Interested seeks Jew, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, or other major world religion to answer questions?

Question

Hi,
As part of a school project, I want to find out about different religions.
I would appreciate it if any answers are as full as you are able!
Specifically, I would like to know about:

1. Number of gods worshipped
2. Description or purpose of said god(s)
3. Contact practised with the god(s)- prayer, sacrifice, visions, omens, or other
4. What do you do with your religion at home- any daily rituals?
5. Names and descriptions of festivals
6. Views of other religions

Thanks very much for what I am sure will be very helpful!

ps, also see
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ap0n4zUBV9vsD.X0H7pWHV_sy6IX?qid=20060928133650AAcY0y6

Answer 1

Islam:
1.Number of gods worshipped: One God. Named Allah.
2. Description or purpose of said god(s):
Description of Allah: He is one, infinite, has no shape or relationship, nobody is on the top of him, no other god is there beside him. He is the ruler of all things in the universe. That’s why he is to be worshipped.
3. Contact practiced with the god(s)- To be close to Allah, Muslims have to observe 5 pillars of Islam: confession of faith, prayer five times a day, giving of alms to the poor, fasting in the month of Ramadan and Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.
4. What do you do with your religion at home- Only praying 5 times a day and reciting Quran.
5. Names and descriptions of festivals: Two Eids. 1. Eid ul Fitr 2. Eid Al-Adha
6. Views of other religions: Respects only Christians and Jews (They are named as People of the Book, Quran).

Answer 2

Buddhist

1. not applicable
2. not applicable
3. not applicable
4. chant the sutra, meditate, give offerings (food, candle)
5. Buddha's Birthday others.....
6. Some distorted things to other religions. But I'm not going to say because I am no expert on other religions.

Answer 3

Jewish:
1) One. undivided. (no trinity or anything)
2) Omniscient, Omnipotent, and omni-.... erm, omni everything really.
3) not entirely sure what you mean,
4) I don't, but some do, its not THAT elaborate per se.
5) a whole variety, way to many to list, see attached website.
6) Judaism does *NOT* claim exclusivity. that is, we do not belive we are the *only* way to god, merely A way.

Answer 4

there is not any longer something incorrect in helping a individual or animal in desire, in certainty it truly is an exceptionally commendable kindness. Jesus Christ as quickly as informed of a individual being robbed alongside the way develop into overwhelmed and develop into left a million/2 lifeless. a clergyman develop into on his way while he observed the bleeding guy, replaced direction and persisted on his way. yet another non secular guy got here, a Levite (clergyman) went close yet did no longer carry any finger to assist, then went his way. The 0.33 guy again develop right into a Samaritan, an outcast and recognized by potential of Jews as lawless. The Samaritan develop into without delay moved in compassion, as we communicate, he anointed the injuries with oil, bind them and he delivered the guy to interior sight hostel or inn. earlier leaving, the Samaritan exceeded the innkeeper passable quantity of money to cover the charges or perhaps promised to pay besides the fact that is due while he comes back. on the tip of the myth, Jesus asked his purpose audience, "Who do you think of did the superb concern?" Jesus taught, love your fellow guy as you like your individual. apart from, "LOVE YOUR ENEMY", "PRAY for people who PERSECUTE YOU" If Christians are to love and pray for people who harm them, how plenty extra for those vulnerable, needy and no longer able to harm every person?

Answer 5

Hinduism is a relentless pursuit of Truth. "Truth is God."
According to Thomas Berry, "In quality, in quantity, in significance for man's intellectual, cultural, and spiritual life, this literature in its totality is unsurpassed among all other literary traditions of the world."

"Hinduism is a process - for this reason, Hinduism must be studied not as a fixed body of doctrine, but as a developing tradition that has changed considerably throughout the centuries and which is still changing in a creative direction. Everything in India makes sense in the light of the changing process. Nothing makes sense without it. Hinduism is still a living, changing process and must be seen as such."

