The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion

A religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Aspects of religion include narrative, symbolism, beliefs, and practices that are supposed to give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life. Whether the meaning centers on a deity or deities, or an ultimate truth,The whole experience of a religion can give a systemic and stable character to human life and society; thus a religion may also be thought of as a cultural system. While religion is difficult to define, the standard model of religion as used in religious studies was defined by Clifford Geertz (Religion as a Cultural System, 1973). For an influential critique of Geertz's model see Talal Asad's The Construction of Religion as an Anthropological Category (1982). religion is commonly identified by the practitioner's prayer, ritual, meditation, music and art, among other things, and is often interwoven with society and politics. It may focus on specific supernatural, metaphysical, and moral claims about reality (the cosmos and human nature) which may yield a set of religious laws, ethics, and a particular lifestyle. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience.

The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction. "Religion" is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system,"The words "belief system" may not necessarily refer to a religion, though a religion may be referred to as "belief system." but it is more socially defined than personal convictions, and it entails specific behaviors, respectively.

The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures. It considers psychological and social roots, along with origins and historical development.

Religion is often described as a communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth.

Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, tradition, rituals, and scriptures are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion is also often described as a "way of life" or a life stance.

Christianity (from the Greek word , Khristos, "Christ", literally "anointed one") is a monotheistic religionChristianity's status as monotheistic is affirmed in, amongst other sources, the Catholic Encyclopedia (article "Monotheism"); William F. Albright, From the Stone Age to Christianity; H. Richard Niebuhr; About.com, Monotheistic Religion resources; Kirsch, God Against the Gods; Woodhead, An Introduction to Christianity; The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Monotheism; The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, monotheism; New Dictionary of Theology, Paul, pp. 496?99; Meconi. "Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity". p. 111f. based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament.BBC, BBC?Religion & Ethics?566, Christianity

Christians believe Jesus is the son of God, God having become man and the savior of humanity. Christians, therefore, commonly refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.Briggs, Charles A. The fundamental Christian faith: the origin, history and interpretation of the Apostles and Nicene creeds. C. Scribners sons, 1913. Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=VKMPAAAAIAAJ

Adherents of the Christian faith, known as Christians,The term "Christian" (Greek ) was first used in reference to Jesus' disciples in the city of Antioch about 44 AD, meaning "followers of Christ". The name was given by the non-Jewish inhabitants of Antioch, probably in derision, to the disciples of Jesus. In the New Testament the names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren", "the faithful", "elect", "saints", "believers". The earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" (Greek ) was by Ignatius of Antioch, around 100 AD. See Elwell/Comfort. Tyndale Bible Dictionary, pp. 266, 828 believe that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (the part of scripture common to Christianity and Judaism). The foundation of Christian theology is expressed in the early Christian ecumenical creeds, which contain claims predominantly accepted by followers of the Christian faith.Defined to avoid the ambiguous term "orthodox" These professions state that Jesus suffered, died from crucifixion, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead to open heaven to those who believe in him and trust him for the remission of their sins (salvation).Sheed, Frank. "Theology and Sanity." (Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 1993), pp. 276. They further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven where he rules and reigns with God the Father. Most denominations teach that Jesus will return to judge all humans, living and dead, and grant eternal life to his followers. He is considered the model of a virtuous life, and both the revealer and physical incarnation of God.McGrath, Christianity: An Introduction, pp. 4-6. Christians call the message of Jesus Christ the Gospel ("good news") and hence refer to the earliest written accounts of his ministry as gospels.

Christianity began as a Jewish sectRobinson, Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs and Rituals, p. 229.Esler. The Early Christian World. p. 157f. and is classified as an Abrahamic religion.J.Z.Smith, p. 276.Anidjar, p. 3.Fowler, World Religions: An Introduction for Students, p. 131. Originating in the eastern Mediterranean, it quickly grew in size and influence over a few decades, and by the 4th century had become the dominant religion within the Roman Empire.

During the Middle Ages, most of the remainder of Europe was Christianized, with Christians also being a (sometimes large) religious minority in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of India.McManners, Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, pp. 301-03. Following the Age of Discovery, through missionary work and colonization, Christianity spread to the Americas, Australasia, and the rest of the world, therefore Christianity is a major influence in the shaping of Western civilization.

As of the early 21st century, Christianity has between 1.5 billion"between 1,250 and 1,750 million adherents, depending on the criteria employed" (McGrath, Christianity: An Introduction, page xvl.)"1.5 thousand million Christians" (Hinnells, The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion, p. 441.) and 2.2 billion adherents.33.2% of 6.7 billion world population (under the section 'People') Christianity represents about a quarter to a third of the world's population and is the world's largest religion.Hinnells, The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion, p. 441. In addition, Christianity is the state religion of several countries.Christianity#Demographics for information and references

Category: File - :Judaica.jpg|thumb|250px|Judaica (clockwise from top): Shabbat candlesticks, handwashing cup, Chumash and Tanakh, Torah pointer, shofar, and etrog box

