Download A Kaleidoscope of Faith

By Susan Davis Gryder
A Kaleidoscope of Faith
Religions of the World and a World of Diversity
For many, religious faith is
a fundamental facet of their
identity. Understanding
some of the basic tenets of
that faith is a crucial step in
building an atmosphere of
inclusion and respect.
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Across all corners of the globe, you will find
people of faith. The Pew Research Group estimates that an astonishing 84% of the
world’s population is affiliated with some kind of religious organization or tradition;
in 2010, this included 2.2 billion Christians, 1.6 billion Muslims, 1 billion Hindus,
500 million Buddhists and 14 million Jews. Add dozens of other formal religious
groups around the world, including Baha’is, Jains, Sikhs, Shinto, Wiccans and
more. Folk or so-called “traditional” religions are practiced by some 400 million
people in Africa and China, as well as many Native Americans and Australian
aboriginal people. Plus, there are 1.1 billion people who have no religious affiliation,
which adds to the extraordinary diversity that we humans exhibit when it comes to
faith.
This incredible kaleidoscope certainly is reflected in our own population here in
the United States. While the majority of adults in this country—nearly 80%—identify as Christian of various denominations, many other religions are represented in
our population, too. With rising populations of immigrants from Asia and Africa,
you may be encountering a wider array of faith traditions in your community today
than perhaps you did as a child.
For most of us, our faith—or lack of it—is an integral aspect of our identity.
Disrespect, disparagement, stereotypes and downright bigotry about our beliefs can
be as hurtful as attacks on our race, age, gender, sexual orientation or physical
attributes. Building our awareness of faith traditions that differ from our own does
not diminish our personal beliefs, but it can make a world of difference in establishing a welcoming culture of understanding, tolerance and respect. We all have to
live—and work—together, after all.
The pages that follow offer a very brief overview of some of the world’s major
faith traditions. This article isn’t intended to be an in-depth study in comparative
religions, but merely provide you with a simple introduction that may help you to
understand a co-worker, a student customer or a neighbor just a tiny bit better.
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T
hree monotheistic religions have their origins in the
Middle East and share some of the same traditions:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The oldest of these,
Judaism, was founded more than 3,500 years ago,
and is a monotheistic religion, which means that its followers believe
in a single God. In the Jewish faith, God is considered transcendent,
all-knowing and all-powerful; a God who has always existed—and
who always will.
Jews believe that they are God’s chosen people—not because
they are better than anyone else, but because they have a mission,
having made a covenant with God: in exchange for God’s favor, they
keep His laws and work to bring holiness into their daily lives. Jewish
tradition includes several holy days: although Hanukkah and Passover
probably are the most well-known, the most important holidays
include Rosh Hashanah (the New Year of the Jewish calendar) and
Yom Kippur (the traditional day of atonement). In addition, Jews
observe many rituals tied to milestones in a person’s life, from birth to
coming-of-age ceremonies (Bar/Bat Mitzvahs) at age 13, to traditions
for mourning the dead.
The Jewish holy book is known as the Torah, which strictly refers to
the five Books of Moses but is often used to refer to the collection of
books known by non-Jews as the Old Testament. In addition, Jews
read and study a set of commentaries and explanations of the Jewish
Scriptures called the Talmud. In fact, study of sacred texts is a lifelong
duty, and the Jewish place of worship, the synagogue, can be thought
of both as a house of prayer and a house of study, led by a spiritual
leader known as a rabbi. Congregations vary in how strictly they
observe traditional Jewish custom or interpret Jewish law; Jews may
follow an orthodox tradition, or be part of congregations that
consider themselves Reform, Reconstructionist or Conservative.
Although the Jewish faith originated in the Middle East, events
throughout early history led to a scattering of Jewish populations
around the world, with large groups settling in Spain and what is now
Germany and Eastern Europe. The Jewish population of Europe was
almost wiped out during World War II, in the genocide known as the
Holocaust. Today, there are about 14 million Jews in the world, with
the majority (80%) living in Israel and the United States.