(source: Religions of India: Hinduism, Yoga, Buddhism - Thomas Berry p. 3-16).

Idol Worship (Symbolism)

Yes, said he, but just how many gods are there Yajnavalkya?" "Thirty three". "yes," said he, but just how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?" "One."
- Brhadaranyaka Upanishad III, IX, I

The richness of Hindu iconography

Hindus have represented God in innumerable forms. Each is but a symbol that points to something beyond; and as none exhausts God's actual nature, the entire array is needed to complete the picture of God's aspects and manifestations.

As the Vishnu Samhita puts it:

"Without a form how can God be mediated upon? If (He is) without any form, where will the mind fix itself? When there is nothing for the mind to attach itself to, it will slip away from meditation or will glide into a state of slumber."

Hindu Concept of God

"Truth (God) is one, the wise call it by various names"

and exhort us to "let good thoughts come to us from every where" in the Bhagavad Gita.

India has had an unrivalled tradition of religious freedom and tolerance. That tradition was born of the consciousness that truth can never be the monopoly of any one sect or creed.

The first statement of tolerance in Hinduism comes from the Rig Veda and the Bhagavad Gita:

"Let good thoughts come to us from all sides" or "The truth is one but the wise call it by many names" or Lord Krishna saying that "Whoever invokes a deity by whatever name, it is Me he invokes"

(source: Ayodhya and After - By Koenraad Elst Voice of India SKU: INBK2650 p.238).

Intolerance and persecution were alien to Hinduism. Encyclopaedia Brittannica defines Hinduism as: "In principle, Hinduism incorporates all forms of belief and worship without necessitating the selection or elimination of any. The Hindu is inclined to revere the divine in every manifestation, whatever it may be, and is doctrinally tolerant.... A Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a Hindu...he tends to believe that the highest divine powers complement each other for the well being of the world and the mankind."

Here is the site for basic concept of Hinduism. Its just one page. Chek it out.
http://www.hinduwisdom.info/introduction_to_hinduism.htm

Answer 6

This area of the site www.buddhanet.net may help with Buddhism.

The first three questions do not apply to Buddhism since it does not teach of there being a God(s).

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.htm

Answer 7

1- ONE
2- Obey him
3- prayers ,fasting, charity, Hajji
4- 5 daily prayers and other optional prayers.
5- 2 festivals : fitr (after ramadan) and Adha (after Hajji)
6- We respect followers of other religions but don't respect their religions ..

Answer 8

1. 0
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. I shower at least once daily and brush my teeth at least twice daily
5. On Saturday nights I usually try to go on a date or just out to a bar.
6. They're alright

Answer 9

Ooo maybe this question will take up the rest of my workday... LOL...

I want to preface this by saying that I am Pagan (Eclectic Pagan) which means that I draw my practices from various OTHER religions and spiritualities. However, the main religion that I draw from is Wicca and Witchcraft. In Paganism a person's spiritual path is very unique to that person so by answering your questions I can only speak for myself and not all other Pagans! So, here goes!:

1.) Number of Gods Worshipped:

In my personal spiritual practice I believe that there is one main Creator deity that created all things, is in and around all things. (Some call this view pantheism/panantheism.) I believe that this Creator deity is at the heart and soul of every world religion and that human beings are what distort 'God' into what they want him/her to be to suit their own purposes. However, I don't think that is always necessarily wrong. For this reason, I feel that all religions have some validity to them and that all religious visions are also valid to the person to which they appeared. I think that there is a 'right' and 'wrong' religion for every individual and that all people should chose the religious/spiritual path that THEY feel is right for THEM. (Not because everyone else says it's right.)

Also, I believe that many people split the Creator (Wiccans do, anyway) into a male and female aspect to relate to the Creator on a more personal level. (i.e. If I were pregnant and about to give birth I might feel more comfortable appealing and praying to a mother goddess who I feel would be more sympathetic to my situation. However, if I were a soldier in the war and I needed strength and courage I might want to appeal and pray to a male warrior god...)

