World Religions: An Overview for Christians

World Religions: An Overview for Christians
By Dyron Daughrity, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California
July 28, 2008

INTRODUCTION
Christianity is by far the largest religion in the world today. Over one-third of the world’s inhabitants consider themselves Christian. Christianity is also the world’s most global religion. This was not always the case; it was the result of mission efforts that have gone on throughout the religion’s history. Today, Christianity is in nearly every country on the planet.

Christianity has given birth to movements, institutions, epochs, discoveries, and even disasters that have significantly impacted humankind. Today, Christianity is the prominent faith in Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, Oceana, North and South America, and even has a few strongholds in Asia such as in the Philippines and South Korea.

We could say that in terms of sheer numbers, Jesus Christ could well be considered the most important person to have ever walked the face of the earth.

However, due to globalization, Christians are increasingly coming into contact with people from other belief systems. As people travel and as immigration continues, this will surely increase. The likelihood of a North American Christian meeting a person from another faith is very high. Thus, it is important that Christians know something of the other religions in existence today.

Understanding the beliefs and worldviews of non-Christians opens up potential for good relations. It is our Christian duty to understand people of other faiths so that we can have meaningful interaction with them. It is part of the Christian mission that we extend basic human dignity and goodwill to all our neighbors, serving them in the name of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, by engaging with people of other faiths, we create room for sharing the gospel message.

In this chapter, we will briefly outline some of the larger faiths in the world today. After setting each faith in historical context, we will discuss some of the more prominent beliefs and practices of these religions.

WORLD RELIGIONS: PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD’S INHABITANTS
There are close to 7 billion people in the world today. Here’s how some of the major religions break down in terms of percentage of the global population.

1) Christianity: 33%
2) Islam: 21%
3) Non-religious: 16%
4) Hinduism: 14%
5) Traditional Religions (including Shamanistic faiths, Taoism, and other local religions): 12%
6) Buddhism: 6%
It can be seen that approximately one in three (33%) of the entire planet is a professed Christian. Approximately one in five (21%) claims to be Muslim. Added together, Christianity and Islam are followed by over half of the world’s inhabitants. Hinduism is a distant third at around 14% of the total human population, in spite of the fact that the vast majority of Hindus live in India. India has well over a billion citizens, the second most in the world. If projections prove correct, India will surpass China as the most populated country in the world within a few decades. Buddhism, at 6%, is the last major religion which has any strong statistical significance in the world today. After Buddhism, we are left with a dizzying array of small religions and a fairly significant percentage of people (16%) who claim no religion.

The rest of the religions of the world such as Judaism, Sikhism, Jainism, Bahai Faith and Zoroastrianism are 1% of the world’s population or less.

In the next section we will walk through several of the world’s faiths in order to give a broad overview of what people in other religions believe.

ISLAM
What is the history of Islam?
Islam began with the Quran (sometimes spelled Koran) being revealed to a man named Muhammad in the year AD 610. The Quran is the sacred book of Islam. (Special note: AD means “anno domini” or “the year of the Lord.” Non-Christians will often use the designation CE instead of AD. CE stands for “common era” but means the same thing as AD.)

All Muslims believe that Muhammad received God’s final revelations (his final words to humanity) between the years of 610 and 632 AD. Through a series of military conquests known as jihad, Islam became the religion of the majority of the Middle East and of North Africa in less than a century. Through mission work and military expansion Islam grew rapidly. Today it is the second largest religion in the world, with over a billion adherents.

It is important to point out that there are two major forms of Islam that differ somewhat. There is Shi’a Islam and Sunni Islam. Shiites constitute only about 15% of the world’s Muslims. They see things a little differently than the “Sunnis” who are by far the largest segment of Islam. They disagree with the Sunnis on several issues, most importantly the issue of the early leadership of the Ummah (the Islamic community). Shiites believe that the leadership of the Ummah should be firmly in the hands of Muhammad’s descendants. Sunnis do not hold to this. The two groups split over this precise issue shortly after Muhammad died.

What are the Islamic Scriptures?
Muslims believe in the Quran, which they hold to be the revelations given to Muhammad from God through the archangel Gabriel between the years of 610 and 632 AD. They also trust in many of the Hadith, or, the stories about Muhammad and the early Islamic community. Muslim Scriptures contain many Christian stories; for example, they deal extensively with biblical figures such as Adam, Abraham, Jesus, and Mary. However, Muslims believe the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians became corrupted throughout history. Nevertheless, Muslims believe that Jews and Christians are considered “people of the book” and should be treated better than polytheists (those who believe in the existence of many gods) and others who have no connection to the Bible or the Quran.

