Believer In Mohammed's Religion example essay topic

Zoroastrianism was once a very widespread religion, but now it has few adherents (about 150,000). It connects more closely with the Bible than any other religion, excepting, of course, Judaism and Christianity. For example, the Bible mentions some of the Zoroastrian kings who ruled the Persian Empire. These kings (Cyrus, Ahasuerus, and Darius) are named in Isaiah, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and 2 Chronicles. This religion is the product of one man, Spit oma Zoroaster, who lived about the seventh century B.C. (his dates are sometimes given as 628-551 B.C. ). Zoroaster is the Greek form of his name; he is also known by his Avestan name, Zarathustra.

What little we know about Zoroaster comes from the Gathas, a set of hymns included in the Zoroastrian scriptures (the Avesta). Zoroaster was born in Persia at a time when the popular religion was the worship of the Aryan nature gods. In the third century A.D., a reformation movement within Zoroastrianism began, which helped restore its original monotheistic purity. However, the spread of Christianity and especially the spread of Islam all but eliminated Zoroastrianism in Persia.

The Muslims defeated Persia (A.D. 651), and the Zoroastrians who would not renounce their religion had to flee. They eventually found refuge not far from Bombay, India (A.D. 717). The priests reorganized the people and the religious worship ceremonies in the new land. These Zoroastrians who moved to India came to be known as Parsis (Persians). Today there are only about 120,000 Parsis in India and another 30,000 in Iran.

The Parsis are well-educated, moral people, and many of them are financially successful. They have kept themselves aloof from Hinduism, almost like a separate caste. The Zoroastrian scriptures, the Avesta (knowledge) are written in Avestan, a language similar to Sanskrit. A commentary (lend) was added in the third century A.D., and the combined scriptures and commentary are called the Zend-Avesta. The Avesta is divided into two parts: (1) The Great Avesta contains the Yasna (which includes the Gathas, songs written by Zoroaster), the Visparad, and the Verridad.

(2) The Small Avesta is a ritual and prayer book. The most distinctive feature of Zoroastrian teaching is its dualism. It paints a picture of a constant struggle between two primal spirits, one good and one bad. Ahura Mazda (or Ormazd) is considered the supreme deity who will eventually triumph over Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), the devil. While Ahura Mazda is one god, he is depicted as having seven diverse attributes, called the AmeshaSpentas. Later Zoroastrianism turned these attributes into lesser gods or archangels.

Angra Mainyu also has seven attributes, the corresponding opposites of those of Ahura Mazda: Ahura Mazda -The Seven Attributes Angra Mainyu - The Seven Attributes Ahura Mazda -God of Light, Wisdom Angra Mainyu (Prince of Darkness) Asha (Right, Justice) Drug (Falsehood) Vo hu Month (Good, Mind, Thought) A kem (Evil Mind) Kshathra (Power, Strength) Dish-Kshathra (Cowardice) Haurvatat (Health and Perfection) Taromaiti (False Pretense) Amer etat (Immortality) Ave tat (Misery) Arma iti (Piety, Love, Faith) Merethyn (Annihilation) Zoroastrianism presents a works salvation which emphasizes very high moral standards. The three great virtues are good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. Each person must freely choose truth over falsehood. Salvation is achieved only if a person has a moral credit balance, that is, if his good deeds outweigh his bad deeds. The bodies of all the dead will be resurrected, and there is a final judgment. Each soul comes to the Sifting Bridge or Deciding Bridge which leads to heaven (the House of Songs).

Those who fall off this bridge descend into hell. At the end of time all who are evil are finally destroyed by a fiery stream of molten metal. Angra Mainyu and his demons will also be annihilated. Before these judgments occur, the Avesta teaches, a savior or deliverer (Soshyant) will appear. Rituals and formulas have become so much a part of this religion that Zoroastrians seem to be concerned more with ceremonial purity than with ethical purity. There is an emphasis on avoiding defilement by certain things, especially dead bodies.

When a Parsi dies, he is not buried or burned because Zoroastrians do not want to defile the earth, water, or the sacred fire. Therefore they place the body in a Tower of Silence where the bones are picked clean by vultures. SUMMARY: (1) The Zoroastrian view of God is closer to that of Christianity than any other major Eastern religion. It is monotheistic, and Ahura Mazda has many of the attributes of Jehovah. However, the god of Zoroastrianism falls short in at least two ways: (a) Angra Mainyu, the spirit of evil, appears to be as powerful as Ahura Mazda. This dualism indicates that Ahura Mazda is not really sovereign and omnipotent.

He does not actually have the power to defeat Angra Mainyu even though the Avesta says he will at last. (b) Ahura Mazda is not a personal god like the God of the Bible. Worship is centered around ritual forms, not a personal relationship. (2) Salvation is achieved by works, not by faith. If a man's good works outweigh his bad works, he is allowed into heaven. The problem of man's sinfulness is not resolved, and heaven will be populated by sinners. Because of this, Ahura Mazda does not possess the burning righteousness of the God of the Bible.

(3) In this religion the good has become the enemy of the best. There are a number of parallels with Christianity, but these similarities often obscure the critical differences. (4) In actual practice, Zoroastrianism involves superstition and occultism. This is especially true of the near worship of the sacred fire and the white bull in the temples.

