In Turkey and around the world, there was a time when we had no alarm clocks. Humans had to find ways to wake up in the morning to go to their fields or to work. Many waited for the sound of the rooster to crow them awake, or the church bells to chime, or the first call to prayer bellow out from the mosque.
Today, we have personal alarms to wake us up—so I thought. This morning at 3:45 a.m., I was abruptly awakened by a very loud, tinny-sounding drum in my neighborhood. I thought there was a parade coming to town. The drum was heard throughout the neighborhood for a full 15 minutes!
Since I rarely sleep through the night, I was not amused, because I don't return to slumber for at least a couple of hours. I am NOT humored by a poor drummer coming to my neighborhood to sound his drum at such an early hour of the morning.
I got another reminder this morning that I live in Turkey, and today is the beginning of Ramadan where Muslims will fast from everything from sun-up to sundown. Does everyone fast? Not by a long shot; and thus, the rub for my second post about similarities versus differences in visiting religious diversity around the globe.
Most religions have some way to call their people to prayer or to invite people to worship. Likewise, no matter the religion, there are designated places for an individual or groups to worship.
So how can we see our similarities versus differences when it comes to religion? Anyone can easily see them if we just think about it, and I will focus only on the three major religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Remember, I am not an expert in religion; rather, I want to show how one can train their mind to understand similarities versus "the other" mentality. Also, these are general observations.
1. The major religions all have a holy book and portions of those books are reflected in the other. Jews observe the Torah; Christians read the Bible and Muslims study the Koran. Each one gives importance to the other.
The difference: The Muslims are required to both respect and love the prophets or holy people from all religions as shown in the Koran.
2. Christians attend a church; Muslims go to the mosque, and Jews go to a temple or synagogue for their place to worship.
The difference: No one is allowed into a mosque with their shoes on and many faiths require women to cover their head.
3. The primary day for worship is different among religions. Muslims should never miss the Friday service. Jews attend on Friday and Saturday, and Christians on Sunday.
The difference: Custom of the religion dictates which day is the primary day for worship. For Jews and Muslims, a particular holy book passage tells which day to worship, but for the Christians, it was the Roman Catholic Church which changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday and other Christian faiths followed.
4. Christians have priests or ministers and a hierarchy of clergy over the churches and one who gives spiritual guidance to parishioners. Jews have a rabbi who oversees their religious practices and counsel their members, while the Muslims seek out the imam for spiritual guidance and who also gives the call to prayer.
The difference: The imam may not necessarily be formally schooled as a cleric or steeped in years of Koran training or such similar discipline and may not have certifications to counsel parishioners. Also, the government may be involved in the appointment of an imam to a mosque.
5. Each religion may have a particular language for their religious services. Before the late 1960's, Roman Catholics used Latin, and now may revert back again, but the majority of Christian denominations hold their services in the native language. Jews use Hebrew or Yiddish, while the Muslims pray in Arabic. Of course, outside of prayers or practices, the native language of the land is used.
The difference: Typically, Muslims learn prayers in Arabic, but may not know Arabic or read the prayers in their own language. Jews learn Hebrew or Yiddish as a language and not just the prayers.
6. Who attends religious services more? In the Jewish and Muslim houses of worship more men attend than women. In fact, in both religions women have, what may be called, an exemption for attendance, so they may serve the family and home. In Christianity, women are the overwhelming majority of religious service attendees.
The difference: In both synagogues and mosques, women and men are separated during the service.
7. Just a few years back, all women always wore a head cover when they went to worship because it was a religious requirement; later, some religions relaxed this rule. Many women around the world, no matter their religion, still do wear a head covering. What's more, many women never left home without a head cover or scarf, no matter where they went. Even today as yesteryear, women wear headscarves in the home which have nothing to do with religion, but their custom.
The difference: Some Muslim women feel they should wear a headscarf completely covering their hair and also prefer conservative attire whenever outside the home. Many do so because they believe it pleases God but is not required. In some countries, it's compulsory. Some Jewish women, either married or belonging to the orthodox religion, still must wear a scarf in the synagogue and do so whenever leaving the home as well. Christian women do if it is the custom of their country or by preference.
Comments