All of the worlds major religions employ certain rites and rituals into their respective faiths. Some are similar, and some are very different.
The term "ritual" is used to describe a variety of social, spiritual and religious actions that bond human beings to each other and to their beliefs. The greater majority of organized religions, the most ubiquitous being Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity have all incorporated a myriad of sacred rituals into their religious convictions.
Christianity, for example, includes numerous rituals that reconstruct Jesus' actions in life or are intended to carry out his instructions. Although styles and elucidations vary, both Baptism and the Lord's Supper are fundamental Christian rituals that are essentially universal. Yet within the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic faiths, as well as some Protestant traditions, baptism is no longer representative of an individual's resolution to follow Christ and his teachings. As an alternative, baptism has come to be a symbol of membership in the Christian community bequeathed upon newborn babies. The ritual itself has evolved as well, to seem less barbaric, thus the infants are no longer immersed in the holy water, they are simply sprinkled with it.
In addition to attending and participating in church services, most Christians view prayer as the most basic and essential sacred ritual that draws them closer to God. Jesus, who even gave his disciples a model prayer to follow, known today as The Lord's Prayer, commanded mankind to sing verbal praises to God. The practice of prayer is, of course, an integral part of all of the five major religions, and it almost always necessitates the use of symbolic objects, such as rosary beads, to enhance the prayer's significance. Rosaries and Chaplets, which are circular strings of beads, are prevalent in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Other ritual objects are also used commonly in prayer throughout every religion, such as the Muslim prayer rugs, which are shaped to represent the sacred realm of the mosque. Another example is the Jewish tallit, which is a shawl trimmed with fringe that is donned by devout Jews during synagogue services.
Vast varieties of purification rites, usually based upon the elements of water, fire and/or light, are also carried out across the world, in most major religions. These rites generally make use of elements such as water, dust, or sand, and tend to incorporate the use of various types of jugs and other vessels that contain ale or wine. Purification rituals are generally used to signify repentance and atonement, or a "cleansing of the spirit" through replenishment. Baptism is also included under this heading.
The religion that has the least propensity towards ritualistic activities is Islam. The Muslims view the individual as a whole, and its followers model their life according to the teachings of Islam in every aspect of their lives, religious or otherwise. Thus Muslims tend to place much more emphasis on character than on actions, which makes the performing of rituals less essential to demonstrating one's faith. Consequently, a man who works hard for a living and is honest and true to himself is considered more pious than someone who, for example, reenacts or attempts to symbolize a sacred prophecy. Of course, addressing the non-ritual worship in Islam does not mean that rituals are completely absent from the Islamic faith. Muslims do, in fact, believe that when certain rituals are performed in the approved manner, man can be morally and spiritually elevated. One such example is the Islamic ritual of the pilgrimage to the House of God in Makkah, or what is commonly referred to as Al-Hajj. In this rite, like-dressed Muslims from all over the world respond to the call of Hajj in an endeavor to implement strict self-discipline and control into their lives. Both objects and elements of nature are considered sacred during this pilgrimage, which provides a chance for all Muslims from all groups, classes, organizations, and governments across the globe to assemble every year.
In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else, but death has the most stringent rituals associated with it. In Judaism, death is not considered to be a tragedy, even under the most tragic circumstances. Instead, death is perceived as a natural and necessary process. However the actual rituals involved in funeral rites and other ritual behaviors associated with death are abundant in the Jewish faith. Mourning practices, for example, are strictly carried out in Judaism, however they are not meant to portray death as a dismal occurrence, but rather to demonstrate respect for the dead and to comfort the living.
Religion is, in most societies, a powerful emblem of cultural identity, as well as a blueprint for ethical conduct. Therefore most religions have , and will continue to integrate unique and sacred rituals into their tenets that further solidify their disciples' faith.
