Major religious denominations
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What was the first spiritual religion?
Despite the fact that Hinduism is not a unified religion or organized into a distinct belief system, Hindus (as they have been identifying themselves for centuries as a result of conflict with other religions) roughly follow the same central traditions, which are understandable to all of the religion's diverse adherents. The first and most important of these is Hinduism's belief in the Vedas, which are four writings created on the Indian subcontinent between the 15th and 5th centuries BCE and are the faith's oldest scriptures, making Hinduism without a doubt the world's oldest religion. It has now evolved into a broad and adaptable tradition, notable for its ability to ‘accept potentially schismatic changes,' as historian Wendy Doniger puts it. In today's world, there are nearly one billion Hindus.
Which religion has only one God?
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all match the criteria of monotheistic, which is worshiping one deity while rejecting the existence of other gods. However, the three religions have a closer tie than that: they profess to worship the same god. While Judaism gave that god a name, “Yahweh,” both Christianity and Islam refer to him simply as “God” “Allah” means “The God” in Arabic, Islam's founding language.
After the failures of Noah's flood and the Tower of Babel, the three religions trace their roots back to Abraham, who, according to Genesis, had humanity's first interaction with God. Judaism and Christianity trace their roots back to Abraham's son Isaac, whereas Islam traces its roots back to Ishmael.
If Abraham marks the point at which faiths separate, they are all united up until that time. That unity may be traced all the way back to Adam, the first human, and his creation by God. Each religion celebrates and reveres Adam as the first person, focusing crucial theological themes on God's creation of humanity through Adam. God is the father of humanity as well as all religions.
Unfortunately, the mythology of being children of the same god as one's father does not lead to healthy ties between the three religions' adherents. Instead of being a happy family, they have devolved into a fighting bunch of kids. Political strife, tyranny, and violent attacks by members of these three religions, both against each other and against groups within their own religion, continue to roil the Middle East and the rest of the world.
To be honest, the violence and tyranny are not organized by religions. Indeed, they frequently express their displeasure with it. Instead, difficulties arise as a result of political or governmental authorities, as well as self-appointed (sometimes unlawful, immoral, and highly violent) religious groups. Terrorist deaths and damage, civil strife, and denial of human rights have so become associated with religious identities, and are frequently mentioned in the news.
In the midst of this trying time, an exhibition of approximately 50 paintings titled “The Overpass.” The paintings are from Middle Eastern artists who represent all three religions. They'll be on exhibit at the University of Wyoming's Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, the Lander Arts Center, Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, and Northwest College in Powell during September.
The subject of “The goal of “The Bridge” is to show how members of opposing faith communities can bridge the gap between them and go from conflict to peace. The artists have no illusions that their visual concepts would solve the Middle East's bloodshed, injustice, and other problems on their own, but they do hope that they will encourage thought and action via them.
The bridge is the subject of several paintings. A bridge, by definition, conveys a person across a hazardous area: a raging river, a deep valley, or a roadway clogged with speeding vehicles. One must have faith in the bridge to safely transport him or her across the danger. Lilianne Milgrom emphasizes this by displaying a yellow road sign that reads “Narrow Bridge” with the words “Fear Not” inscribed in red graffiti.
Isabelle Bakhoum takes a different approach in her artwork, which depicts a guy walking a tightrope while gripping a long pole. Three religious symbols are seen at either end. If the religions remain silent and still, he will maintain his balance and successfully cross. He will struggle to stay balanced if the religions move, hop around, and force the pole to vibrate. So, what happens next?
The motif of Adam and Eve appears in several paintings. Yasser Rostrom's is my personal favorite “The Tree,” he says. The bridge serves as a branch from which a masculine and female figure emerges. Their four arms are transformed into branches that extend upward toward God's hand that reaches down to them (a la Michelangelo). Three of the arms bear a symbol of a monotheistic religion, while the fourth is left vacant to represent other faiths.
Despite the fact that the hands form a polygon, God's hand comes down into the centre. The painting thus implies that they cannot reach God on their own, but only by coming together in the middle. Can they do it? Or, despite sharing the same parent, have they grown so far apart that they are now permanently estranged?
“The paintings in “The Bridge” show a wide range of styles and visions, all of which are delightful to look at and study. I strongly advise you to pay a visit to one of the exhibition sites and spend time with the participants.
What is the oldest religion?
While Hinduism has been dubbed the world's oldest religion, many adherents refer to their religion as Santana Dharma (Sanskrit:, lit.
What religions dont believe in God?
