Mankind's Capacity for Worship

 In a world of increasing complexity, religion affords a modicum of stability. The holy texts of each religion provide instructions for living, prescribe rites to be observed or performed, and provide insight into the establishment of created order in the world and universe. Peoples of different religions are in contact with each other on a daily basis, no longer separated by mere cultural or geographical boundaries. The media expose us to the variety of celebrations and rituals observed by adherents of each of the world's great religions.

According to Braswell, "Perhaps the best way to understand world religions is to observe and to communicate with the peoples who profess and practice their religions. Increasingly, one is able to converse with peoples of different religions . . . [and] a new world of understanding unfolds." According to their own understanding of the nature of their religions, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists extend invitations to others to investigate and adopt their religious beliefs and attitudes.

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ealed to those whom he calls out. But while Judaism continues to await the arrival of the Messiah to invoke God's reign in history, and Christianity recognizes Jesus as that Messiah and anticipates the culmination of history in the establishment of God's kingdom on earth, Islam believes that Allah has revealed his will to both Jews and Christians, although the perfect revelation of his law was given to Muhammad. Religion, to a large extent, bridges the gap between human understanding of things observed and things unseen. While science tries to unlock the secrets of life, religion relies upon faith to reveal the mysteries of the universe. As diverse as are the beliefs of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, there is one concept which transcends them all: immortality of the soul. It is this one overarching principle which provides perhaps the single greatest benefit to a society connected with any of these four great religions. The belief in some form of life after death is necessary to any concept of human life serving any larger purpose than the fulfillment of the immediate aspirations we set ourselves. This religious insight is supported by the parallel secular response of some twentieth century artists, m
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Approximate Word count = 3763
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page)

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