Our lives are full of questions, many of which are very hard to answer. Why are we born? Why do we die? How did the word come into being? Why is there unhappiness and suffering in the world as well as joy and love?

Religions are sets of ideas and beliefs that try to make sense of these mysteries. In many cases, they also offer principles by which people should live their lives. The first religions were spirit religions dedicated to the many spirits or gods of nature. Spirit religions were not written down, but used stories and myths to explain the world.

Today there are many different religions, each with their own god or gods. Three of the major religions – Islam, Christianity and Judaism – believe in only one god. The fourth, Hinduism, has many gods. The principles of these religions are set down in sacred texts – the Christian Bible, the Qu’ran of Islam, the Jewish Talmud and Torah, and the Hindu Vedas. Of the thousands of other religions throughout the world, whether institutionalized or private and personal, many share very similar forms of worship – prayer, mediation, singing and chanting.

Spirit Religions

The first religions were based on the worship of the spirits or gods of the natural world – in the animals, plants, rivers and mountains. These are called animist religions and they are traditional religions passed down by world of mouth. Animist religions are still practiced all over the world. The people of the Amazon rainforest believe in the spirits of the trees and creatures of the forest they live in, but respect the powerful spirit of the jaguar above all others. Each of the Native American people has its own individual religion, but they all share the belief in the Great Spirit who created the earth and the spirit in every natural thing. People in the northwestern United States carve animals on totem poles to protect them.

Christianity

Christians are the followers of Jesus Christ, a preacher who lived 2,000 years ago in Palestine in the Middle East (now Palestine and Israel). But many people were suspicious of Jesus and his teachings and while still a young man he was arrested and crucified (hung on a cross to die). Three days after his death his tomb was found empty and he appeared to his followers several times before he finally ascended into heaven.

Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he died to release people from their sins. The most important Christian festivals are Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus, and Easter, which celebrates Jesus rising form the dead.

Islam

The religion of Islam began 1,400 years ago in the city of Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia) when Allah (the Muslim name for god), spike to Muhammed the prophet. Muhammed wrote down Allah’s words in the holy book, the Qu’ran. Islam means submission, and the followers of Islam, called Muslims, submit themselves to Allah’s will and try to live in a way that is pleasing to him. When they die, Muslims believe that they are judged and sent to either heaven or hell. Muslims pray five times a day facing towards Mecca, but can worship anywhere, even in the street. All Muslims must try to make a pilgrimage (called a Haj) to the holy city of Mecca once in their lives.

Reference:

http://www.typesofreligion.com/