Types of Religions
There are a variety of religions in the world. Generally speaking, Japanese pay little attention to religions. However, most of the people in the world have their religions and try to be religious. Three religions would be picked up as the most famous religions in the world. They are so popular that almost all people around the world know and each has unique features which are attracting believers. Therefore, it can be said that religions can be classified on the basis of their faith: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
The first type of religions is Christianity. People who have faith in Christianity are called Christians. They believe in Jesus Christ, who is said to really exist in this world many years ago. People can learn a lot about this religion from the Bible (because Christianity is mainly based on it), which shows what Jesus Christ did or preached. A lot of missionaries have devoted their lives to propagate Christ’s teachings. Therefore, there are thousands of churches all over the world and Christians can pray or confess there. Also, they have contributed to found missionary schools such as Aoyama Gakuin University, which was established by missionaries of A Methosist Church (The Wesley Center Online, 2007). In addition, there are the two most popular denominations in the Christian world: Catholic and Protestant. A Methosist Church belongs to Protestant, so it can be said that Aoyama Gakuin University is a Protestant university. Christians have some different styles to worship though their styles are different in different denominations: prayer, confession, singing hymns or going to church to listen to preachers. The unique features of Christianity can be seen in church. One of them is that they cross themselves with their hand at the end of a prayer saying “Amen.” However, this is Catholics’ style and Protestants mostly don’t cross themselves when they pray. Another one is confession where Christians go to a church and confess their sins. This is also different in different denominations. Some confess them to a priest and some do directly to God. Christianity is believed in mainly by people from Western nations which are playing important roles in the world. What is more, Aoyama Gakuin University’s educational philosophy is based on Christ’s teachings and lessons. That means students who belong to it should deeply understand the features of Christianity.
The second type is Islam. Those who believe in Allah, the one and only God of Islam, are called Muslims. “Muslims also believe that Islam is completed and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many times and places before, including through the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus” (Wikipedia, 2010). They consider the Koran to be both unaltered and the final revelation from the God and they read it to a particular rhythm only in Arabic. They have to have faith in six important things: Allah, angels, revelations, prophets, afterlife and predestination. Also, they have five duties given by God: Shahadah (the basic creed of Islam that must be recited), Salah (daily prayers), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (alms-giving) and Haji (pilgrimage to Mecca). The most remarkable custom of Muslims is Zakat. At particular times, they kneel down to Mecca, which is the sacred place for them, in a particular way reciting that there is no worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of God. This characteristic duty would be seen anywhere in Islamic countries. These days, people in the world, especially those who are from Western countries, have a bad stereotype of Islam that Muslims are so dangerous that they easily kill foreigners and themselves for their God. Those who have a negative stereotype of Islam should learn it further and step closer to Muslims for a good relationship.
The last one is Buddhism, which is believed mainly in Asia. There are a variety of denominations. Each has a different Okyo, a kind of revelation, and manners for prayer. Regardless of differences of denominations, those who believe in Buddhism are called Buddhists. They have faith in Buddha’s teachings and statements written in revelations, but strictly speaking, Buddha is not God. Buddha means those who can be spiritually awakened. “Gautama Siddhartha finally achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple at the site of Buddha’s enlightenment, is now a pilgrimage site” (BBC, 2002) and he is the only person who achieved it, so generally he is called Buddha. The important and unique point of Buddhism is Buddhists have no concept of having God though there are a lot of Hotoke (a kind of God, but not exactly God). What’s more, actually, Buddha would have said that Buddhism was not meant to be a religion, but a way or a lesson to be Buddha which is called Chudo. Therefore, Buddhists go to temples, sit in Japanese fashion called Seiza and fold hands not to worship, but to attain enlightenment. Even some of Buddhists themselves are misunderstand the concept of their own religion.
There are various kinds of religions that attract faithful people in the world. They have their own features which are far different from others. People should learn deeply about the religions that they want to believe in. Also, they must understand other religions to respect each other’s religion and try to get closer in order to have a better world than now. Therefore, it is the best way to classify religions on the basis of their faith for finding a religion that suits each person and life in a peaceful world without religious stereotypes.
Works Cited:
Telford, John. “The Life of John Wesley by John Telford.” The Wesley Center Online. 2007.
“Islam.” Wikipedia. 18 Nov. 2010.
“The Buddha.” BBC. 2 Oct. 2002.
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