Exploring Outside Religions

Chardena Glass

Survey of World Religion

February 22, 2012

Exploring Outside Religions

I have abided by the Livingstone College code of ethics, all thoughts expressed are my own.

For centuries mankind has practiced, discussed, debated about, even had wars over which religion in particular holds true in the eyes of God. As a spectator I can only say that I hope that they are correct. The truth is that no one truly knows which religion is the most accepted by God, or which religion reigns on high. Most believers are introduced to their religion by their families and they are taught from an early age that the religions that their families are studying are the religion in which they should model their lives after. In my opinion as long as you follow the morals and beliefs of any religion chances are you will turn out to be a pretty respectable and noble individual, unless you have some radical belief that you should have a say so in the way that another adult lives their life or you feel that you have the right to end another human beings life because their views are different from yours.

Throughout the course of this paper I have decided to focus on two religious practices different and unique from my own. Through minimal research of two other religions I have a new found respect for as well as a generated several questions for the religions that I have explored in accordance with this assignment. I have chosen two widely practiced religions to base my report on. In this paper I will examine the teachings of the popular Islamic culture. I will also dissect a religion that has always been interesting to me and that is Scientology, almost no religion at all. Through the ins and the outs of each of these religions I can make the claim that I myself am practicing the religion that is right for me.

Similar to Christianity the Islamic faith is a monotheistic faith which means that they believe in one God. Also similar to Christianity the Islamic faith has different sects that are unique in their individual practices. The religious teachings come from the Quran. In the Muslim faith it is their belief that the Quran is Gods "Allah's" word verbatim as it came from him, and delivered it to his followers.

In the Islamic faith believers acknowledge Muhammad as the prophet sent by God, unlike the Christians who believe that Jesus Christ was sent to die for the sins of the world and save all of mankind. The Islamic culture has several practices that make their particular religion unique. Standard prayers, called Ṣalāh or Ṣalāt, must be performed at least five times a day. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is viewed as a personal communication with the believer that expresses gratitude and worship. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on ones circumstances. The prayers are spoken in the Arabic language, and consist of verses from the Qur'an.

Fasting, or‎ ṣawm in Arabic, from food and drink as well as other things must be performed from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadhan. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness and oneness with God, and during this time Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on God, confess and repent for their past sins, and pay recognition of the needy and less fortunate. Sawm is not required for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For