What are the most important teachings of Islam?
Muslim teaching revolves around the “Five Pillars of Islam”:
A. The declaration of faith: “There is no God but God and Muhammad is His prophet.”
B. Five obligatory prayers every day.
C. Almsgiving to charity—usually around 2% of a person’s income.
D. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
E. A pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina (in Saudi Arabia) at least once in a Muslim’s life, if possible.

What is the Muslim view of God?
Muslims believe in the God revealed in the Jewish Torah. They call this God “Allah.” However, they believe that Jews misunderstand certain teachings about God. They strongly disagree with the Christian idea of the Trinity—that God is three united as one. Muslims are strict monotheists in this sense. In fact, the Quran condemns the notion of the Trinity at several points.

What do Muslims say about marriage and family?
Muslims should normally marry. Muslim men can have up to four wives, however, all wives must be provided for equally. Muslim men can marry Jewish, Christian, or Islamic women. However, Muslim women can only marry Muslim men. Muslims believe it important to have children. Fertility rates in Islamic countries are normally quite high because they strongly support having children.

Where in the world can Muslims be found?
The Islamic world is primarily located in the Middle East, North Africa, parts of Central Asia, and Indonesia. This is often referred to as “the Islamic Crescent” because if you look at the heartland of Islam, which extends from Mauritania (Africa) in the West to Kazakhstan (central Asia) in the East, you’ll see the shape of a crescent, or half-moon. It is important to point out that Indonesia has the most Muslims in the world. India has many Muslims as well although they are a minority faith there. As mentioned earlier, Shiites are a minority when it comes to Islam; however, there are a majority of Shiites in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain. Lebanon has a significant Shiite community. You’ll find Shiites scattered in pockets all over the Islamic world.

What are Islam’s most holy places?
Muslims revere the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina most. Additionally, many Shiites hold a particular reverence for charismatic leaders and where they live, since they believe them to be the descendants of the prophet Muhammad.


HINDUISM
What is the history of Hinduism?
Hinduism is a very old religion, yet it is important to point out that there is not one distinct religion known as Hinduism. The word “Hindu” comes from the word “Indus” which is simply an enormous valley that runs through India. “Hinduism” is usually in reference to all of the local religions of that entire region. It is the world’s third largest religion in spite of the fact that the vast majority of Hindus live in India.

It is very difficult to date Hinduism, as traces of the religion go back 7000 years. However, Hinduism began to take its present form around the year 1500 BC, when the Vedas (the Hindu Scriptures) were introduced by foreigners who came from the Middle East. This controversial theory is known as the “Aryan Invasion Theory.” (Special note: BC means “before Christ”; non-Christians may refer to BC as “BCE,” or, “before the common era.”)

What are the Hindu Scriptures?
Hinduism has thousands of Scriptures. It is very different than Christianity and Islam in this sense. There are many texts that are considered holy to the Hindus. The main texts of the Hindus are the Vedas. These texts contain ancient hymns and worship rituals written in the Sanskrit language. Other texts are the Upanishads and major epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Probably the best known text of Hinduism is the Bhagavad Gita. It is the story of a man who recognizes his dharma, his duty in life, and must follow it even when doing that is very difficult.

What are the most important teachings of Hinduism?
This is a difficult question. Hindus emphasize many different things in religion. There are a few core teachings, however. They believe in a Supreme Reality which they call Brahman. Brahman is a bit like God, but is not definable by any one notion. According to Hindus, all religions construct their own gods, but Brahman is the massive force behind all of those gods.

At first glance, Hindus appear to be polytheists—which means they believe in multiple gods. However, they believe there is one God (Brahman) which is the source of all of those gods. In other words, you could say that they are monotheists, but they believe God’s power manifests itself in many different forms. This is one reason why they are known for being very tolerant. They believe that no one’s conception of God is inherently wrong, since God is everything. Some people choose to call Hindus pantheists (the view that God is everything), since they believe everything is part of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality.

Hindus believe they have a soul, and when they die they become one with Brahman—if they have lived correctly. If not, they will be reborn into another life-form and continue on the burdensome cycle of life. This is also known as “reincarnation.” Hindus also believe that people accumulate “good” karma or “bad” karma based on their deeds. They can accumulate good karma if they worship, practice meditation, and abide by the teachings of Hinduism as expounded by the Hindu teachers, who known as gurus.