Atheism is defined as either a lack of belief in the presence of gods or a firm belief that gods do not exist. This belief system opposes both theology and organized religion's constructions. The word was first used in the ancient world to denigrate those who disagreed with popularly held religious beliefs. It was originally self-applied in 18th century France during the Age of Enlightenment. The French Revolution was fueled by a desire to put human reason ahead of religion's abstract authority. This sparked a period of skepticism, during which atheism rose to prominence as a cultural, philosophical, and political force.
What religion is closest to Christianity?
Islam and Christianity share a number of beliefs. They believe in the same things when it comes to judgment, heaven, hell, spirits, angels, and the afterlife. Muslims regard Jesus as a wonderful prophet who deserves to be revered. While the Qur'an places Jesus “in the company of those closest to God,” mainstream (Trinitarian) Christianity teaches without reservation that Jesus is God the Son, one of the three Hypostases (common English: people) of Christianity's Trinity, divinely co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Both religions believe in Jesus' virgin birth, miracles, and healings, as well as his bodily ascension into heaven. Muslims, on the other hand, do not accept Jesus as a son, believing that he was a human being who was loved by God and promoted to the ranks of the most righteous by God. They think God is a solitary entity, rather than the first person of the Trinity, as the vast majority of Christians believe. Furthermore, Muslims reject Jesus' crucifixion. Muslims do not allow the usage of icons, which they view to be shirk, because they only believe in the worship of a purely monotheistic God who never took on human form (idolatry). Iconoclasm was started in the Byzantine Empire because of Muslim influence, and their conquests prompted iconoclasm. They do not worship or pray to Muhammad, Jesus, or any other prophets for the same reason; they only pray to God.
Because they all base their faith on writings that are regarded to have a divine origin, Muslims, Jews, and Christians (among others) have historically referred to themselves, Jews, and Christians (among others) as People of the Book. Christians, on the other hand, do not regard the Qur'an as a true book of divine revelation, nor do they agree with the Qur'an's evaluation of Jesus as a mere prophet on par with Muhammad, nor do they accept Muhammad as a legitimate prophet. Saint John of Damascus labeled Islam as a Christological heresy in his 7th-century book Concerning Heresy, referring to it as the “heresy of the Ishmaelites” (see medieval Christian views on Muhammad). The position was popular in Christian circles well into the twentieth century, according to theologians like Congregationalist preacher Frank Hugh Foster and Roman Catholic historian Hilaire Belloc, who defined it as “Mohammed's great and persistent heresy.”
Parts of the Gospels, Torah, and Jewish prophetic literature, according to Muslims, have been forgotten, misconstrued, or twisted by their adherents. Muslims see the Qur'an as addressing Christianity's flaws from this standpoint. Muslims, for example, consider the Trinity, as well as any other manifestation of Jesus' divinity, to be incompatible with monotheism.
Not surprisingly, there has been a lot of disagreement and strife between the two faiths (an example being the Crusades). At the same time, there has been a lot of good discussion. Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas regularly quotes Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides and Muslim thinker Averroes (‘Ibn-Rushd) in his writings.
Pope John Paul II, the first pope to pray in a mosque, gave an address at Damascus' Umayyad Mosque on May 6, 2001, in which he said: “Muslims and Christians must continue to discuss philosophical and theological issues in order to gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of each other's religious beliefs. Better mutual understanding will almost certainly lead to a new manner of presenting our two religions in practice, not in competition, as has been the case in the past, but in partnership for the welfare of humanity.” The head of John the Baptist is said to be kept at this Damascus Mosque.
Why is Islam the most beautiful religion?
Islam is a lovely faith that preaches equality, peace, and compassion. The majority of Islamic scriptures are written in Persian, which is a very rich language that has produced some of the finest and most profound prose and poetry, literature that has a tremendous impact on the human soul. Bukhari, Rudaki, Ferdowsi, al-Ghazhali, and others are among history's deep thinkers and philosophers.
All beings are treated with kindness in the Quran. “There is neither an animal nor a flying creature with two wings on the earth, but they are people like you.” (Sura Al-An'am, or livestock, in the Quran, 6.38.) In his book Nahjul Balaga, Imam Hazzrat Ali advises Muslims not to turn their stomachs into a cemetery for innocent animals and birds.
In his famous Shah-nameh, Ferdowsi emphasized the importance of the cow in the shape of Barmayeh, who reared Fereydun to become a terrible warrior who subsequently avenged the slaying of this magical cow as well as his father by executing Zahhak and claiming the throne.