So, that ties in with;

2.) Description of God(s):

I believe that God (the Creator who is genderless and encompasses the attributes of both genders at the same time, called 'androgynous'.) appears to us in the way that we are most comfortable with. God would want to appear in a way that is comforting and calming to us, so s/he does! Everyone's interpretation of God differs, and I think everyone is right!

3.) Contact Practiced with God(s):

Well, most pagans TRY to pray or meditate everyday to communicate with the Creator (God and Goddess). We try to be thankful for our blessings, and agree with all other religions that it is important to pray even when we don't NEED anything. Just for the sake of praying and communing with God. If I were God and people did that to me I would feel pretty used!

Also, we have two sets of 'holidays', if you will. One (set) centers around the lunar calendar (these are called Esbats) and the other (set) centers around the Solar calendar (Sabbats). We associate with Moon with the Goddess and the Sun to the God, so typically each 'holiday' is meant to honor mostly one or the other. (IMHO)

Esbats are celebrated at the Full and New Moons. (Or at least I do, some do New, Waxing, Full, Waning.) At the full moon the Mother Goddess is honored and prayed to. It is said that at this time magickal endeavours and prayers are more effective because the Goddess is at the peak of her power. As it states in the Charge of the Goddess (by Doreen Valiente):

"Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise."

At the new moon the Crone Goddess is honored. She is the Dark Lady of the Moonless night. She is powerful and wise and guards the gateway to the spiritworld and rules over death and rebirth. (And it therefore, also associated with the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, the young girl.) It is felt that divination ("fortune-telling") endeavours are most efficacious on these nights since the gateway between the spirit world and material world is slightly thinner.

There are 8 holidays in the Wheel of the Year (Sabbats). They include Samhain on Oct. 31st(Halloween/All Hallows Eve/Hallowmas/All Saints' Day), Yule on the Winter Solstice between Dec. 21-23(Christmas), Imbolc on Feb. 2nd(Candlmas), Ostara on the Spring Equinox(Eostre/Easter), Beltaine on May 1st(May Day), Litha on the Summer Solstic (Midsummer), Lughnasadh on August 1st(Lammas, Loafmas), and Mabon on the Fall Equinox (Harvest Home, Thanksgiving). Samhain is often called the Witches' New Year. For more indepth info on what the theme of each Sabbat is you can visit the following site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_year

4.) What do you do with your religion at home- any daily rituals

As mentioned above, most of us try to meditate and pray daily. I also keep a healing altar on which I place the name of people who need healing or that need to be prayed for. (like taking prayer requests during a church service!) Everytime I leave my apartment (because it's near my door) I take a few moments to send healing energy to all the names on it. This is a very personal and differing practice among Pagans. (Daily things, that is.)

5.) Names and descriptions of festivals

I answered this above... Here is another good link for some basic info about the Sabbats:

http://www.magicwicca.com/wicca/wheelexp.htm

6.) Views of other religions

I also mentioned this above...

"I feel that all religions have some validity to them and that all religious visions are also valid to the person to which they appeared. I think that there is a 'right' and 'wrong' religion for every individual and that all people should chose the religious/spiritual path that THEY feel is right for THEM. (Not because everyone else says it's right.)"

I will also add that a lot of Wiccans get very offended when it is suggested that they are Satanist. (because we wear a pentacle and it is a widely spread myth that witches and Wiccans worship the devil and we don't!) However, the fail to realize how insulting it is for THEM to be so insulted by the claim! Every religion has some kind of validity to it, and even though we AREN'T Satanist we should be able to give an intelligent answer as to WHY and explain that before they assume Satanism is all wrong they should consider picking up a book or typing a few words into Google! (http://www.churchofsatan.com has a lot of great info on Satanism)

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I hope that helps! If you have any other questions feel free to contact me!

Blessings and Light!

~RW

Answer 10

If you want some answers try the Urantia book