their services. Also, in most Conservative synagogues, and all Reform and Reconstructionist congregations, women participate in prayer services on an equal basis with men, including roles traditionally filled only by men, such as reading from the Torah. In addition, many Reform temples use musical accompaniment such as organs and mixed choirs. Micheal Keene pages 62-63, (1997).