What are the most important Hindu rituals?
“Puja”—this is what Hindus call worship. They worship at many different temples, and even in their own homes. Hindus also recite “mantras.” Mantras are holy words that are said out loud over and over. Meditation (Yoga) is another important Hindu ritual. Hindus are probably best known for their vast number of meditation techniques. Hindus also take frequent pilgrimages to various holy sites such as rivers, temples, or to see a guru. Hindus are a rather festive people and celebrate often throughout the year. In contrast to many Western societies, Hindus almost always practice cremation of their dead instead of burial.

What does Hinduism say about marriage and family?
Historically, Hindus have maintained large families. This is the reason there are so many people in India (second only to China). Hindus see men and women as having different roles in life, and they are not ashamed of that. They believe people should marry within their caste—their social grouping. Hindus are known for having arranged marriages, but “love marriages” are on the increase in the larger cities of India.


BUDDHISM
What is the history of Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, lived from BC 563 to 483. Buddhism began in India and by the time of Christ it had spread to several parts of Asia, due to Buddhist missionaries. It actually came out of the larger context of Hinduism and thus shares many teachings with Hinduism such as cremation, meditation, and yoga.

What are the Buddhist Scriptures?
Buddhist scriptures are notoriously difficult to understand for Westerners, since each Buddhist “school” has its own set of scripture. Plus, Buddhists often consider the writings of their sacred leaders (known in Tibet as “Lamas”) to be authoritative. There are literally tens of thousands of Buddhist texts that are considered authoritative. Basically, their important texts can be divided into two: the words of the Buddha, and commentaries. There are well over 5000 sacred texts in Tibetan Buddhism alone!

What are the most important teachings of Buddhism?
Buddhism has many different schools that exist today, each of them having different emphases. Behind the many differences, there are some core teachings. The supreme teachings of Buddhism however are “The Four Noble Truths”:
1) Suffering is a part of everything.
2) The cause of suffering is desire.
3) The only way to free oneself from suffering is to free oneself from desire.
4) The way to become free from desire is to follow the Eightfold Path: correct views, intentions, speaking, actions, livelihood (job), effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

Buddhism also emphasizes a teaching known as the “Middle Path,” which is essentially a mandate to avoid extremes and take the most reasonable, rational conclusion in all decisions.

What is the Buddhist view of God?
Buddhists are often considered to be atheists due to their emphasis that all reality is impermanent. Indeed, Buddhists believe that reality is actually an artificial construction. Thus, there really is no reality at all. Everything is changing and illusory. That being said, Buddhism does have many, many gods in its texts, stories, and teachings. Thus, in one sense you could say that Buddhism is polytheistic (belief in many gods) because of the thousands of gods they describe. But ultimately, you would have to say that Buddhism is atheistic because it denies the permanence of anything, including gods. It is also important to note that many Buddhist societies have elevated the Buddha to a god-like status.

What are Buddhism’s most important rituals?
Buddhists practice many forms of meditation and yoga. They do chanting rituals, they have prayer wheels and flags, they are famous for their unique rituals surrounding death and afterlife (the Tibetan Book of the Dead is a famous text in the Western world), they light “butter lamps,” they have unique art such as the sand mosaics (mandalas), and they make pilgrimages. Taking care of the monks is of utmost importance in Buddhism. In Buddhist nations, offerings of food are made to the monks and to the gods every single day.

What does Buddhism say about marriage and family?
Buddhist monks and nuns are strictly forbidden to marry. However, those who are not monks or nuns generally marry and have families.

Where in the world can Buddhism be found?
Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet and the Himalayan region (Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh), Mongolia, different regions across Siberia, and many locations in China. It is important to note that while Buddhism began in India, it has been absorbed by Hinduism for the most part in that country.

Who are the leaders of Buddhism?
Like Hinduism, Buddhism has a guru understanding of leadership. People tend to follow the charismatic monks of their particular region. Probably the most influential leader in the Buddhist world today is the 14th Dalai Lama, the political and religious leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama currently lives in exile in the city of Dharamsala, India. He is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and several movies have been made about him such as Seven Years in Tibet and Kundun. The Dalai Lama is a controversial figure; the Tibetan people believe he is their rightful ruler. However, China conquered Tibet in the 1950s and does not recognize the Dalai Lama.


