The Books Of Believers

Throughout history, humans have looked to the divine for help and guidance. It seems innate for people to have the desire to believe in forces that lie beyond our ability to prove empirically. The widespread practice of religion and spirituality has, over time, taken on many different forms and variations. One common characteristic of many of these practices is the use of the written word containing the teachings and tenets of different faiths. These are viewed to be life changing books and are often read by religious believers to reinforce their belief systems.

Some religions believe that writers were divinely inspired and directed to record important instructions for adherents to live by. These instructions often contain principles and teachings about morality and a relationship with the divine. Three examples of these religions would include the Judeo-Christian denominations, Hindu beliefs and the religion of Islam. Even some non-denominational groups, such as The Way International seek a better understanding of texts contained in the Bible.

The Bible

The scriptures contained in both the Old and New Testaments provide followers with encouragement, instruction and inspiration. Different people interpret the meanings of scriptures differently. This is part of the reason for the rise of differing denominations. Additionally, there have been over 450 different translations of biblical manuscripts into the English language. The diversity of resulting practices and beliefs is complex and astonishing.

While many variations among interpretations exist, some beliefs or tenets are held in common. The monotheistic or one God theme pervades most, if not all, of Christianity. Likewise, the belief in some incarnation of a messiah figure, Jesus Christ, exists in most denominations. Finally, the belief in an afterlife is integral for the various sects of the Judeo-Christian religious tradition.

The Vedas

A vastly different set of beliefs and practices have resulted from the Vedas, the religious texts of Hinduism. These writing are among the oldest religious texts still in existence dating from as old as 1700 B.C.E. Covering the praise of deities, ritual sacrifices and philosophy, these writings guide aspects of culture as well as spiritual life for Hindus.

The source of the Vedas is largely attributed to a writer, Vyasa. An overarching theme within this religion is that of a cyclical reality that repeatedly forms and disintegrates. This belief includes the reappearance of a figure such as Vyasa in each repetitive cycle of reality to correctly separate a single body of knowledge into the respective Vedas to aid in the human understanding of its precepts.

The Quran

The Quran serves as the main religious text of Islam. An interesting aspect of Islam is that, aside from the Quran, its adherents also accept portions of other texts which are part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Additionally, some prominent individuals, such as Abraham, are also shared between the two religions. Islam is a monotheistic religion as well.

Texts of the Quran are divided into 114 chapters and presented within the chapters as verses. Muslims believe it is the literal word of God revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Its contents and narrative present moral and spiritual guidance for believers and, in some cases, shares common themes with the Bible.

The broad spectrum and vast scope that religion and spirituality represent in human history are fascinating. The multitude of beliefs and traditions are a testament to the longing for a divine source to help give meaning to existence. History is replete with examples of the influence and fundamental reliance upon these concepts for guidance in all of human affairs. Scriptures embody the human quest for relationships with the divine, the meaning of life and our fate at life's end.