Recently, a spotlight has been placed on religious leaders in the Episcopalian denomination, some of whom have adopted beliefs of religions other than Christianity. Accusations of syncretism and pluralism may force some religious leaders out of the priesthood – one in particular could be forced out this week.

What is syncretism?

Syncretism is the merging of multiple religions or faiths into one worldview or belief system. This may include the practice of multiple religions and associated rituals; it may also include a blending of beliefs.

According to Beliefnet.com, syncretism is common in Asia. And Americans are used to cafeteria-style religion where they select the beliefs and practices that work for their worldviews and lifestyles.

But does syncretism cause a believer to dilute core beliefs so much that they no longer uniquely believe in any one religion or idea? If so, can they really call themselves a follower of any religion? And how can competing claims be reconciled? For example, traditional Jewish believes show Jesus as a regular man, while Christians consider him the Messiah, Son of God. The Episcopalian Church, a Christian denomination, is currently struggling publicly with these issues.

Syncretism in the Episcopal pulpit

Ann Holmes Redding is an Episcopal priest in Seattle who practices both Islam and Christianity. She believes she can practice both – but Rhode Island Episcopal Bishop Geralyn Wolf (Redding’s superior) wants to remove Redding’s status as a priest. Wolf argues that Redding has abandoned Christianity by converting to Islam and suspended her priesthood in 2008.  According to USA Today, Redding was supposed to recant her Islamic faith by March 30 or she would be expelled from the priesthood. No word yet on whether she recanted – but she told newspapers last year that she had no intention of recanting.

Like Redding, Elected Episcopal Bishop Kevin Thew Forrester (of the Northern Michigan diocese) practices Zen meditation and is lay-ordinated in Buddhism. He has not, however, taken Buddhist vows nor does he consider himself a Buddhist. He claims to simply borrow practices from Zen Buddhism to guide his Christian meditation on God. But many Episcopalians are trying to prevent Forrester from becoming fully ordained as bishop. No word yet on whether he will get all 120 votes necessary to move from election to ordination.

Find other examples of syncretistic religious leaders at Beliefnet.com.

A move toward pluralism?

If multiple beliefs are fully believed – in other words, if one really does consider himself fully Christian and fully Muslim – this is the idea of pluralism. Pluralism implies that a diversity of beliefs and practices are fully adopted and accepted. This is much different from the typical exclusivist attitude of many religions, in which that particular religion is believed to be the only way to the goal. Pluralism implies that multiple religions can lead to the same goal.

So will the Episcopal denomination move toward pluralism? Christianity Today suggests it wouldn’t be a surprise if they at least discussed it. The magazine quoted Wade Clark Roof, religious studies professor at UC-Santa Barbara, as saying, “Clearly there are people, including religious leaders, [who find] spiritual wisdom in faiths other than their own…(which is) in some respects good in an age of global religious diversity when tolerance and respect are essential to our peace if not our survival.”

Church leaders seem to worry the focus on Jesus as Savior would be lost in a pluralistic faith. So it doesn’t seem likely Episcopalians will all become pluralists anytime soon.

See what else Christianity Today has to say about America’s shift toward religious pluralism and the “crisis” in the Episcopalian church.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

Filed under: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Protestantism | 1 Comment »

Earlier this month, Pope Benedict XVI said that condoms will not solve the HIV epidemic in Africa (before he embarked on his trip to Africa).

This was the first time the current pope had addressed the use of condoms. He said condoms will only make the AIDS crisis worse – the solution lies with good morals.

In protest of the pope’s comments, French activists threw condoms on the square of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris last Sunday.

Right-wing French youths responded to the activists with signs saying, “Leave My Pope Alone.” A clash erupted between the two groups and three people were arrested, according to AFP Reuters.

What do you think? Is the pope condemning a possible solution — or is he doing the right thing?

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of the Society of Friends was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Spring 2009 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

What would it be like to be the president’s daughter? What would you wear? Who would you meet? What would your school look like?

If you’re President Barack Obama’s daughters, you enter the classroom with secret servicemen at your side. Your family pays $30,000 a year for your school tuition. Your classmates have been warned not to talk to the newspapers. And even though you’re not a “Quaker,” your school is founded on the Quaker religion.

Here’s what you would need to know about Quakers and Quaker education if you were the president’s daughter.

