Compare and contrast the human search for ultimate meaning in Christianity and one of the four other major religious traditions.

AS and A Level Religious Studies & Philosophy

FOCUS QUESTION- Compare and contrast the human search for ultimate meaning in Christianity and one of the four other major religious traditions.

INTRODUCTION

In the following report characteristics that contribute and help believers live a good, healthy life and find the ultimate meaning will be discussed in the seven characteristics of religion. The seven characteristics of religion are belief, structure, sacred stories, symbols, ethics, rituals, and rites of passage. Humanity tern to these characteristics for guidance and help.

BELIEF

A belief is a feeling that an idea is real or true. Beliefs are shared by all followers of the faith and are one of the most important characteristics of a religion. Both Christianity and Islam believe in a higher being, better known as God (Christianity) and Allah (Islam). They also share the belief in a soul creator, an afterlife and both have religious idols who represent the higher being, in human form (example- saints in Christianity and prophets in Islam ). Both Christians and Muslims believe in Jesus Christ, although Christians accept him as God, where as Muslims acknowledge him as a prophet, nothing more. Women in the Christian religion are seen as being equal to men, where as in the Islamic law and custom, women are subservient to men. Arguably, this must be one of the biggest differences between these two religions. Debatably belief is one of the biggest ways humans search for ultimate meaning.

STRUCTURE

Structure is the hierarchy of a religion/group. These govern or guide group members and also organize and manage their activities. The structure indicates each members responsibilities and duties as a follower of the religion.

The Christian religious hierarchy is as follows;

Head of church
Clergy
Laity (followers of the faith)

The Islamic religion on the other hand has no specific hierarchy although they have:

Imam – leads the prayer but is not elevated above anyone else

2. Hafiz – a holy man.

3. Wahabi – an Islamic scholar.

4. Talib- a student studying Islam

5. Tablik- another type of student who studies only religious aspects put political.

This is the closest order the Islamic religion has to a hierarchy. Hierarchy is ...

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The Christian religious hierarchy is as follows;

Head of church
Clergy
Laity (followers of the faith)

The Islamic religion on the other hand has no specific hierarchy although they have:

Imam – leads the prayer but is not elevated above anyone else

2. Hafiz – a holy man.

3. Wahabi – an Islamic scholar.

4. Talib- a student studying Islam

5. Tablik- another type of student who studies only religious aspects put political.

This is the closest order the Islamic religion has to a hierarchy. Hierarchy is very important in the search of ultimate meaning as it helps govern believers to the rightful way of acting and thinking.

SACRED STORIES

Sacred stories refer to the historic books with parables about important figures. These stories reflect on the religion and how one should live, using examples of behaviors and practical applications of rules by mentors. These are found in the holy book in both religions, known as the Bible referring to Christianity and the Koran in reference to Islam. They both include teachings from religious idols – The apostles (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) in Christianity, and prophets (Mohammed and Jesus) in Islam. Whilst the apostles wrote the Christian Gospels Mohamed’s life story was written in the Hadith, even though this was of less importance to the Islamic religion. The differences between Christianity and Islam is that in the Christian gospels was written by the apostles were as the Koran was not written by the Islamic prophets. The similarities of the two religious Holy Books are that they both have stories from mentors and also have ways on how one should live his /her life. These sacred stories help the readers in the search for ultimate meaning by informing on how to live and act not telling only informing.

SYMBOLS

Throughout the world religious groups are arguably noticed by their religious symbols. A symbol is a mark or sign with a special meaning. It can also be used to symbolize acceptance and being part of the group or religion. Symbols may also be viewed as an outward indicator that the person or people belong to a group or religion. In the Christian faith the symbol most acknowledged is the holy cross, with symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus (God). Where as in the Islamic religion is a moon-like shape with a star, which is situated on the right of the moon. The moon-like shape is a representative of Allah and the star represents the five pillars of Islam. Similarities between the symbols are that they both symbolize God or Allah. The difference is the reason why and how the symbols came about with its meaning. Symbols contribute to the ultimate search of meaning by confirming a belonging to a religion or group.

ETHICS

Ethics can be referred to as being a rule/rules for behavior, moral principal, philosophy, and guidelines for living a peaceful life as seen in the faith. In the Christian religion the significant ethical teachings are the ten commandments (Decalogue) the beatitudes or the golden rule. The Ten Commandments were given to man to live a peaceful, good and prosperous life. The Islamic religion also has what is called the five pillars of Islam. Similarly, to the Christian religion the five pillars of Islam are said to help lead and maintain the ideal lifestyle, which is following the Hadith, Koran and the Five pillars of the Islam which is in the Koran. The ten commandments and the five pillars of Islam are the fundamentals of the Christian and Islamic beliefs.

RITUALS

A ritual is a series of actions in a religious ceremony, which have been passed down from generations. Some of the Christian rituals are Holy Communion, Funeral rights, and commitment to faith, e.g. Confirmation. In Islamic religion, one of the few rituals that take place is prayer. Believers in the Islamic religion are said to pray 5 times a day. The prayers take place by facing Mecca, which is located at the front of the Mosque. There is no similarities between the Christian and Islamic religious rituals. The differences between the Islamic and Christian religion are in that in the Islamic religion there is no such thing as conformation of faith ,communion and baptism.

RITES OF PASSAGE

Rights of passage is associated with various events which signify different stages of development in a religion. The different Rites of Passage in the Christian religion are :

1.Communion

2.Reconsiliation

3.Holy orders (priest hood)

4.Baptism

5.Confermation

6.Marrage

7.Annointing of the sick

In the Islamic religion some of the rites of passage are :

1. The usual call to pray delivered by the mezzin from the minaret is whispered into the child’s ear immediately after birth . Seven days after birth , a naming ceremony takes place.

2. There are also ceremonies for marriage and death.

The similarities between Islam and Christianity is that they both have special ceremonies for marriage and death and for new born children who are newly introduces to the faith .Islam Don’t believe in baptism ,conformation, Holy orders, communion and reconciliation these are some of the differences of the Christian and Islamic religion. Rites of Passage is again an important part of finding the ultimate meaning as it helps understand the faith in more in-depth no matter what religion one belongs to.

VARIENTS

The variants of a religion is the differences within a religious or group. Even thought there are some minor differences in characteristics in each group the main unifying characteristics is the single deity .Christianity has many different branches to the faith. These branches are as follows:

1.Cathlic church

2.Orthadox churches

3.Anglican churches

4.Prodestant and Reformed churches

In the Islamic religion there isn’t as many groups or sects. There is only two different groups these are :

1.The Sunni and

2.The Shi’a

The big difference within both religions are that Christianity has more branches to the faith were as in the Islamic religion there is only two different ones. Ultimately the different churches (Christianity) or different mosques (Islam) are that at the end it helps with the search for ultimate meaning.

CONCLUSION

In summary the combination of the seven characteristics or religion Beliefs, Structures , Sacred Stories, Symbol, Ethics , Ritual, Rites of Passage help humanity with the ultimate search for meaning , by informing and helping man with the different questions about there specific religious belief and the correct way to live ones life according to there faith.