Did You Know?
Judaism
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exts written in Hebrew are read from right to
T
left.
The small, dish-shaped cap worn by many male
Jews, especially during religious ceremonies, is
called a yarmulke.
Say “mazel tov” when you wish someone
congratulations for a new baby or a wedding.
Christianity
C
hristianity also has its origins in the Middle East, in the
story of Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe that Jesus
was the Son of God, sent to earth to save humanity from
its sins. Christianity teaches that Jesus, a Jewish
preacher with radical ideas who was crucified in Jerusalem by the Romans,
was resurrected and rose to heaven. Although Christianity is also a
monotheistic religion, Christians believe in God as three entities: God the
Father, Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit, collectively known as the Trinity.
The Christian holy book is the Bible, and consists of both the Old
Testament (roughly equivalent to the Jewish Bible) and the New Testament
(which contains stories of Jesus’ life and teachings as related by the
Apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). The holiest days in the Christian
year are Easter, commemorating the day that Jesus rose from the dead and
ascended to heaven, followed by Christmas, a celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Today, there are more than 2 billion Christians in the world—a number
that’s quadrupled over the past 100 years, according to the Pew Forum.
The Christian Church was, for most of its history, divided into followers of
the Roman Catholic Church, whose leader, the Pope, is based in Rome, and
followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which today includes orthodox
churches in Greece and Russia, along with other Eastern European
countries.
A third major branch of Christianity, Protestantism, arose during the
Reformation in Europe, in the 16th century. Begun as an attempt at
reforming the Catholic Church, it resulted in the establishment of a new
group of denominations, each with its individual views on such subjects as
sacred texts, rites like baptism and communion and forms of worship.
Protestants make up two thirds of U.S. Christians, but they belong to
many different churches, from mainline Protestant to Evangelical to
historically African-American denominations, along with a number of
orthodox denominations and other distinct groups like Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Christian Scientists.
Did You Know?
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yy
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I
t’s estimated that 50 copies of the Bible are
sold every minute. It’s also said that the Bible is
the world’s most shoplifted book.
Modern lists count 266 popes heading the
Roman Catholic Church, starting with St. Peter,
who was an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Charlton Heston starred in the top two
highest-grossing Biblical theme movies:
“Ben-Hur” (about a Hebrew prince who
encounters Jesus) and “The Ten Commandments” (about the life of Moses).
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The
Mormon
Church
O
ne of the fastest-growing religions in
the world today traces its beginnings
to 19th-century America. The
Mormon Church, also known as the
Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints (LDS
Church), now has 15 million adherents worldwide.
In addition to the Old and New Testaments of the
Bible, Mormons follow the teachings found in the Book of
Mormon. Church founder Joseph Smith asserted that an
angel showed him golden plates containing the text of
this book and published it in 1830. Smith founded his first
churches in New York, Missouri, Ohio and Illinois, but his
followers faced often-violent persecution. Eventually, Mormons crossed the country to what
is now Utah. There, in a place of relative isolation, they founded a society consistent with their
beliefs and religious practices.
Mormons believe that, over the centuries, Christians went astray from God’s original
intent, and that Joseph Smith’s revelations represent a return to the early Christian church. In
this belief system, people had an existence as God’s spirit children prior to their mortal
existence. During their lives on Earth, Mormons learn and progress in their faith until they are
resurrected into one of many kingdoms in the afterlife. By accepting LDS teachings and living
according to Mormon law and tradition, a person can be resurrected into the highest level of
the kingdom of heaven.
Mormons worship in congregations called wards, and services are typically led by lay
members of the church. Mormons are asked to avoid tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, as well
as addictive behavior such as gambling. Family life is considered so important that Mormons
believe that the family unit stays together even in the next life.
