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Religion and aRt
Many people use art, architecture, and
sculpture to convey their religious ideas
and to show the important icons of their
religion. this Christian sculpture of the
Virgin Mary holding Jesus shows her
crowned as the Queen of Heaven.PeoPle HaVe always seaRCHed for answers to life’s mysteries and unexpected
events. this questioning may have led to the growth of religions, to give meaning
to life and death. Most religious people believe in a god or several gods. gods are
thought of as supreme beings who created the world or who control what happens
in it. Religions may be highly organized and
teach people how to live, with a set of
beliefs and rituals to follow. there
may be special places in which
to worship and a spiritual
leader for guidance. some
religions believe there is
a spirit or a god in every
object, from animals to
rocks. Many believe in
a life after death. other
religions have less
formal rules, and people
follow beliefs in their own
way. the world’s six major
organized religions are
Christianity, Judaism, islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism, and sikhism.430
deatH and HeaVen
Many faiths believe that the human body is
a temporary container for the soul. after
death the soul may be reborn in another
body or go to Heaven as a reward for good
deeds on earth. Most religions have special
rituals or funerals to honor and remember
the dead, such as the day of the dead in
Mexico (above). Candles are lit to help
dead relatives find their way to the land of
the living.Religions
JeRusaleM
Jerusalem is sacred to three religions. Jews pray at the wailing
wall, the ruins of a temple destroyed in 70 ce. the dome of
the Rock mosque is holy to Muslims as the place where Prophet
Muhammad rose to Heaven. the Church of the Holy sepulcher
is built on the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ.woRsHiP and PRayeR
each religion has its own system
of worship and prayer. worship
shows reverence towards a
god or deity, in a public
ceremony or service.
it often takes place in a
special building, such as a
mosque or church. Prayers
can be spoken or thought
during worship or in private,
and are a thanksgiving or
request to a god or holy
object. the girl above
prays during the Buddhist
Festival of Hungry ghosts
in singapore.saCRed texts
Many religions have texts that
teach and guide. Muslims read
the Qur’an, Christianity is based
on the Bible, Buddhists follow
the dharma, and the talmud
(above) is central to Judaism.gods
Many religions worship either
a single god, or several gods.
there may be myths or stories
associated with the god, which
demonstrate an important
lesson. ganesha (right) is the
Hindu god of wisdom.
according to legend, his father
accidentally cut off his head
and in desperation replaced
it with that of an elephant.MotHeR goddesses
Pregnant female figures
mostly found in domestic
locations may have been
worshiped as a symbol of
the making of new life.US_430_Religions_1.indd 430 22/01/16 4:47 pm