Fact file

Name: “Quakers” is a nickname for the Religious Society of Friends. The group gained the nickname when its founder told a government official to quake upon hearing the name of God.

Numbers: 210,000 worldwide

Founder: George Fox (1624-1691)

History: Fox wasn’t satisfied with the churches around him in England.  Feeling God spoke to his heart when his heart was ready to listen, he decided people needed to listen to Jesus on their own.  After challenging churches and the government with his ideals, he was imprisoned eight times; over 6,000 of his followers were also jailed. Things were not any easier when the Quakers came to America in 1656. They were persecuted and some were killed until William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania) became a follower and showed people that Quakers wanted peace.

Main beliefs: Quakers don’t follow a set of beliefs. Instead, each person is supposed to follow her “Inner Light” or her own understanding of what God wants. This means many Quakers believe different ideas – but they all agree that Jesus is the most important belief. Therefore, many Quakers identify themselves as Christians.

Worship: Each week, Quakers gather for a worship meeting. It’s simple: Anytime two or three people meet in the name of Jesus, that’s considered worship (see Matthew 18: 20). There are no rules, no schedule, and no priests or pastors. Instead, Quakers believe each person can be moved by God to figure out what’s true and good. During a service, they sit in silence for an hour, waiting to be moved by God to speak (ready to listen, like Fox). If moved, a Quaker may speak to the whole group, either reading Scripture, praying, or talking about an experience or idea. As you can imagine, sitting in silence for an hour became a problem for some people over the years. In 1827-1828, a major separation of the Quakers took place. Some groups of Quakers began meeting in giant buildings with pastors, singing, and schedules. Others continued to hold meetings in small buildings with no leader and simple silence. The divide remains today.

Dress: In the past, Quakers wore “plain dress” or simple clothing that would not take attention away from God. Most people stopped wearing plain dress in the 20th century and today most Quakers dress like everyone else.

Peace: Quakers stand against war, injustice, racism, and all forms of violence. Instead they seek harmony, peace, justice, diversity, and equality for all people. After all, if all people have the “Inner Light” of God within them, it would be wrong to hurt people. This idea has led many Quakers to become “conscientious objectors,” refusing to join the armed forces and even refusing to make war goods and weaponry. Such refusal has led to imprisonment for some Quakers and death for others. But Quakers continue to actively work against violence and for peace. As a result, they have been successful in promoting women’s rights and human rights – and they were among the first to lead the anti-slavery movement in both England and the United States.

Inside the school

Quakers began founding schools around the time our founding fathers were forming our nation. They were among the first to teach pioneer children on the western frontier. After the Civil War, Quakers raised funds to educate thousands of former slaves.

Obama’s daughters (Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7) attend the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, the same school that former first daughter Chelsea Clinton attended while her father was president. The first daughters aren’t Quakers – but only five percent of students at Sidwell are. Still, the school promotes many Quaker ideals mentioned in the above fact file – peace, unity, independence, and equality. The girls attend a weekly service, sitting in silence for an hour. In class, they will be taught to listen to God, to learn about the world, and to go out into the world to do good things. Based on these practices, it’s not so surprising that Obama chose a Quaker school for his daughters.

Want to know more about Quaker life or Quaker schools? Check out Quakers in America by Thomas D. Hamm (2003), available in part at www.books.google.com.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

Filed under: Christianity, Mormonism, RELIGION OVERVIEWS, Sects | 1 Comment »

The following overview of Hinduism was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Winter 2008 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

Did you know Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world? In 1500 B.C., various Jewish-Christian groups were just beginning to organize. (Moses, known for the Ten Commandments and old age, would have been 26 years old at the time.) But Hinduism was already an established religion in India.

Thanks to its Indian roots, Hindu religious practice was often fused with Indian culture. Example? The caste system. Castes are similar to classes (upper class, middle class, working class) with different names — priests, nobles/warriors, commoners, and servants. But there’s an important difference: unlike classes, Hindus believed they were meant to be born into their specific caste – and that they could not and should not belong to another caste. If you were born a servant, perhaps you had done something bad in a previous life and now have to pay for it. If born a priest, perhaps you had done something worthy of praise.

The caste system is gone. But Hinduism is still the main religion in India. And it has grown: Hinduism is now the third largest world religion, following Christianity and Islam. With no founder and no specific historical events that led to its creation, Hinduism can be tough to define. But you may have already seen some of its basic concepts in other religions – and even at the gym.

