The world has 4000 recognized religions, with 75% of the population following one of the five major religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Judaism.
Despite having different deities, texts, and worship places, many religions have many things in common. From believing in a higher power to living according to certain moral codes, many religions have a lot in common.
HIGHER POWER
All religions are founded on the principle of a belief in a divine entity or God, who is considered to be a higher power and oversees the universe. Different religions have different higher powers, but they all hold the same belief—God created the world, oversees the universe, maintains the balance in the universe, and punishes the wrongdoers.
Christianity talks about God in three parts: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Islam has a higher power called “Allah” and Prophet Muhammed, who is believed to be the messenger of God.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS
All religions strongly believe in religious leaders like priests, nuns, rabbis, or imams. These are people who have a thorough understanding of the religion, its principles, and its texts. They are believed to be pious and knowledgeable, and people trust them and seek their guidance in different aspects of life.
Some present-day famous religious leaders include Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, and the fourteenth Dalai Lama, the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism.
Some famous religious leaders of the past include Maimonides, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Confucius.
SACRED TEXTS
Every religion has a sacred text that contains the core teachings and message of the religion’s leader, i.e., god. Sacred texts have been instrumental in carrying the message of the religion from one generation to another, ensuring that the religion isn’t lost or forgotten. One common theme in all religious texts is that they provide a moral framework, supporting the vulnerable and advocating mercy and peace. Almost all sacred texts are believed to be orally narrated by God or God’s messenger to a disciple, who then compiled it for the world. Some texts are believed to be written by great sages or monks who could comprehend God’s message.
Some famous sacred texts include The Holy Bible, The Quran, The Bhagavad Gita, The Tripitaka, The Tanakh and The Talmud among others.
MORAL CODES
Moral or ethical codes about the way of life are common across all religions. All these codes promote the same things- kindness, compassion, love, respect for others, and non-violence. This can be seen in Hinduism’s emphasis on “ahinsa” (non-violence) or the Old Testament’s golden rule, “Love thy neighbor.”
All religions lay down rules every human must follow to lead a just life. These rules are not always told directly but through stories and teachings of mythical characters who lived by these rules and were loved by God.
HELL
The concept of Hell is deeply rooted in every religion. All religions have a common theme of doing good, and if someone does the opposite and is evil, they go to Hell. Hell is believed to be a place or state of eternal punishment for wrongdoers.
In all religions, Hell is used to bring fear, and the threat of potentially ending up in Hell in their afterlife deters people from straying from the righteous path.
In major religions like Christianity and Islam, Hell is where humans who committed sins go after their death. Hell, in these religions, is a place of eternal damnation.
HEAVEN
Heaven is yet another and probably the one thing that is indisputably common across all religions. Heaven or paradise is considered the abode of God and the holiest place where only those who do good and live a righteous path are allowed. All religions commonly believe heaven to be the place where humans are relieved of all their earthly problems and bonds.
All religions propagate the idea of going to heaven as the ultimate goal.
In Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam, heaven is believed to be a place filled with eternal joy and peace.
Similarly, Hinduism and Buddhism describe heaven as the ultimate destination, where individuals can achieve liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
PRAYER
Prayer is the single common aspect of every religion worldwide. While the manner of praying may differ, the act of praying remains the same. All religions believe prayer to be a way of communicating with God and expressing our problems, gratitude, or solace. Many prayers are conducted through rituals and hymns, either in a group, alone or in a place of worship.
Different religions have different ways of praying. In Islam, Muslims perform Salat five times a day, while in Buddhism and Hinduism, prayers are done through mantras and various rituals in temples.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
Every religion has a place of worship considered sacred by its followers. These are the places where people gather to pray, meditate, and find a community. People visit these places for various reasons, including finding peace and connecting to god.
Places of worship are headed by holy people, such as clergy, ministers, Imams, priests, or monks, who perform sacred rituals or impart divine messages to people.
Some famous places of worship are Churches, Mosques, Temples and Monasteries.
THE NUMBER “40”
The number 40 appears numerous times in almost all religions without anyone knowing its actual significance.
Moses is believed to have spent 40 days and 40 nights on the summit of Mount Sinai before receiving the Decalogue from the Lord.
Muhammad was rumored to be 40 years old when the angel Gabriel visited him with the message of God.
Jesus is believed to have fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the Judean desert.
Buddha is believed to have meditated under the Bodhi tree for 40 days. Most hymns dedicated to Hindu gods consist of 40 verses.
PILGRIM SITES
Pilgrim sites or holy sites of worship are common across all religions. People go on pilgrimages for various reasons, including personal and spiritual growth, mental peace, or due to traditions. These sites are considered to be sacred and powerful, and many visit them in times of hardship to end those hardships.
Some of the most visited pilgrimages worldwide include Mecca, the Wailing Wall, St. Peter’s Basilica, Notre Dame de Paris, Tirupati Temple, and the Sensoji Temple.