Judaism (from the Latin Iudaismus, derived from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, and ultimately from the Hebrew ?????, Yehudah, "Judah";Methods and Categories: Judaism and GospelAskOxford: Judaism in Hebrew: ????????, Yahadut) is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, and explored and explained in later texts such as the Talmud. Jews consider Judaism to be the expression of the covenantal relationship God developed with the Children of Israel—originally a group of around a dozen tribes claiming descent from the Biblical patriarch Jacob and later the Jewish people.Judaism 101: The Patriarchs and the Origins of Judaism According to most branches, God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.Torah.org: What is the oral Torah? However, Karaite Judaism maintains that only the Written Torah was revealed,Karaite Jewish University and liberal movements such as Humanistic Judaism may be nontheistic.Society for Humanistic Judaism

Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning well over 3000 years. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions,BBC - Religion & Ethics - Judaism and the oldest to survive into the present day.http://www.musicunitesus.info/docs/lesson-religionhw.pdfThe 3 Monotheistic Religions - Essays - Noel12 Its texts, traditions and values have inspired later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith.Judaism page, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly influenced secular Western ethics and civil law.Jewish Contributions to Civilization: An Estimate (book)

Jews are an ethnoreligious groupSee, for example, Deborah Dash Moore, American Jewish Identity Politics, University of Michigan Press, 2008, p. 303; Ewa Morawska, Insecure Prosperity: Small-Town Jews in Industrial America, 1890-1940, Princeton University Press, 1999. p. 217; Peter Y. Medding, Values, interests and identity: Jews and politics in a changing world, Volume 11 of Studies in contemporary Jewry, Oxford University Press, 1995, p. 64; Ezra Mendelsohn, People of the city: Jews and the urban challenge, Volume 15 of Studies in contemporary Jewry, Oxford University Press, 1999, p. 55; Louis Sandy Maisel, Ira N. Forman, Donald Altschiller, Charles Walker Bassett, Jews in American politics: essays, Rowman & Littlefield, 2004, p. 158; Seymour Martin Lipset, American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword, W. W. Norton & Company, 1997, p. 169. that includes those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2007, the world Jewish population was estimated at 13 million, of which about 40% reside in IsraelPercent of world Jewry living in Israel climbed to 41% in 2007 - Haaretz - Israel News and 40% in the United States.Jewish Population By Region The largest Jewish religious movements are Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. A major source of difference between these groups is their approach to Jewish law.ReligionFacts - Jewish Denominations Orthodox and Conservative Judaism maintain that Jewish law should be followed, with Conservative Judaism promoting a more "modern" interpretation of its requirements than Orthodox Judaism. Reform Judaism is generally more liberal than these other two movements, and its typical position is that Jewish law should be viewed as a set of general guidelines rather than as a list of restrictions whose literal observance is required of all Jews.ReligionFacts - Reform JudaismWhat is Reform Judaism? Historically, special courts enforced Jewish law; today, these courts still exist but the practice of Judaism is mostly voluntary.Britannica Online Encyclopedia: Bet Din Authority on theological and legal matters is not vested in any one person or organization, but in the sacred texts and the many rabbis and scholars who interpret these texts.Judaism 101: Rabbis, Priests and Other Religious Functionaries

Category: File - :Kaaba at night.jpg|thumb|250px|The Kaaba, located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the center of Islam. It is where Muslims from all over the world travel to and gather there to pray in unity.

:For other meanings, including people named Islam', see Islam (disambiguation).

Islam ( al-'isl?m, There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa (Merriam Webster). The most common are (Oxford English Dictionary, Random House) and (American Heritage Dictionary).) is the religion articulated by the Qur'an, a book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of the single incomparable God (, All?h), and by the Islamic prophet Muhammads demonstrations and real-life examples (called the Sunnah, collected through narration of his companions in collections of Hadith). The word Islam is a homograph, having multiple meanings, and a triliteral of the word salaam, which directly translates as peace. Other meanings include submission, or the total surrender of oneself to God (see Islam (term)).USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts When the two root words are put together, the word 'Islam' gives the meaning 'Peace acquired by submission to the will of God'.

An adherent of Islam is a Muslim, meaning "one who submits (to God)". The word Muslim is the active participle of the same verb of which Isl?m is the infinitive. Muslims regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been changed and distorted over time.See:

* Accad (2003): According to Ibn Taymiya, although only some Muslims accept the textual veracity of the entire Bible, most Muslims will grant the veracity of most of it.

* Esposito (1998), pp.6,12

* Esposito (2002b), pp.4?5

* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9

*

*

Religious practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a community.Esposito (2002b), p.17 Islamic law (Arabic: ) touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from dietary laws and banking to warfare, welfare, and Jihad.See:

* Esposito (2002b), pp.111,112,118

*

The vast majority of Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the Sunni (87-90%) and Shi'a (10-13%).Miller (2009), pp.4,11

Islam is the predominant religion in much of Africa, the Middle East and major parts of Asia.Britannica, Think Quest, Wadsworth.com Large communities are also found in China, Russia and the Caribbean. About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country,Miller (2009), pp.8,17 31% in the Indian Subcontinent, and 20% in Arab countries.See:

* Esposito (2002b), p.21

* Esposito (2004), pp.2,43

* Miller (2009), pp.9,19 Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world. With 1.57 billion MuslimsMiller (2009), p.4 (see Islam by country), Islam is the second-largest religion in the world and arguably the fastest growing religion in the world.PBS - Islam Today (Islam, followed by more than a billion people today, is the world's fastest growing religion and will soon be the world's largest.)[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 The world's fastest growing religions]