You’ve heard of worshipping God…

Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in God (which Muslims translate as “Allah”). Like them, Hindus also believe in One Ultimate, which they call “Brahman.” The difference is that Hindus believe its main God, Brahman, is divided into over 3,000 other gods. In other words, Brahman can appear in many forms as many gods. Among them are the gods Krishna and Shiva, and the goddesses Kali, Durga, and Shakti.

Just as all gods are versions of Brahman, people are also thought to be part of that Ultimate. Brahman is in everything and everyone – including people, gods, and even animals. The problem for humans begins when they do not understand their unity with the Ultimate.

You’ve heard of being born again…

When people don’t realize their unity with the universe, they get stuck in a cycle of reincarnation: birth, death, birth in a new body, death, and so on. Reincarnation is much different from the Christian concept of rebirth. When a Christian is born again (when she gives her life to Christ), her sins are forgiven. And while she is set on a new course in life, her physical body does not change. Reincarnation begins when a person’s physical body actually dies. Then their “soul” moves into a new body, which is then born into the world. And being a part of the world is seen as failure for Hindus, since they believe continued life leads to continued suffering. It’s better to be born into higher and higher positions until you get out of life and become part of the bigger universe.

You know it’s important to do the right thing…

Every world religion has a path followers take to achieve their goal. For Christians, the path is to give your life to Christ to achieve eternal life. For Jews, it is to follow God’s laws in order to please Him. Here are three paths Hindus use to get out of reincarnation:

Knowledge: Hindus use the brain to realize they’re one with the universe through yoga. You’ve heard of yoga the exercise. But yoga was originally a type of Hindu meditation. It involves stopping mental activity (try not having any thoughts sometime!), focusing on breathing, and sometimes twisting the body into poses. All of this is used to help the mind to focus on the universe (kind of like prayer).

Action: Hindus try to do the right thing. This is especially important for Hindus thanks to karma, a concept in which one is rewarded for good actions and punished for bad actions. If you lead a good life, you may be born into a higher lifestyle or escape reincarnation altogether. If you do bad things, you may see negative consequences in this life – and you may be born into a lower realm in the next life (yes, you could even be reborn as an armadillo).

Devotion: Hindus worship gods to realize their own unity with those gods. And the best type of devotion is asceticism where you give up everything you have (even your family) and your desires for material things, to be able to focus on the universe.

Find news and holiday information related to Hinduism on ReligionTranscends.com.

Watch a 5-part YouTube video series, “Introduction to Hinduism,” produced by Hinduism Today. Once you get through the first video, you’ll see a link to go to the second video, and so on.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of Catholicism was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Fall 2008 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

It’s full of mystery. Saints. Nuns and monks. That sign followers make with their hands before they pray. Yes, it’s full of mystery. Yet in some ways, the Catholic Church is also easy to figure out.

Catholics are Christians and therefore believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that He rose from the dead so their sins could be forgiven. All other Christian churches are known as Protestant (this includes denominations like Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, and so on). Unlike Protestant churches, the Catholic Church claims to never have split and today is larger than any Protestant denomination. Following is a quick guide to understanding the Catholic Church.

People

The Pope: The Pope is the person with the most authority in the Catholic Church and is elected to his position. Before Jesus died, he told his disciple Peter to build His Church (the people who would keep the tradition going after his death). Since Peter’s time, the Catholic Church claims to have had a person in his position who speaks with the authority of Christ and guides Catholics throughout the world.

Priests: Priests are in the line of the other disciples of Jesus and must go through a process of education and discipline before they can lead a church. They are given the power of Christ to forgive sins, to preach, and to oversee sacraments (see “Sacraments”). It is tradition that priests do not marry, and women cannot yet become priests.

Monks and Nuns: Monks and nuns are men and women who may live separate from the rest of society or who may remain active in the community (as with monks who run hospitals or nuns who teach in schools). They are religious orders and must follow a strict set of rules, including remaining free from marriage and wearing specific clothing (like the “habit” for nuns).

Mary and Saints: Mary, as you may know, was the mother of Jesus. Catholics do not worship Mary. Rather, they honor her for her purity, her motherhood, and her closeness to Jesus. Similarly, saints are honored for the good lives they led and for miracles associated with them. Catholics may ask Mary or the saints to pray with them or for them, as they are closer to God and may plead with those in need.

