Religion can be described as a system of worship and faith, based on a belief in the benevolent God. This is usually expressed by believers according to the religion's customs and rules of behavior. The religions that will be discussed in this paper are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. A brief summary of the top two current issues facing each of these religions will be provided. This paper will also identify two sacred holidays for each religion and provide the significance and major characteristics of each holiday.
Judaism
Judaism is the religion of the Jews. It is a way of life with a set of basic beliefs and values. Judaism is more concerned with this life than the afterlife. One of the top current issues that Jews often face is anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism has existed for many years, but has now increased even in communities where Jews have never lived. The Palestinian attacks have been a clear indication of hostility towards Jews. Another issue Jews face today is Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." The movie caused much controversy when Gibson said he was going to tell "the truth" about the last 12 hours of Jesus' life (Anti-Defamation League). The script raised concerns that it could possibly increase anti-Semitism.
Christianity
Christianity is the religion of Christians. "Christianity is a religion based upon the belief that the Bible contains a divine message and that Jesus represents a change in the relationship between man and God" (Encyclopaedia of the Orient). One of the top issues that Christians face is the issue of abortion. Christians are strongly opposed to abortion, and they feel that abortion harms women physically, mentally, and spiritually. They feel that the life should be celebrated and not taken for granted. Christian ...