SHAMANISM—TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS
What is the history of Shamanism?
Shamanism takes place in small-scale, tribal religious systems. The term “Shaman” originates in Siberia and applies to local faith healers who are often seen as the leaders of religious communities. It is important to note that, historically, the vast majority of humans lived in small-scale societies. Larger, pan-human religions did not develop until rather recently in human history. Thus, one could say the history of Shamanism is as old as human history itself. There are still large pockets of people who practice various forms of Shamanism. Additionally, some members of larger religions such as Christianity or Islam incorporate elements of Shamanism from their tribal pasts. One example is the case of Voodoo in Haiti, where many Shamanistic practitioners would also consider themselves Christian.

Where in the world can Shamanism be found?
Shamanistic religions tend to be found in the more remote parts of the world. Today, Shamanism can be found in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and in certain isolated communities in Africa, Latin America, Siberia, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Who are the leaders of Shamanistic societies?
The elders and the ancestors are the leaders in these societies. Not many people lived long lives in times past. Disease, violence, and frequent illness prevented most people from becoming elderly. Thus, these societies believe that those who live long lives are especially worthy of devotion. They generally reward their elders with the choicest foods. They listen to their words and revere their teachings. The spiritual leader, known as the Shaman, is also particularly important when it comes to making contact with the spiritual world. Some people refer to the Shaman as a “medicine man” because of his reputation as a healer.


SIKHISM
What is the history of Sikhism?
Sikhism is another religion of India. It originated in the Punjab area of India which includes Western India, East Pakistan, and even parts of Afghanistan. Sikhism’s beginning point is in Hinduism, however, many people claim it is a mixture of Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs reject this idea generally. Sikhism began in the 16th century AD, making it a fairly modern religion. Sikhism began when a Hindu man named Guru Nanak (AD 1469-1539) attempted to merge the religions of Islam and Hinduism by declaring, “There are no Hindus, there are no Muslims.” This occurred when India was ruled by Islam, and the Islamic authorities cracked down on this faith. Sikhism defended itself militarily in spite of persecution. Guru Nanak traveled around India and spread his teaching. He appointed a successor to carry on his message after his death. The line of succession lasted for nine more generations, or, around 150 years. These ten gurus are revered in Sikhism. Sikhism now has over 20 million adherents and is the fifth largest world religion.


What are the most important teachings of Sikhism?
The goal of the Sikh is to become one with God. Sikhs believe in monotheism, reincarnation, and cremation, making them a unique combination of Eastern and Western religion. Like Hindus, Sikhs teach that when a person develops fully, s/he will become absorbed into God, like a drop in the ocean. Sikhs believe it is the duty of each person to strive against desire (like in Hinduism and Buddhism), to devote oneself fully to God, and to avoid accumulating bad karma in this life. This is done by living a righteous life, fulfilling religious rituals and obligations, and avoiding “the Five Evils”—ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust. Sikhs also emphasize having an optimistic attitude in life. Sikhs are strong monotheists and they refer to God as “Sat Nam,” or, “the True One.” However, their understanding of God is somewhat similar to the Hindu notion of Brahman—that God is the essence of everything.

What are the most important Sikh rituals?
Sikhs attend services in a “gurdwara.” This is where they worship God, read Scripture, sing hymns to God, and provide food for the needy. They are also required to read and recite the Guru Granth Sahib, their Scripture, and chant passages from it daily. They take a ritual bath daily. Celebrating the birthday and death day of each of the ten gurus is obligatory. They practice an initiatory baptism for those between the ages of 8 and 15. They are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages. All Sikh boys have the middle name of “Singh (lion),” and all girls are given the middle name “Kaur” (princess). Children are named when the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random and the first letter on the top left hand side of the left page is used for the first letter of their first name.

Sikhs are probably best known for the 5 K’s: kes (long, uncut hair—usually wrapped in a turban), kangha (a special comb), kirpan (a ritual sword or small dagger), kach (sacred undershorts), kara (a steel band worn on the wrist).


TAOISM
What is the history of Taoism?
Taoism began as an attempt by a man named Lao Tzu to overcome social strife in China. It began as more of a philosophy than a religion. It is important to keep in mind that Taoism is intertwined with Chinese civilization, thus the religion has been impacted greatly by Chinese beliefs throughout the centuries. Since Chinese civilization is more than 5000 years old, it is terribly difficult to get to the heart of any sort of “pure” Taoism. Local beliefs are interwoven throughout the religion today. There are philosophical schools that go by the name of Taoism, there are Chinese folk religions that use the name, and there is the indigenous religion of China that is often referred to as Taoism.