In his Ihya Ulum-id-din, Ghazali noticed that meat causes ailments, milk cures them, and clarified butter has medicinal properties. This idea is echoed by Tabarani, a well-known Hadith scholar, in Al Jami. More recently, Maulvi Mohammad Ismail authored the poem “Our Cow,” which was taught in primary schools until the 1960s and expressed gratitude to the Lord for creating such a benevolent creature as the cow.
Unfortunately, such philosophers and intellectuals appear to have perished or at the very least become an uncommon breed in modern times, notably in India. While countries such as Iran have taken Islamic tenets into account and implemented a complete ban on cow slaughter, the Hadith and Quran are openly disregarded in our own country. A sincere Muslim is someone who follows the teachings of the Quran and Islamic scholars and saints.
Prophet Muhammad was asked by his companions if charity to animals was rewarded in the afterlife, according to Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 104. He responded, ” “Yes, there is a just reward for being kind to all living things.” The Vedas, too, express the same sentiment. In the Vedas, cows are referred to as dhenu. According to Atharvaved (11.1.34), “Cow is the source of all blessings, as Dhenu sadanam rayeenaam says. Cow is indeed the source of creation's nourishment its milk and derivatives ghee, curd, butter, and so on are an important dietary component for humans; the dung is a fuel and a natural fertilizer; the urine is a natural pesticide and has medicinal uses; and the dung is a fuel and a natural fertilizer.
It is a sentient being, and inflicting harm on it has serious karmic consequences; similarly, serving it has several karmic rewards. The enormous benefits of conserving and serving this animal have been described in several cultures. It is stated that if you frequently feed cows and they lick your head, your secret mental powers would blossom this was true for the great saint Kabir, who only revealed his poetry abilities after being licked on the head by a cow.
Throughout history, both Hindus and Muslims in our country have revered and protected cows. According to Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar, Allah's Messenger said: “As long as a Muslim is not ordered to commit a sin, he or she must listen to and follow the ruler.” (No. 2796 in Sahih al-Bukhari)
Babar forbade Humayun from slaughtering cows. According to the Fatwa-e-humayuni, “In Islam, cow slaughter is not permitted.” A farman was issued by Bahadur Shah Zafar against cow slaughter. In our country, there was mutual respect and appreciation between both religions, which was shattered by colonial rulers' divide-and-rule tactics. There is a pressing need for Hindus and Muslims to come together through addressing religious doubts.
Let cow preservation be the uniting denominator, as it is mentioned in both religions. Both agree that the milk is nectar and the meat is death, which has now been medically confirmed. Cow flesh has high levels of coagulants, which thicken the blood and interfere with the regular functioning of the heart, resulting in a variety of cardio-vascular disorders and, in some cases, death.
Dr. Prasan Prabhakar, MD and owner of Kochi's Laxmi Hospital, says: “People who consume cow meat have a higher risk of high cholesterol and sudden death syndrome, in which the heart stops working and the individual dies.”
All religions emphasize the rule of karma (action and reaction), which states that you receive what you sow. According to Abdullah Bin Umar, Rasul once sentenced a woman to hell for tying a cat to her stomach and preventing her from eating (Sahih Al bukhari Muslim, 9:2365). According to Abu Huraira, a person gets absolved of his sins if he quenches the thirst of a panting dog (Bukhari 4:538).
It's hard to fathom what we're inviting upon ourselves by assaulting the cow that feeds and nurtures us. The impacts on our bodies are immediate, but the ramifications on our lives will take a few years to show, and the suffering that humanity is experiencing today may be the result of this cause.
Which is the most holy book in the world?
The book is written as a collection of short teachings or concepts rather than a story. The many ideas conveyed throughout the essay lend themselves to a bullet-point list in a summary. The appointment of Baháu'lláh's successor, who is unnamed in the text; the structure of the future Bahá administration, including the mention of the Universal House of Justice and allusions to what would later be known as the Guardian; certain laws, particularly around prayer, fasting, marriage, divorce, and inheritance; admonitions toward certain individuals; and a variety of specific laws, ordinances, and prohibitions, ranging from tithes to the death penalty; and
Aside from the primary themes listed above, the Synopsis and Codification contains 33 items under “Miscellaneous Subjects,” the final of six themes.
- The inseparability of the two obligations of recognizing the Manifestation and obeying His Laws
- The recognition of Him Who is the Object of All Knowledge is the culmination of all learning.
- Those who have understood the essential truth “He shall not be interrogated of His doings” are blessed.
- One of two markers of the human race's maturity is the adoption of a single language and a common script for all people on the planet.
- Condemnation for those who allow their vanity in their knowledge to keep them from knowing God.