Objects

The Bible: The main sacred text used by Catholics is The Bible. The Catholic Bible includes 73 books, while Protestant denominations use a Bible with 66 books. (When the Protestant churches broke away from the Catholic Church in the 16th century, they decided some of those books were of lesser importance and did not need to be included).

Icons: Icons may be pictures, statues, and other objects that show images of Christianity. Catholics do not worship icons, nor do they pray to the icons. Rather, icons are meant to remind people about God and the stories of Jesus.

Holy Water: Holy water can be found in a large font, or bowl, at the entrance of a church or at the front of the church. Catholics may dip their hands in the water as they enter the church to cleanse themselves of sins and impure thoughts before they begin worship. It is also used in blessings and some sacraments (see “Sacraments”).

Practices

Mass: Mass is the name for the Catholic worship service. During mass, Catholics pray, priests give a homily (sermon) and receive the Eucharist (or communion, see “Eucharist”).

Sign of the Cross: Typically before prayer and upon entering a church, Catholics “cross themselves,” or make the motion of tracing a cross in the air. This is called the sign of the cross and, like icons, helps Catholics focus on Jesus and his death on a cross.

Sacraments: Sacraments are rituals or events that mark a step in life. In Catholicism, there are seven: Baptism (becoming a child of God), the Eucharist (see “Eucharist”), Confirmation (at age 12, committing oneself to the church), Marriage, Holy Orders (becoming a priest), Anointing of the Sick (praying for healing or praying before someone’s death), and Penance (confessing sins to a priest and asking for forgiveness).

Eucharist: The Eucharist, also sometimes called Communion, traces its roots to the Last Supper. There, Christ declared that bread and wine were his body and blood and that, after his death, people should celebrate that meal together to remember Him. Catholics believe the bread and wine actually become Christ’s body and blood. When Catholics eat the bread and drink the wine, they become one with Christ and as a Church. As such, it is considered the central ritual in Catholicism.

Find news related to Catholicism on ReligionTranscends.com.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of Buddhism was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Summer 2008 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

He was a round, bald man, swathed in a delicate robe and usually depicted laughing and holding food or possessions. But the Buddha wasn’t always so rotund. Though portions of his life were filled with comforts, other times found him leading the life of an ascetic, one who denies himself material possessions. Eventually, that simple existence led him to discover a way out of the cycle of suffering and death – and to start a worldwide religion. So who was this man who sparked a following? And what do his followers believe?

The life of Buddha

In 563 B.C. in northern India, a royal couple gave birth to a son they named Siddartha Guatama. He lived a life of luxury, enjoying three palaces, a wife, and a son. According to legend, after seeing four people alongside a road, ill or dead, he began to ponder suffering. Kissing his family goodbye, he set out to find a way to eliminate suffering. After studying Hinduism, he began to live the life of an ascetic. At one point, he was eating only one grain of rice a day. Skinny and weak, he realized extreme asceticism would not relieve his suffering either.

One day he began meditating under a tree in Bodh Gaya, India. There he achieved a “Great Awakening,” where it is said the earth shook and he was moved into a state of bliss, suddenly understanding the universe and its cycle of suffering. Once able to eliminate what led to his suffering, he became “enlightened” or freed from the cycle of death. In that state, he took the name of “Buddha” (“enlightened one”) and began a ministry that lasted 45 years until his death at the age of 80.

A religion is born

Buddha gained a following soon after his enlightenment. Today, that following has grown to 365 million people, making Buddhism the fourth largest religion in the world (after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism). Most Buddhist beliefs can be found in the Tripitaka, three sacred texts that together are 11 times the size of the Bible.

Many Buddhist beliefs stem from four ideas Buddha obtained during his own path to enlightenment; these are called the Four Noble Truths:

1. Life is suffering.
2. Suffering is caused by attachment or desire for something.
3. One can end suffering by overcoming craving, thus reaching nirvana.
4.  One must follow an eight-fold path in order to achieve nirvana or enlightenment.

 The Eight-Fold Path is a treatment path that requires discipline:

1. Right belief
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right behavior
5. Right occupation (choosing a livelihood that allows you to seek enlightenment)
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness (being aware of what you want to achieve)
8. Right concentration

 Other beliefs include the following:

• Rebirth: Your “self” is reborn, or reincarnated, into a new person after your death.
• God: There is no higher power. Each person must find relief from suffering on her own.
• Karma: Good actions create good consequences, and bad actions cause negative consequences.