It is important to keep in mind that Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are all a part of Chinese civilization today. Chinese people see no reason to distinguish the three belief systems, or to identify with only one of these. All three of them are enmeshed and most Chinese people draw freely from all three of these religions.

What are the Taoist Scriptures?
The classic texts of Taoism are the Tao Te Ching (The Way of Life, written by Lao Tzu, the first great philosopher of Taoism) and the Chuang Tzu (named after Chuang Tzu, the second great philosopher of Taoism). Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu did not know each other, as they lived about 250 years apart. Essentially, Lao Tzu founded the movement, and Chuang Tzu brought the teachings into a coherent system. Their writings are poetic, playful, profound, and can be read in a few hours, or in a lifetime. In addition, there are thousands of Taoist texts written and re-written by Taoist thinkers who have come and gone throughout Chinese history.

What are the most important teachings of Taoism?
“Tao” or “Dao” is a Chinese character which means “The Way.” The core idea in Taoism is that a person should abandon his/her own way and conform to the “Great Way” of life. Taoism holds that people should refrain from wanting to control all of life. People should allow life to unfold in its own way. The universe has an intelligence of its own which is far greater than human intelligence. Thus, humans should “go with the flow” of the universe’s unknowable will. This mentality is called “Wu Wei.” If one tries to work against the will of the universe, s/he will lose the battle. Related to this is the important Taoist teaching of the Ying Yang concept (see below).

What is the Taoist view of God?
The Tao could be compared to Hinduism’s notion of Brahman; it is an impersonal understanding of God. Each person is to align him/herself to the Tao and everything else will take care of itself. The Tao unfolds slowly, smoothly, never stagnant, but always moving. It keeps all reality balanced. The Tao is infallible, it is the creator and sustainer of all, and it is eternal.

What does Taoism say about marriage and family?
Taoism teaches the concepts of the Yin and the Yang, two opposing yet necessary and complementary forces that are required to keep all things in harmony. The Yin is shady, passive, dark, feminine, and moist, and is associated with water and night. The Yang is sunny, bright, active, masculine and is associated with day, fire, and wind. Marriage is the sharing of the feminine with the masculine in order to achieve complete harmony. Every person has both Yin and Yang within them. The male and female working together in synch with the universe is a key concept that makes a marriage successful and balanced.
Where in the world can Taoism be found?
Taoism is integrally connected to China and Chinese-based civilizations (Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia). It is very difficult to say how many Taoists are in the world. Some estimates say 20 million, some say a billion. It all depends on what is meant by “Taoism.” Taoism is not a defined religion, thus it is often considered a philosophy.


JUDAISM
What is the history of Judaism?
Judaism is the parent religion of the two largest religions of the world: Christianity and Islam. There are about 14 million Jews alive today. Judaism is the sixth largest organized religion in the world in terms of formal adherents; however, that is still only one-fifth of one percent of the global population. Judaism originated in the Middle East around 2000 BC. It is important to note that Judaism is more an ethnic faith (like Hinduism) than it is a conversion faith. In Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, you are born a Jew if your mother is a Jew. A person is much more likely to be born a Jew than to become a Jew. In fact, it is very difficult to convert to Judaism in more conservative circles.

There are three major groupings of Jews today, although the sects and emphases are numerous. 1) Orthodox Judaism is the most conservative; 2) Conservative Judaism is the “middle-of-the-road” form of Judaism; 3) Reformed Judaism is the most liberal of the three.

Judaism began with a man named Abraham. He was called by God to move from the region of Ur (in modern Iraq) to Canaan (modern-day Israel/Palestine) and to trust God in every way. Abraham trusted God and is thus considered the father of Judaism and is esteemed in the faith to this day.

What are the Jewish Scriptures?
The Hebrew Bible is comprised of three main collections: the Torah (the core of Jewish Law, including books Genesis through Deuteronomy); the Nevi’im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (wisdom writings and poetry). The Torah is by far the most important. Jews also have “Talmuds” and “Midrash” which are teachings that include things like commentary, decisions made by the rabbis, and ritual instructions.

