2. Common Aspects Between Religions
People around the world are whether brought together or divided by their Cultural Identities and by belonging to one Civilization or another. In the previous lesson, we have seen that religion is one of the most important components of a culture which is a fragment of Civilization. It is compulsory to know that a person can be bilingual or multilingual but no one can follow 2 or more faiths. Consequently, people from the dawn of civilizations fought about and for their religions and ideas.
There are three beliefs that are common throughout all religions, no matter what culture they come from, no matter who founded the religion, and no matter who practices the religion.
One of these beliefs is that there is a higher power that presides over the universe, the cosmos, human affairs, and the earth. This higher power is often called God in whatever language a person uses, and some believe that this higher power is some sort of force or presence that is within each sentient being on Earth and in the universe.
The second belief that seems to be common in every religion is the concept of “being a good person.” Some religions simply beseech the follower to do good deeds, take care of others, and practice the right action. Others have deterrents in place that help the follower act more fastidiously, mainly the idea that there will be some sort of punishment for not “being a good person” or doing the right thing. For example, Christians call this “the final judgment” that happens upon death and the punishment is hell or eternal damnation. Eastern philosophies call this karma, a type of punishment that happens in the next life after the one where the bad deeds were done. The Golden Rule, “Do unto others have you as you would have done unto yourself,” is quite prominent in every religion. This does not necessarily mean that each religion sees “doing the right thing” the same way. There are great variances in this area.
The third commonality across all religions is the idea that rituals of some sort are necessary and have been incorporated into the styles of worship of that particular religion. All religions have rituals, whether they are incorporated through prayer, singing, group gatherings, or other ways of focusing intent on the divine.
All religions generally have
Temples or Prayer place or sacrifice place
Written Teachings and instructions
Clergies
Organized behavior
There are different practices of religions like Prayers, rituals, Sermons, Fasting, Sacrifices, Meditation, festivals…