(5) Modern Zoroastrianism is characterized by empty ritual, ceremonial forms, and by legalism ISLAM CONTENTS PAGE / WORLD RELIGIONS PAGE What major religion: 1- has gained thousands of converts in North America, including many professional athletes? 2- is the youngest among major world religions, but still one of the largest? 3- is so missionary minded that it is seeking to convert Western countries, not just African and Asian countries? 4- is the fastest growing religion today in the world? The answer to all of the above is Islam, a religion that claims nearly 1.5 billion (out of a World population of 6.8 billion) followers in countries throughout the world, an amount equal to or larger than that of the Roman Catholic Church. (1.2 billion) So then, we need to take a long and very serious look at this one.

Every Christian should know as much about this Religion as they can, so that they are equipped to defend against it. Islam originated in what is now Saudi Arabia, and from there it expanded along trade routes to Africa and Asia. The country with the most Muslims is Indonesia, with 120 million. In addition, there are millions more in parts of Eastern and Western Europe and in the Americas. One out of every six human beings on the face of the earth subscribes to the faith of Islam. It is one of the fastest growing of all religions on the earth today.

Islam is the correct name for the religion often incorrectly called Mohammedanism. The word "Islam" means "submission" (to Allah, the God of Mohammed, the man who founded this religion). A believer in Mohammed's religion is a Muslim, meaning "one who lives his life according to God's will". HOW MOHAMMED BECAME A PROPHET Born in Arabia in the city of Mecca in A.D. 570, Mohammed came from a prominent and highly respected family. His father died a few days before his birth, and his mother died when he was six years old. Mohammed's grandfather took him in but died when Mohammed was nine.

Then he went to live in the home of Abu Tali d, his uncle, where he herded flocks. As he grew older, Mohammed got into the caravan trade and accompanied his uncle on trips to Syria and Persia. Scholars believe that, in his travels, Mohammed developed his concepts of monotheism from several sources, including the Monophysites, who believed that Christ had only a divine nature, and Nestorians, who divided the Incarnate Christ into two separate natures, divine and human, in one person (denying that the man Jesus of Nazareth was both fully God and fully man). In addition, it is believed he absorbed a great deal of teaching from Jews who exposed him to the Talmud. As a result, it is unlikely that Mohammed's opportunities to learn about "the one true God" came in great part from anyone who really understood the Bible. Even a Muslim writer like Caesar Farah admits that Mohammed's narration of scriptural events shows he "could not have... had an educated knowledge of the sacred texts". ' it is no wonder that Mohammed developed theologically flawed ideas, which he later expressed when developing the Qur " an (also called Koran).

As a young man working in the caravan trade, Mohammed attracted the attention of his employer, a wealthy widow named Khadija. Although she was 40 years old and he was 25 when they were married, they lived happily together and she bore him several children. After his marriage, Mohammed spent much of his time during the next 15 years in solitary meditation. At the age of 40, he received his first revelation while contemplating in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca. According to Mohammed, the archangel Gabriel came to him during a dream and brought the following command of God: " "Read in the name of thy Lord who created, who created man of blood coagulated.

Read! Thy Lord is the most beneficent, who taught by the pen, taught that what they knew not unto men". From this command to "read" comes the name for the holy book of Islam, the Qur " an, meaning "the reciting" or "the reading". Because Mohammed could not read or write, the Qur " an is his reciting of revelations given to him. After receiving his first revelation, Mohammed was deeply disturbed and told his wife he thought he might be possessed by jinns, supernatural beings that, according to Arabic folklore, could take human or animal form and influence human affairs. But Khadija assured him that his words were true, as did her cousin, Waraqua ibn Naw fal, who was somewhat familiar with the Jewish and Christian concepts of monotheism.

It was through Waraqua's urging, as well as Khadija's, that Mohammed began to preach again in the streets and marketplaces in Mecca. Mohammed never claimed to be divine but insisted that Allah had called him to be a prophet. Mohammed hated the idolatry and the immorality of the Arabs who lived in Mecca or came there to trade their goods. The rich lorded it over the poor. Greed and selfishness were everywhere, and even infanticide was practiced among the Bedouin tribes. He was met with bitter opposition, but for many years his influential uncle was able to protect him.

When both Khadija and Mohammed's uncle died in A.D. 620, plots were hatched to kill Mohammed and his followers. Finally, on July 16,622, Mohammed was forced to flee to Yathrib, a friendlier city to the north. This flight, called the hegira, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The years are counted from "A.H. ", meaning "the year of the Hegira". Yathrib was later renamed Madina t an Nabi (City of the Prophet), in honor of Mohammed, but it is more commonly known as Medina. Mohammed became the religious and political leader of the city.

Soon the Meccano organized an army to destroy Mohammed and his followers. The fighting ended in 630 with Islamic forces triumphant. Mohammed entered Mecca and destroyed every idol in the Kaaba, the main temple, except the Black Stone, a sacred meteorite enshrined there. Mohammed then declared the Kaaba to be the most holy shrine in Islam. Since that time it has been the spot toward which all devout Muslims direct their prayers. During the next two years, Mohammed strengthened his position as the leading prophet and ruler of Arabia.

He united the tribes into a vast army to conquer the world for Allah. His death in 632 did not lessen the fervor of his followers. They carried their faith across Asia, Africa, even into Europe-and to this day the growth of Islam has steadily increased to its current worldwide status of nearly 1 billion..