Non-Christian Religions: Sikhism, Islam, Judaism

Subject: Religion
Pages: 4
Words: 923
Reading time:
4 min
Study level: College

Guru Nanak

The declaration meant that Guru Nanak did not recognize God to serve the Muslims or Hindus only. He embraced unity in God for all humankind. I think that Guru Nanak’s conception of the divine is unique. It is not easy for someone to accept God and considers Him to be non-specific. Religions can be useful when one accepts God as the universal Supreme Being and sees it as a unifying factor for all humankind and contributor to the development of neighborhoods. It is a barrier when different religious groups teach their followers that God is for them alone which results in enmity.

Sikhism

Sikhism is a fusion of other traditions as it was founded to try to synchronize Hinduism and Islamic. However, it cannot be seen as an absolute merger of the two traditions. The teachings and beliefs of Sikhism make it become a distinct faith with its unique features.

The uniqueness of this religion is that it transcends all existing religions. Its intellectual principles and teachings have no link with any other religion. Sikhs believe in the oneness in God, salvation through union with God and value love for every creation Follower’s faiths depend on his or her own inner connections with God and everything created in the whole world. What to incorporate:

  • Values: loving all, living a family life, providing food and shelter for everyone, doing justice for everyone and walking through God’s paths.
  • Beliefs: believing in one God and monotheism.
  • Practices: Moral practices and specific ceremonies to bring followers together.

However, I would organize my community not conflict other religious movements, embrace the territorial form of organization as this would make my movement be more comprehensive in integrating the community members into the movement’s doctrines.

Revelation by Islam

Muslims perceive revelation to be communicated by a supernatural entity to the followers through words and letters. The first revelation was given to Muhammad in the form of Quran. Muslims believe that Allah speaks to people through direct or indirect revelation. The Muslims, therefore, hold the concept of revelation as the only way through which Allah speaks to them.

Muslims believe that Quran is the only holy book that authenticates all Divine Books used by other traditions, which should never be revoked. Concerning the books revealed to Christians and Jews, Muslims recognize that Quran addresses all the needs of humanity omitted by the respective religious groups. Therefore, they view the Jews and Christian books as false revelations.

Sikhs consider their unity and earthly authority to be the written word in that the foundation of the Sikh holy book as it can be traced from premier Sikh shrine, as hymns of the God’s favored saints. They incorporate the teachings from Quran and even consider teachings from the book to be rightful teachings.

Muhammad

Muhammad is considered a religious and social reformer who spearheaded the inheritance of prophetic traditions from Judaism and Christianity. He left his traditional religious roles bestowed upon him as well as social responsibilities, transformed to Islamic, and reformed many people subsequently.

The raising from a poor background, working as a trader or shepherd, and constant travels across the region also enabled him to understand the people who surrounded him. These experiences in life enabled him to gain courage and confidence of sharing his revelations with everyone. This converted many people to accept the Quran eventually.

Teachings and Unique qualities of Islam

Islam advocates general concepts as those of other preceding groups. This includes themes similar to other religious groups and stories from the Jewish and Christian scriptures. The Quran also builds on the teachings of oneness of God and humanity. However, Islam exhibits its unique qualities from the preceding books through its advocacy on its five pillars and factions.

Similar traits

  • Monotheism
  • Abraham as the common origin
  • Existence of future life

Significant differences

  • Islam accepts Jihad.
  • Fundamentalism evident in Islamic.

Global Survival

  • There should be an integrated advocacy for recognition of God for everyone.
  • Religious groups to preach peace to everyone irrespective of religion.
  • Common baselines are to be outlined for all religious groups to prevent Jihad.

Jew

A Jew refers to any member of the movement either by conversion or by birth, who believes in a common cultural heritage and religious beliefs whose origin is traced from the Jewish Kingdom.

Jewish identity. This can be traced from cultural, spiritual, and religious perspectives. Religiously, a Jew follows Judaism. Spiritually, a Jew lives by constant reference from their kingdom of life. Culturally, Jewish follows the Jewish practices and believes in the teachings of Judaism.

Branches

Branch Orthodox Conservative Judaism Reform Judaism
Difference The division that strives to uphold the traditional Judaism A group that incorporates traditional Judaism and modernity. Strictly modernizes Judaism only.

History and Judaism

History enables understanding of the origin of this religion, the rise of the divisions and predictions for the future of the Jewish theology and identity.

Events

  • Population. The loss that occurred due to Holocaust lead reduction of the Jewish population in the West. This has affected the distribution of this religion to different parts of the world mostly the west.
  • Politics. Influences economic and cultural differences. This affects the relation of the Jews to the rest of the world.
  • Geography Diaspora. Immigration shapes the Jewish identity and theology as the religion is not seen as solely for the Israelites.
  • Religion. Abolishment of the traditional Judaism and the consequent shift to modernity creates rift between the different Jewish groups. This leads to the inconsistent distribution on the religion to different parts of the world.