From the beginnings of the LDS Church, Mormons have stressed the importance of
missionary work. Today, young Mormon men typically serve on a two-year mission, often
abroad, and there are Mormon congregations in many countries around the world, including
high percentages in some South American countries, as well as nations in the South Pacific.
Did You Know?
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he Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of 360 men and women, all
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volunteers, and all who are members of the LDS Church in good standing.
The choir was founded in August 1847. Since 1929, the choir has performed
a weekly radio broadcast.
yy A religious satire musical by the creators of the animated comedy “South
Park,” “The Book of Mormon” won nine Tony awards and an original
Broadway cast recording became the highest-charting album in this genre in
more than four decades.
yy Famous Mormons include The Osmond Family, NFL Football Coach Andy
Reid, Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer, Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
© 2013 Tyson Foods, Inc.
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Islam
T
he religion of Muslims is known as Islam, the third
monotheistic religion with its origins in the Middle
East. The word “Islam” is derived from the Arabic
word for peace that signifies submission or surrender
to the will of God.
Muslims believe that God sent a series of prophets to show
people how to worship Him. These prophets included many familiar
to readers of the Old and New Testaments—such as Noah, Abraham,
Moses and Jesus—as well as the last of the prophets, Muhammad.
Muhammad, who lived on the Arabian Peninsula in what is now Saudi
Arabia, received his first message from God (or Allah, in Arabic) in
the year 610 from the Angel Gabriel, and he continued to receive
Allah’s revelations over a span of 23 years. The holy book of Islam is
called the Qur’an (also written as “the Koran”).
To Muslims, the Qur’an represents the final and unadulterated
word of God, who is infinitely merciful and compassionate. Islam
teaches that spiritual piety must be balanced by just actions and
human responsibility in the world. This balance can be found in the
five pillars of the Muslim faith: the belief that there is no god but
Allah and that Muhammad is His prophet; the practice of prayer five
times daily, facing Mecca (the location of the holiest site of Islam,
called the Ka’aba); charity to the poor; fasting during the month of
Ramadan; and making a pilgrimage (a “Hajj”) to Mecca at least once
during one’s lifetime. Muslims worship in a mosque, where prayers
are led by a spiritual leader called the imam.
Islam has several denominations; the largest is Sunni, comprising
85% of the world’s Muslims. 15% of Muslims are Shi’a. These two
denominations differ on how leadership of the faithful should be
determined. There also are much smaller sects within Islam, such as
Sufism (a mystical approach to Islam). Today, Islam is truly a world
religion, with sizeable populations not only in the Middle East, but
also on every continent, with particularly large populations in
northern and western Africa, South Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia,
Russia, China and North America.
Hinduism
H
induism is the third-most practiced religion in the
world, with almost 1 billion followers, most of whom
live in India. Hinduism has no specific founder or
origin story. In fact, the name “Hinduism” is an
outsider’s derivation of the word “India” itself; its adherents refer to
it as “Sanatana Dharma” or eternal law. Hinduism might be thought
of as a group of varied religious traditions and diverse beliefs,
developed over millennia, which have certain common aspects. Most
Hindus believe in the authority of their sacred texts, called vedas,
and of their priests, called brahmans. Hinduism has no official leader
or hierarchical structure; worship happens in temples, as well as at
shrines, often in the home.
Hindus believe in reincarnation of the soul from one body to the
next, as well as the law of karma, which says that one’s actions have
an effect both in this life and in future lives to come. In this way, the
moral implications of one’s deeds in this life have a direct effect on
the next life. For Hindus, this explains the presence of good and evil
in the world, as well as why misfortune might happen to good
people. The objective of a life well-lived is to reduce bad karma and
achieve a better life the next time, with the ultimate goal of ridding
oneself of karma entirely and ending the cycle of rebirth. There are
many paths to this goal, from selfless service to others, to study and
intellectual understanding, to religious devotion and meditation.
