Similarities and Differences between Religions
Religion refers to a systematic collective belief, worldviews, and cultural systems relating humanity to an existing order.
Religions across the globe have three universal expressions that characterize them. These expressions are sociological theoretical and practical. The religion’s sociological expression states that religion is social. No religion is learned outside of social contexts. Religions entail social function systems as well as social relations systems. On the other hand, the religion’s theoretical expression is information pertaining what the followers believe. Finally, is the religion’s practical expression where something is done in order to get close to sacred. The acts include meditation, praying, and worshiping among others.
Religions once more, share so many things. There are similar characteristics that are real to all religions. All religions are stories. Religions first tell stories of whom a human being is. More so, the stories elaborate about the nature of the world and human being’s place in the world.
All religions have special sacred times that are meaningful to them. For example, Christians have such sacred times like Christmas and Easter. The Islamic religion also has Ramadan. The sacred times can be either periodic, recurring or non-periodic recurrence.
Any religion across the globe creates a sacred space too. The space is used for sacred work only. For example, Christians Cathedrals, Hindu Temples and Muslims Mosques are spaces for worship by the religions.
There are things in all religions that point to others beyond themselves. These things symbolize many things at a particular time. Importantly, patterns exist in the religious humankind symbols even if anything can be a sacred symbol.
Religions use symbols, actions and signs to get in touch with the sacred. This is in form of sacraments that not only do this but also pull the most intense life experiences. The life experiences may include parenthood, childbirth, death or even failure in life. Thus, sacraments help religions move beyond them into the sacred. Examples of the sacraments are the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholics and Tummo yoga for Buddhism religion.
However, there are differences in religions that exist, thus not everything is common across the religions. The cult in are usually temporal while the sect is a voluntary association. In the church, it remains a major institution in Christianity. Some religions are coercive, while others are not coercive. The sect of any religion belongs there by their choice while for the major one the members are coerced. Religions followers’ massively participate in all that they are required to but the sect here has only strict believers withstanding and following them. In addition, the cult for any religion is for only those who have been enlightened.
While some religions adjust to the world around them, the cult finds irrelevance in the world and the sect belongs in a separate world. Religions practice infant baptism and at the same time the sect does it to the adults. To the cult, it is the adult’s choice to be baptized.
Some religions endorse equality across all genders and any other thing, but to others there is a hierarchy of superiority depending on the roles of a member. Additionally, some other religions the status depends on one’s merit.
Religions stabilize the society orders while other religions revolutionize forces. In addition to other religions, social order is irrelevant to them.
Different religions influence various social pressures through their teaching differently. They differently make the society develop different religious attitudes. Consequently, the society members accept what they are told without any proof.
The fact that religions differ is the cause for various emotional experiences. It is the source of moral conflicts and various mystical experiences. Different religions perceive the beauty and goodness of the world differently. Many religions vary in their attitudes that are yet to be met. Intellect experience drives the development of beliefs and attitudes.
