Download The three religions I chose to compare for this paper are Hinduism

The three religions I chose to compare for this paper are Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. I
enjoyed learning about their religions, and their traditions. The fieldtrips were great learning
experiences. This class has been so interesting and fun.
First religion I’m going to talk about is Hinduism. Hinduism started in India and is
considered to be the oldest religion in the world. It is currently the third largest religion in the
world.
Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. They believe in many deities instead of one god.
Different deities are worshipped for different reason. Hindus believe there are three main Gods.
The first is Brahman, the creator. Then there is Vishnu, the preserver. Lastly, there is Shiva, the
destroyer. They help keep the world in balance.
Hinduism is considered one of the three Abrahamic religions. Abrahamic religions trace
their common origin back to Abraham. It shares this group with Islam, and Christianity.
Hindus see the world as a way to reach enlightenment. They believe in karma, and
reincarnation. Reaching enlightenment is so important to them. Hinduism is not a religion to
them. It’s a way of life. The way to reach enlightenment is to get rid of all karma and impurities
within. When you reach enlightenment the circle of reincarnation is broken, and your soul
reunites with Brahman.
The Holy text of Hindus is The Vedas. Which is also called Sruti, which means that
which is heard. They believe that this was given to the Hindu holy men from Gods. These are
usually expressed in hymns or rituals. Sounds are very important. Especially “OM” which is
considered to be the sound of the universe.
As far as worshipping, chanting mantras are the most popular form of worship. Yoga and
meditation are also other ways of showing devotion. Hindus can worship whenever they like.
Most homes have shrines in them. It is normal for worship to be done daily.
Although Hindus can pray at home, some choose to worship at temples. They can go any
day of the week. I don’t know about any specific times to go. Hindus sit before the temple’s
main shrine while a priest chants in Sanskrit and makes hand gestures that are meant to bring the
deity. Then a bell will be rang and offerings will offered to the statues of the deities. The deities
are bathed and dressed frequently.
At temples, Hindu women usually wear sari. Which is a South Asian female garment. It has a
drape that usually is worn over a petticoat. They are very colorful and beautiful. Men can wear
what they like. Some choose to wear a sharvani which is pants, a long sleeve shirt that goes
down to their knees. Before entering the temple, they are expected to take off their shoes. This is
to show respect for God’s place. Also, to help keep it clean.
Hindu temples are usually very decorated and colorful. It can be a little distracting if you
are unfamiliar with it. Even the peoples’ clothes have tons of color. Like mentioned before, the
statues of deities are dressed in colorful dressings. There seems to be a lot of gold coloring on the
outside and inside of the temples. At the temple I visited I saw some gold pots that were carried
around. I also saw colorful surroundings for the statues.
The Hindus were very friendly with non-members. They were happy to talk to new
people. They loved to teach about their religion, and culture. Everyone was very welcoming, and
inviting.
The second religion I’ll be talking about is Judaism. It started in Israel and is currently
the sixth largest religion in the world. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions.
As mentioned about, Judaism is a monotheistic religion. They only believe in one god.
They believe God is a powerful ruler of the universe. He is loving and just. They believe he is
concerned with the actions humans.
Jews see the world as needing to try to be obedient to God. They believe they need to be
a good example to others. If they are obedient to God then he will take care of them.
The holy texts of Judaism are the Tanakh, and the Torah. The Tanakh is the Hebrew
bible. The Torah is considered the foundational text. Tanakh is an acronym for Ta- Torah (law),
Na-Nev’im (prophets), and kh-Khetuvium (writings). The Torah are the five books of Moses.
They believe the Torah was given to Moses by God on Mount. Sinai.
Jews are expected to pray three times a day: The morning, afternoon, and evening. Like
most religions, it is believe praying regularly lets you get closer to God and strengthens the
relationship. There are three prayers that are used for different reasons. There is one for
thanksgiving. One for praise, and the last is a prayer that ask for things.
Jews usually worship at a synagogue. Synagogue means a meeting place. Which totally
makes sense. Most Jews attend the synagogue on Friday evening, and Saturday. Sometimes they
also go during the evening on Saturday.