Most Hindus worship one or more primary deities, many of whom
can take multiple forms, and possibly one or more local gods, as
well—but all gods are seen as manifestations of a single
divinity or divine universal spirit known as Brahman. The
Did You Know?
three primary deities are Brahma, the creator of the
yy Muslims worldwide observe the ninth month of the Islamic calendar
universe; Shiva, the destroyer; and Vishnu, the preserver.
as Ramadan, a period of fasting (from dawn to sunset), increased
The representations of Hindu gods can be full of
prayer, spiritual reflection and charity. In 2014, Ramadan begins
symbolism and meaning. For example, Shiva is often
June 28 and ends July 28.
depicted as having three faces, representing a male aspect
yy Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of true Islamic
teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh were to Christianity. Extremism is a problem that is common to all religious groups.
yy Renowned boxer Muhammad Ali is a practicing Muslim. So are
Shaquille O’Neal, rapper Akon and medical celebrity Dr. Mehmet
Oz.
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(the destroyer), a female aspect (the restorer
or giver of repose) and the reconciliation of
these two aspects in one supreme being.
Vishnu is associated with protection and
restoration of order to the world. He usually
is shown with four arms, each holding
symbols of divinity, and is often depicted
sleeping, waiting for the next time that the
world is destroyed and renewed.
Hindus celebrate many festivals, including
Diwali (New Year), which features gift giving
and the lighting of ceremonial lamps, and
Holi, the beginning of spring. Rituals and
ceremonies are common, and take place
both in temples and at home.
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Did You Know?
yy
indus do not worship cows as
H
deities, although they do revere
them as a symbol of life and do
not kill them for food or
clothing.
yy The red dot worn on the
forehead of many Hindu
women is both a religious
symbol and a beauty mark.
Called a bindi, it can represent
divine sight, an emphasis on
intellect and concentration.
yy The word “om” or “aum” is a
mantra in many meditative
practices and is of Hindu origin.
It is placed at the beginning of
most Hindu texts to be intoned
at the start and conclusion of a
reading or prayer.
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Buddhism
I
f the core of Hinduism focuses, at least in part, on
looking deep within to understand and improve
one’s soul, Buddhism is about understanding that
there is no permanent soul, a concept known as
anatman. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion—it has no
god or deity. Its 300 million adherents follow the
teachings of the Buddha, or Awakened One.
The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince,
in 563 B.C., in an area that is now part of Nepal. After
rejecting his life of luxury and indulgence, he spent six
years meditating on the true purpose and meaning of life.
The Buddha concluded that life consists of suffering,
because it includes pain, illness, death and negative
emotions. This suffering is caused by craving what we
want and avoiding what we don’t want.
This struggle creates a powerful energy that doesn’t
dissipate when the body dies, but rather
continues into another life. Suffering can
be overcome by giving up cravings and
living each day in the moment. Buddhists
try to do this by living a moral life,
focusing the mind, developing wisdom
and practicing compassion. People who
perfect this discipline over many lives
eventually will not be reborn. Although
similar to the Hindu concept of reincarnation, Buddhists do not believe in a
permanent soul that moves from life to
life, but rather in the continuation of
mental and physical energies from one
life to the next. The Buddha’s teachings
about the truth were recorded by his
followers in documents known as Sutras
and are chanted today as part of
Buddhist ritual.
Did You Know?
yy
yy
yy
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he Dalai Lama is the high lama in the school of Tibetan
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Buddhism.
Numbers carry great significance in Buddhism. There are
Three Jewels/Refuges, Three Delusions, Three Trainings,
Four Noble Truths, Four Reminders, Four Vows, Five
Precepts, Five Hindrances, Six Perfections and much more.
Celebrities with a bona fide tie to the practice of Buddhism
include actors Steven Seagal and Richard Gere and singer
Tina Turner.
