There are so many questions related to religion, and many people are confused about who is telling the truth. However, regardless of what disharmony is reported in the news, and what is not, there is one fact that remains constant in all countries and with all religions.
Prayer is the common denominator that unites religions throughout the world. Regardless of the differences between the main denominations, the main similarity is none other than prayer.
Prayer, a request from a higher source, is based on faith. Billions of people pray every day. People of different religions, with different beliefs, different origins and from different countries.
Is there something to be said for a ritual that almost all religions known to mankind hold in high esteem?
What is it about this unique belief that spreads globally? The fact that we may strongly disagree with each other’s religion, but at the end of the day, we still have prayer as a common denominator, means that there is hope for peace between denominations. Prayer is the glue that holds all religions together.
Major world religions
The top five denominations in the world are Christianity, Islam, Secular (non-religious) Hinduism, and Buddhism. Each of these religions or groups includes prayer, except the Secular. However, you can find a scientist anywhere in the world in the hope that the God particle can be corroborated through science.
There are approximately 2.1 billion Christians, 1.6 billion Islam, 1.1 billion non-religious believers, and 376 million Buddhism. The total world population is estimated to be 7 billion. The remaining religions, including traditional African religions, Sikhism, Judaism, Spiritism, Bahá’í, to name a few, claim the remaining number of people on earth.
Based on these statistics, it is safe to say that more than 87% of the world believes in some form of prayer. Christianity is by far the largest religious group in the world. Christian Catholics is the only denomination that has its own country.
How Different Religions Pray
The different ways of praying vary according to the different religions that are practiced around the world.
For example, Christians generally kneel, bow their heads, and clasp their hands. Muslims kneel on the ground and allow their forehead to touch the prayer mat resting on the ground. Some religions sing, while other religions are silent. Jews pray while rocking their bodies back and forth. Native American Indians use dance as a form of prayer.
Christians pray to God the Father, or Jesus, while Muslims pray to God / Allah. Catholics ask the saints for prayers and speak to them as if they were someone else. Catholics are not praying to the saints, but asking the saints to pray for them. Jews pray to God / Adonia. Hindus believe in one God, Braham.
Regardless of religion, each group prays to a higher source and must, according to their belief, have faith that their prayers will be answered. Prayer is a common denominator that unites us all. From the big bank theory (non-religious believers) to the world’s major religions, hope is alive.