Divisions and developments

These basic beliefs may differ by group or place. Just as there are denominations in Christianity, there are also several divisions in Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhism is mostly found in Southeast Asia. It is mainly restricted to monks who wear robes and shave their heads. Some consider it to be more conservative, focusing on discipline, strict rules, and asceticism (denying themselves life’s pleasures, just as Guatama Buddha did). Mahayana Buddhism is found mostly in Northern Asia and is open to all people. Its followers believe in compassion and devotion to the Buddha. Here, Guatama Buddha is seen as more divine and may be worshipped in some way. In Vajrayana Buddhism, chanting and rituals seem to be the most important practices, and some Vajrayana Buddhists believe in a spirit world.

As Buddhism spread through different parts of Asia, it took on some of the cultural practices of those countries, creating further divisions. Zen Buddhism traces its roots to China and Japan; it focuses on discipline and meditation and suggests that anyone could obtain enlightenment suddenly, out of nowhere. Tibetan Buddhism developed in India and Tibet. Its leader is called the Dalai Lama (“wisdom teacher”) and serves as both Tibet’s head of state and as its spiritual leader. However, it is important to note that Tibet is under Chinese rule and that, after attempting to overthrow the Chinese government in 1959, the Dalai Lama was exiled to Dharamsala, India, where he still lives today.

To learn more about the Dalai Lama, visit www.dalailama.com. To learn about some of the differences between Christianity and Buddhism, check out The Lotus and the Cross by Ravi K. Zacharias. Find news and holiday information related to Buddhism on ReligionTranscends.com.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of Mormons was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Spring 2008 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

More than likely, you’ve heard of Mormons, or maybe you’ve heard something about Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney. But do you really know who they are? Try this quick quiz:

True or false?

1. Mormons are not Christians.
2. Mormon men have multiple wives.
3. All Mormons live in Utah.
4. Mormons believe in one Heaven and one Hell.
5. Mormons do not believe in Christ.

According to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church), commonly known as Mormons, these statements are all false. So if the stereotypes of Mormons are wrong…who are the Mormons?

A history lesson

In 1820, Joseph Smith claimed God told him to restore the Church because all other churches had gone astray in their actions and beliefs. Later, Smith claimed a prophet back from the dead told him he could restore the Church if he could find a long-lost book, authored by a man named Mormon. After some time, Smith said he found the book and translated it into English. Today, Mormons call this the Book of Mormon. It contains a story about two tribes of Israelites who established the “true Church” in the United States after Jesus died and received a visit from Jesus Himself. Smith set out to restore the Church to the way it was at the time of these Israelites. He organized his followers in New York and eventually moved them to Illinois. After facing persecution for his beliefs, Smith was arrested and murdered there in 1844.

Three years later, Brigham Young became president of the community. (Brigham Young University was named after this notable leader.) To escape persecution, Young led Mormons on a pioneer journey out west, eventually settling at their headquarters in present-day Utah. Today, more than 5 million Mormons live in the United States, and they make up about 60 percent of Utah’s population. In addition, almost 10 million Mormons live in another 162 countries throughout the world.

A belief system

Along with the Book of Mormon, Mormons trace their beliefs to three other sacred texts, including Smith’s translation of The Bible. They believe in a Godhead: three completely separate identities including God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. God has a physical body and is the actual father of all humans. Jesus is the human son of Mary and God. Though He is not considered God, Mormons say He saved the world and will come back to America to reign someday. Finally, the Holy Ghost looks like a man and brings God’s good influence to humans.

Like the separate identities that make up the Godhead, Mormons also believe in multiple levels of Heaven:

• The lowest level is for those who haven’t accepted Christ as their savior and suffer for their sins until they can move up.
• The second level is for those who didn’t learn about Christ on Earth but accepted Him in Heaven or for those who lived honorable lives. In this way, even unbelievers can go to Heaven.
• The third level is for those who accepted Christ on Earth and were baptized.

But there’s a way for residents of the third level to get even higher: Most Mormons believe if you marry and follow the commandments (staying away from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee and following other social commands), you can achieve the highest level. There, a husband and wife can become like gods, creating children and even planets.

Note: That did not read “husband and wives.” While polygamy (men with multiple wives) was once allowed in the LDS Church (Smith had multiple wives), the Church outlawed it in 1890.  It is illegal throughout the United States. Still, there are around 30,000 people in Utah and surrounding states who practice polygamy against church law.