The outside of synagogues are usually not decorated. Inside, the main focal point in the
worship area is the Ark of the Covenant. The synagogue I went to had a beautiful, massive Ark
of the Covenant. There were also fun needle point art pieces. Above the Ark of the Covenant
there was a beautiful glass piece that looked like a sunset.
Most Jews will wear nice, modest clothing when going to the synagogue. Men wear little
hats called kippah. Women can wear them as well. It is to show respect to God. Some people
will also wear prayer shawls. The synagogue I visited had prayer shawls that people could
borrow for the service.
The Jews are welcoming to non-members. When I visited a synagogue, everyone was
nice and willing to help when I visited the synagogue. Everyone was willing to answer questions
and fed us. They feel it is their duty to lead by example.
The last religion for this paper is Islam. Islam started in what is now known as Saudi
Arabia. Currently, it is the second largest religion in the world. It is also growing at a fast rate.
Islam is one of the youngest religions.
Like Judaism, Islam is also a monotheistic religion. They believe in the same God that
Jews do. People get confused because they use the word “Allah”. Allah is the Arabic word for
God. Muslims believe God is supreme ruler of the universe. And that he is characterized in
terms of judgement and power.
Muslims believe that in this world you are to worship and praise God. If you are good
then you will get rewarded. This world is to prepare for the afterlife. After you die, you are
judged. Afterlife is full of rewards or punishment.
The holy text for Muslims is the Qur’an. Muslims believe God verbally revealed the
Qur’an to Abraham through the angel Gabriel. Muslims believe the Quran to be the book of
divine guidance. It tells them how to live a good, abundant, and rewarding life when they are
obedient to Allah.
Muslims pray five times a day every day. The first prayer is Salat al-fajr which should be
done at dawn or before sunrise. The second is Salat al-zuhr is done at midday or after the sun
passes its highest point. Next is Salat al-asr which is done during the late part of the afternoon.
Salat al-maghrib is the prayer done after sunset. The last is Salat al-‘isha is done between sunset
and midnight.
Muslims pray as if they were in front of Allah. There is no need for a priest to be present
during prayer. They pray so often because Allah told them to. They also believe that they obtain
great benefits from the prayers. Prayers can be done anywhere. There is a lot of bowing involved
in preforming prayers. Also, there is a lot of touching the head to the ground.
Mosques are where Muslims will perform public and communal prayers. Muslim males
are required to attend Friday midday prayers. Females are not required to attend at this time, but
are welcome to if they want.
Mosque are usually not very decorated on the outside. They may have a half-moon and a
star on the outside. That is the symbol of the Islamic religion. Inside the mosque, there is not a
lot of decoration inside. They don’t want worshippers to be distracted by decorations. Muslims
are there to worship and get closer to God. The mosque I visited had some nice, pretty flooring
and a chandelier. The focal of the women’s area (men and women are separated) was the screen
to watch the Imam preach. The focal point of the men’s area was the mihrab. A mihrab is a
semicircular niche in a wall of the mosque. This lets Muslims know where to pray that is pointed
towards Mecca. This is also where the Imam stands while preaching.
While at the mosque, some men wear kurtas, which are loose shirts that are long enough
to reach somewhere below the knees. Traditionally, they were worn with loose fitting pajamas.
Men are fine as long as they wear long pants and long sleeve shirts.
Women are expected to wear long pants, and long shirts like the men. They are also
required to cover their head and hair. Most women use hijabs for this. Just like with the Hindus,
Everyone is to remove their shoes before entering the mosque. They are entering God’s house
and want to be respectful.
When I visited a mosque, I encountered some very nice ladies who were more than
willing to answer questions. They were also interested to learn about us. The Imam invited all
visitors to come down and ask any questions. Muslims seem welcoming to non-members.
Although, I feel like they like most of the members are a little more reserved than members of
the other religions I visited.
These three religions have many differences, but also have similarities. Religion is very
important to all three groups. They all believe in a higher power. Prayer is a basic, but important
part of their worship. And of course, all have their own holy text. I hope this paper was
educational and interesting.