What are the most important teachings of Judaism?
Monotheism (“one God”) is the most important teaching for Jews. In fact monotheism is enshrined in the first two of the 10 Commandments, which are at the very core of Judaism. The first four Commandments deal with the human relationship to God: 1) remain faithful to Yahweh (God’s Name) alone; 2) Do not make idols; 3) Do not misuse God’s name; 4) Honor the Sabbath (Saturday). The last six of the 10 Commandments deal with human-to-human relationships: 5) Honor your parents; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not lie; 10) Do not envy the possessions of others. Jewish Law holds that there are 613 commandments that arise out of these core teachings. Jews believe that God has established a unique relationship with them in the form of a covenant. Jews also believe that God will one day send a Messiah to them.

What is the Jewish view of God?
Jews believe in only one God, however, this God is unique. They call their God by several names, mainly “Yahweh,” “Adonai,” or “Elohim.” Jews never pronounce the name “Yahweh” as it is too holy. Jews view God as all-powerful and all-knowing. However, they also view him as a very personal God. They pray to God directly and plea with Him for many different things in their lives. Jews believe that God has interacted with them for many centuries. Thus, their relationship with God is very intimate, based on the concept of devout love. For these reasons Jews consider themselves to be God’s “chosen ones.”

What are the most important rituals in Judaism?
Jews are a very ritualistic people, especially in Orthodoxy, but there are also many rituals in Conservative Judaism. Jews initiate their children with ceremonies: the bar mitzvah (for boys) and the more recently developed bat mitzvah (for girls). They constantly remind themselves of the most holy passage in the Torah known as the Shema: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is one, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and with all your strength.” Jews may put this statement in a box and strap it to their foreheads, or they may fasten it to their doorposts at home, school, or in their offices. Jews also have a ritualized calendar which includes many holidays such as Rosh Hashana (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Purim, Pesach (Passover), Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), and Hanukkah. Jews attend the synagogue every Sabbath and live at a much slower pace on those days.

What does Judaism say about marriage and family?
Jews tend to have large families. Jews see no problem with the unique roles given to men and women. In Orthodox Judaism, men do certain things such as conduct business, lead synagogue, and lead the people. Jewish women are proud to raise the children and look after the home and family. This is all changing in Conservative and Reformed Judaism, although Orthodox Judaism remains committed to the ancient traditions.

Where in the world are Jews to be found?
Jews are mainly in the USA and Israel. However, they’re also known for their vast diaspora (scattering) across the globe.

What is the most holy place in Judaism?
Jerusalem. The site of the fallen temple there still brings pain to Jews.

Who are the leaders of Judaism?
Jewish clergy are called Rabbis. In Orthodox Judaism this is restricted to men. In Conservative and Reformed Judaism women are allowed to be ordained.

BAHAI FAITH
What is the history of the Bahai Faith?
The Bahai Faith originally came out of Shia Islam, but it is not associated with Islam anymore. It began relatively recently in 1844, and has grown into a global faith of around seven million followers. It began when a Persian man named Ali Muhammad (1819-1850) claimed to be the final Imam of Shiite Islam. Shiite Muslims believe that one of their leaders (the twelfth imam) will appear one day as the Messiah. Ali claimed he was that promised person, and he named himself “the Bab.” He was publicly executed by the Persian government in 1850 because they claimed he was a heretic. He was succeeded by a man who went by the title “Baha’u’llah.” Baha’u’llah gathered a large following before his death in 1892. His teachings are considered authoritative to members of the Bahai Faith.

What are the most important teachings of the Bahai Faith?
Bahais believe in the unity of humanity. They believe that all faiths are essentially the same. They believe strongly in education and literacy for all people. They emphasize the equality of men and women in all respects. One unique teaching of Bahai Faith is their desire for a universal language to unite all peoples. Bahais do not have a clergy; instead they elect leaders periodically. They strive for world peace and condemn religious fanaticism. They have no priesthood and no required rituals.

Bahai Faith religious gatherings are informal. They often invite people to their gatherings since they consider themselves missionaries of their faith. Bahais hope to convert the entire world to Baha’u’llah’s vision one day.


CONCLUSION
Christians must understand something about the world religions today. Hopefully this discussion has provided a general overview of the beliefs of much of the world’s inhabitants today.

Ultimately, as Christians, it is our hope that we can be “light in the world” and “salt of the earth.” In order to be light and salt, we need to have good relations with our fellow humans. In addition, if we expect people to hear our message of the good news of Jesus Christ, then we need to know something about what they believe instead of simply dismissing them.

May God be glorified as we come to understand other belief systems and attempt to extend the love of Christ to all peoples around the world.