A presidential debate

Mitt Romney is a Republican candidate for president – and he’s a Mormon from Utah. Some voters seem concerned that his religious background will negatively affect his presidency. Some Christian voters are worried that Romney, as a Mormon, isn’t Christian and would make laws that didn’t follow Christian principles. But Mormons stress that, despite some differences in beliefs, they are indeed Christians who claim Jesus as their savior. Furthermore, Romney has emphasized that his campaign is not about being a Mormon; it’s about what he would do for Americans. His religion, he stresses, won’t affect the choices he makes as president.

Thanks to Romney’s candidacy, Mormons are getting more exposure than ever. Many Mormons are contributing to his campaign, hoping his visibility will help Americans (and other Christians) to better understand their lifestyle and beliefs.

Learn more about  Mormon beliefs at www.pbs.org/mormons.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of Jehovah’s Witnesses was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Winter 2007 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

You’ve probably seen them around your neighborhood. They may have knocked on your door, offering to tell you the Good News before moving on to the next house. You may have even received information explaining their beliefs. So just who are these door-to-door evangelists that call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses? What do they really believe? And why are they so urgently calling out to neighborhoods across the country?

Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?

In 1870, Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) organized a Bible study in Pennsylvania. He began collecting his beliefs and teachings into a magazine now called The Watch Tower. Russell’s teachings were often focused on the return of Christ, as predicted in the New Testament book of Revelation, which he believed would happen in the near future. Quickly, he gained a following and organized his followers under an organization called the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (“God’s visible organization in the world”). Today, we know this group of students as Jehovah’s Witnesses, a name drawing on the personal name of God (sometimes translated as Yahweh, as in Roman Catholicism). Jehovah’s Witnesses now span 230 countries and territories, and boast over 6 million followers.

Jehovah’s Witnesses meet every Sunday in a local Kingdom Hall (their version of a church) to study a biblical theme using their copies of The Watch Tower. Then, they meet weekly in each other’s homes for Bible studies, always using The Watch Tower to find out what the Bible says. In addition, Witnesses meet mid-week in Kingdom Hall to train for evangelizing, or witnessing, to local unbelievers. Afterward, Witnesses go door-to-door, explaining their beliefs and attempting to gain converts. If they find that someone is interested, they may then hold a Bible study in the potential convert’s home to better explain their beliefs in person.

What do they believe?

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity – in other words, they do not believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God. Instead, they believe that the Holy Spirit is a force that God uses to make people do His will. In addition, they believe Jesus was simply a created angel, neither divine nor equal to God. He is thought to have died on a stake (instead of the traditional cross with nails) so that man’s sins could be forgiven. Witnesses do not believe Christ was resurrected after his death. Rather, they believe he was raised in 1914 (the year they believe the world’s greatest troubles began) and that he is invisible. So, for Witnesses, Christ is already here but will not appear visibly until the end of the world.

At the time of the present world’s end, Witnesses believe Christ will destroy Satan and purify the Earth, creating Paradise right here where we already live.  They believe only 144,000 people (the “flock” predicted in Revelation) will enter heaven and live forever. All other believers will live in Paradise on Earth; nonbelievers will perish.

Because they believe the end of the world to be right around the corner, Witnesses feel it is critical that they convert as many believers as possible so that those people may, too, live in Paradise.

Will they celebrate Christmas this winter?

The short answer is no. Witnesses do attend a memorial of Jesus’s death each year, right around the time of the Jewish/Christian Passover in the spring. However, they do not celebrate birthdays or any other holidays, including Christmas and Easter. They believe man created birthdays and holidays and that they give glory to the world and not to God. Sometimes, these celebrations are thought to be under the control of Satan himself.

What do they think of governments and war?

Jehovah’s Witnesses are politically neutral. Their government is God’s Kingdom, so they don’t believe in allegiance to worldly governments. They do not vote, salute the flag, participate in public service, or run for office. It is absolutely forbidden to serve in the armed forces, as they are only to serve in God’s army. Anyone who performs any of these actions and is found guilty can be excommunicated, or removed from the community of believers. Family and friends may also shun that person until they seek to be forgiven and allowed back into the community of believers.

