There are many religions in the world; they affect our life in many unique ways. It is important to understand and learn each particular religion because it helps us understand the way of life for others. Not to mention it broadens our horizon of knowledge and can prepare us to know how to interact with different culture groups.
Christianity developed out of Judaism in the 1st century C.E. It is founded on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christianity has many different branches and forms with accompanying variety in beliefs and practices. The three major branches of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism, with numerous subcategories within each of these branches. Until the later part of the 20th century, most adherents of Christianity were in the West, though it has spread to every continent and is now the largest religion in the world. Traditional Christian beliefs include the belief in the one and only true God, who is one being and exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the belief that Jesus is the divine and human Messiah sent to the save the world, therefore Christianity is monotheistic. Christianity is also noted for its emphasis on faith in Christ as the primary component of religion. The sacred text of Christianity is the Bible, including both the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. Central to Christian practice is the gathering at churches for worship, fellowship, and study, and engagement with the world through evangelism and social action. In public Christians dress normally, but in church they dress up nicely. Men wearing dress pants and a collared shirt and women wearing a dress. Religious leaders dress in a robe usually white and red with a cross inscribed in the chest. There are currently 2.3 billion Christians in the world, there’s roughly a 1.9% increase of this number every year. You can find Christianity in almost any part of the world. One becomes a Christian by believing in God and accepting he is the one and only true God. Then one must accept Jesus Christ into their heart. Then Christ will save you when it is time to go to the afterlife, but only if your sins are forgiven. The afterlife in Christianity consists of Heaven which is an eternal living place for people who have been faithful in God and he who has no sins on themselves. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life – John 3:16.
Islam is a monotheistic religious tradition that developed in the Middle East in the 7th century C.E. Islam, which literally means surrender, was founded on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, the creator and sustainer of the world. The Qur'an, the sacred text of Islam, contains the teachings of the Prophet that were revealed to him from Allah. Essential to Islam is the belief that Allah is the one and true God with no partner or equal. Islam has several branches and much variety within those branches. The two divisions within the tradition are the Sunni and Shiite, each of which claims different means of maintaining religious authority. One of the unifying characteristics of Islam is the Five Pillars, the fundamental practices of Islam. These five practices include a ritual profession of faith, ritual prayer, the zakat, fasting, and the hajj. Many Muslims are characterized by their commitment to praying to Allah five times a day. One of the defining characteristics of Islam is the primacy of sacred places including Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. Muslims gather at mosques to worship Allah, pray, and study scripture. There is not a sharp distinction between the religious and secular aspects of life in Islam; all aspects of a Muslim's life are to be oriented to serving Allah. Islam expanded almost immediately beyond its