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Sikhism
T
he fifth-largest religion in the world, with 30 million
followers, the monotheistic religion called Sikhism
was founded by Guru Nanak more than 500 years
ago in the Punjab region of what is now India. The
word Sikh means “disciple” or “student,” and Sikhs are followers of
the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors.
Sikhs believe in the oneness of an omnipresent God with all
things. Sikhism stresses the intermingling of the spiritual (miri) and
temporal (piri) worlds; a Sikh’s active, positive engagement in
everyday life is as important as spiritual endeavors. Sikhs believe in
sharing and equality, and consider all world religions to
have equal validity in leading people toward enlightenment. Sikhs do not view God as having a male or female
gender or even a worldly form; humans do not go to
heaven after death, but rather unite with the timeless
aspect of the world.
The sacred text of Sikhism is known as the Guru
Granth Sahib, and observant Sikhs recite from it daily,
from memory. Their place of worship is called a
gurdwara; one particularly significant custom at the
gurdwara is the community meal, to which all are
welcome. Most Sikhs do not cut their hair, and men
often wear turbans called dastars, wrapped in a
distinctive style. Consumption of alcohol, drugs and
tobacco is forbidden, and the religion discourages
materialism, bragging, lying, slander and the practice
of eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner. Sikhism
has no class of priests; any Sikh can choose to lead
recitations or other observances.
BONUS WEB CONTENT
S
ome 400 million Chinese practice what is called
Chinese Traditional Religions. You can learn
about this faith as part of this issue’s online
extras. Visit www.schoolnutrition.org/snmagazine
bonuscontent to access the article.
Sikhism Did You Know?
yy
yy
yy
trict practitioners of the faith do not cut their hair, but let it
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grow as a symbol of their faith. Turbans for men are a
religious requirement, not a social custom, and must be
worn at all times in public.
All Sikh temples, gurdwaras, across the globe must have
four doors to show that they are open to all, as well as a
community kitchen to demonstrate equality of all people,
irrespective of caste, creed, religion, race or sex.
Sikhs do not believe in fasting.
Protecting Diversity, Ensuring Respect
This incredible diversity in faith traditions is found in communities
large and small—and it’s reflected in U.S. schools, particularly in areas
that are close to large urban centers or where there are groups of
immigrants who follow specific religious traditions. School nutrition
programs often are at the forefront of demonstrating respect for religious
diversity in schools, particularly reflected in the foods that are served
and the extensive labeling of menu options to ensure students can
choose foods that are consistent with their religious practices. Many
faiths have dietary restrictions: Buddhist and Hindu students may
require vegetarian options, while Muslims may avoid pork products,
some Jewish students might need to choose kosher options or avoid pork
and certain Christians may elect not to eat meat on Fridays.
According to attorneys Shamus O’Meara and M. Annie Santos, writing in the American School Board Journal, there’s very little legal
guidance for schools on the accommodations that must be made for
religious dietary restrictions. In fact, they point out, the very issue is
muddled: If a specific group lobbies to eliminate certain foods from a
menu all together, because those foods violate their dietary laws, does
this infringe on the freedom of others? And while the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause might be interpreted as requiring that a
public school system provide meals that conform to students’ faithbased dietary restrictions, could too much accommodation prompt a
conflict with the First Amendment’s clause separating church and
government? Navigating these questions can be tricky, but O’Meara and
Santos conclude that schools should make reasonable adjustments to
menus to allow for students’ religious dietary requirements by offering a
variety of food choices and clearly labeling menu items.
Don’t be afraid or suspicious of practices that differ from your own.
Show interest and ask polite questions to demonstrate your desire to
learn. Above all, remember that understanding faith traditions is a
critical step in making students—and coworkers—of all faiths feel
welcome in our cafeterias and schools. SN
Susan Davis Gryder is a freelance writer based in Silver Spring, Md. Photography by
Dmitry Kianov and iStockphoto.com.
To Your Credit: For CEUs toward SNA
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test on page 106.
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