Instead of focusing on worldly actions, Witnesses focus most of their energy on converting nonbelievers and members of other religions. So don’t be surprised if you find them knocking on your door in the future. They are seeking to tell you the Good News as they know it, in the hopes of taking you with them to Paradise.

To learn more about Witnesses and how you might respond at the door, check out Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses by Jason Evert.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

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The following overview of Islam was written by Religion Transcends writer Jackie Walker for the Fall 2007 issue of Relate magazine. Relate’s mission is to inspire teen girls to pursue their dreams with confidence and to teach them to be an example for others in their speech, life, love, faith and purity. Religion overviews may have Christian overtones to make the content relatable for the Christian teen audience.

Allah. Al Qaeda. Koran. For many of us, these words only entered our vocabulary after September 11, 2001. Many Americans knew little of Islam before acts of terrorism prompted us to take a second look at this major world religion. Unfortunately, a large, diverse religion has become associated, for many, with terrorism and acts of violence. But the world’s second largest religion is just that – diverse. And a majority of the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims do not support violence in the name of Islam. So what unites all Muslims? Just what do Muslims believe?

Islam is a monotheistic religion, meaning they believe in just one God (translated as “Allah” in Arabic). Like Christians and Jews, Muslims (followers of Islam) believe themselves to be descended from the Abraham of the Old Testament. While Jews and Christians are descended from Abraham and his wife Sarah, Muslims are descended from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar.

Who was Muhammad?

Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In the year 610, Muhammad was meditating in a cave when the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Soon after, Muhammad began to recite words said to come straight from God, which were then recorded in a book called the Koran. As a messenger of the words of God, Muhammad is considered a prophet. But not everyone saw him as such back then. Debates over his leadership role led authorities to deny Muhammad and his followers access to Mecca; they were forced to flee to nearby Medina in 622. Eight years and several battles later, they triumphantly returned, taking over Mecca and abolishing all idols worshipped there.

What do Muslims believe?

Like Christians, Muslims believe in angels, heaven, hell, and the Day of Judgment. However, Muslims consider Jesus to be another prophet or messenger like Muhammad. So while Christians believe in the need for Jesus’ saving grace to go to Heaven, Muslims believe they must save themselves through good deeds.

Islam rests on five pillars that define members of the faith:

1. The shahadah: a statement that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is His messenger.
2. Prayer: Muslims are taught to pray multiple times during the day and regularly gather on Fridays for prayer and worship.
3. Charitable giving: Muslims are obligated to give money to the poor.
4. Ritual fasting: This includes the fast of Ramadan, when Muslims remember the night Muhammad received visions from God.
5. Hajj: It is the duty of a Muslim to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at some point during their lifetime.

Muslims also place an emphasis on modesty. This is why you will often see Muslim women wearing a veil covering their hair and sometimes their faces. Though some people interpret the veil as a way to make women inferior, many Muslim women choose to wear the veil as a sign of their modesty.

What’s the difference between a Sunni and a Shi’ite?

The two largest divisions in Islam, between Sunnis and Shi’ites, began at the death of Muhammad. Muhammad never picked a successor. One group of people, today called Sunnis, believed someone should be elected to become the political leader of Islam. Another group, today called Shi’ites, believed leadership should be hereditary – meaning the political and religious leader would be a descendant of Muhammad. Today, Sunnis make up 85 percent of the Muslim population, while Shi’ites Muslims make up the other 15 percent.

Is Islam a violent religion?

The short answer? No. It is true that the Koran includes discussions of jihad, translated as “putting effort.” A jihad can be a struggle within oneself to become a better person, or a jihad can be a holy war against those who threaten Islam.   However, the Koran and Muslims do not support unjust violence.

But just as in Christianity, some extreme members of the faith have taken holy words and twisted them to justify acts of violence. And for the most part, the violence seems to come from political groups (like Al Qaeda and other Islamic governments), not religious groups. Osama bin Laden developed a hatred of American politics and culture. He used religious language and verses from the Koran to justify his terrorist actions against the United States. A majority of Muslims do not support such acts of terrorism but consider themselves a peaceful people with a deep love and respect for God. Muslims can trace their history back to the same roots as Jews and Christians, and the Koran commands Muslims to be tolerant of these religions.

To learn more about Islam and Muslim relations with members of other religions, check out John Esposito’s book, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam.

Find news and holiday information related to Islam on ReligionTranscends.com.

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

Filed under: Islam, RELIGION OVERVIEWS | 2 Comments »