UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT
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Baha'i
Basic Beliefs
The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.
The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification
Practices, Holidays, and Festivals
Observant followers of the Baha'i faith recite three obligatory prayers during the day
in a quiet place where they can face in the direction of Qiblih (the
Shrine of Baha'u'llah, near
Two of the prayers require movement and prostrations; Baha'is are required to wash their face before praying and may use a normal washroom facility.
Baha'i festivals take place from sunset to sunset and followers may wish to leave work early in order to be home by sunset the evening prior to the festival day. Baha'is also prefer to refrain from working on the 9 key festival dates or Baha'i Fast which occurs annually between March 2-March 12.
Baha'is refrain from
eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during this period.
Ridvan, which occurs between
April 21-May 2, is the most important Baha'i festival
and includes three holy days on which Baha'is would
wish to refrain from working. They are:
· 1st Day of Ridvan, April 21
· 9th Day of Ridvan, April 29
· 12th Day of Ridvan, May 2
The other Baha's festivals are:
· Declaration of the Bab, May 23
· Ascension of the Baha'u'llah, May 29
· Martyrdom of the Bab, July 9
· Birth of the Bab, October 20
· Birth of Baha'u'llah, November 12
Dietary Practices
As a matter of principle most Baha'is do not use
alcohol. Otherwise there are no dietary restrictions.
(for more information, see http://www.bahai.org/article-1-2-0-1.html)
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Buddhism
Basic Beliefs
The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Sakya tribe
of
The Buddha wandered the plains of northeastern
All Buddhism is based on what is called the “four noble truths” which
are that 1) 
life is suffering; 2) suffering is due
to attachment; 3) attachment can be overcome; and 4) there is a path
for accomplishing this.
Overcoming attachment is referred to as reaching nirvana. However, nirvana is often misunderstood to mean either a Buddhist heaven or complete nothingness. Actually, it refers to the letting go of clinging, hatred, and ignorance, and the full acceptance of imperfection, impermanence, and interconnectedness.
(for more information, see http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhaintro.html; http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhawise.html)
Practices, Holidays, and Festivals
There are two different branches of Buddhism: Theravada, and Mahãyãna. The holidays of those who follow the Mahãyãna tradition are on fixed dates, based on the Japanese Buddhist calendar. Some Buddhist traditions do not celebrate any festivals. Buddhist followers should be asked which festivals are important to them. Followers of the Therevada tradition follow the lunar calendar and, according to which holidays do not take place on the same day each year.
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Christianity
Basic Beliefs
Christianity has three broad movements: Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and Protestants.
Roman Catholicism comprises the beliefs and practices of the Roman
Catholic Church that is under the authority of the Pope in
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian organization in the world with followers in almost all countries.
Eastern Orthodox Catholics constitute a different church from that of Western Catholics with a distinct ecclesiastical structure that does not recognize the primacy of the Pope. Eastern Orthodox clergy do not practice celibacy.
Eastern Orthodoxy, or the Orthodox Catholic Church, refers to the
state churches of Eastern Europe and the eastern
· Orthodox
churches in the
·
· Orthodox
Diaspora. Organized outside the traditional Orthodox countries, these
ecclesiastical communities are found in Western Europe, North and South
America, Africa,
Most Eastern Orthodox Christians follow the same holidays as Western Catholics, except on days determined by the Julian calendar that preceded the Gregorian calendar which most people now follow. Therefore, they celebrate Christmas, New Year, Ash Wednesday, Easter, etc. on different days than Western Catholics.
Protestantism encompasses the Christian churches that separated from
Major Protestant denominations include the Lutheran (the largest), Reformed (Calvinist), Presbyterian, and Anglican (Episcopalian). Innumerable sects and denominations sprang from these roots, including Quakers, Baptists, Pentecostals, Congregationalists, Methodists, and nondenominational assemblies.
Episcopalians follow much of catholic theology, but accept the Archbishop of Canterbury as the head of its church; its priests and archbishops do not practice celibacy.
Practices, Holidays, and Festivals
Christians vary in what holidays they celebrate. The two celebrated
by all but a few Christian churches are Easter and Christmas. Seventh
Day Adventists and members of the
Western Catholics, Episcopalians, and Eastern Orthodox Catholics celebrate more holidays than do other Christians. These holidays, in addition to Easter and Christmas, include Ash Wednesday, Lent, Pentecost, various Saints days, and specific days of holy obligation.
On holidays, Catholics, as well as other Christians, may wish to attend a church service and request a late start to the working day or to finish early in order that they can attend their local church. Observant Christians may wish to attend Church on Sundays throughout the year.
(for further information, see http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001466.html; http://www.apologeticsindex.org/o06.html)
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Christian Scientist
Basic Beliefs
Christian Science, as discovered by Mary Baker Eddy refers to the universal, practical system of spiritual, prayer-based healing, available and accessible to everyone. Christian Science is fully explained in Eddy's primary text on spirituality and healing, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Practiced by people of many different denominations and faith traditions, as well as those with no faith tradition, membership in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is not a prerequisite for the practice of Christian Science.
Christian Science offers a means of spiritual care through which individuals seek to find a better emotional and physical health, answers to life's deepest issues, and to progress on their spiritual journeys. Healthcare decisions are always a matter of individual choice.
The basic ideas of Christian Science include: 1) God is divine Love, Father-Mother, supreme; 2)the true nature of each individual as a child of God is spiritual; and 3) God's infinite goodness, realized in prayer, heals.
Practices, Holidays, and Festivals
The major practice that distinguishes Christian Scientists from other Christian denominations is their faith in prayer rather than modern medicine to cure disease or other body ailments.
(for further information, see http://www.tfccs.com/aboutchristianscience)
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Church of Scientology
Basic Beliefs
Scientology: Scio (Latin) know, logos (Greek) the word or outward form by which the inward thought is expressed and made known. Thus, Scientology means knowing about knowing. The full story of the development and codification of Scientology can be found in scores of books, more than 15,000 pages of technical writing and more than 3,000 taped lectures. These works represent a lifetime of research by L. Ron Hubbard to discover a workable means to set men spiritually free — to replace ignorance with knowledge, doubts with certainty and misery with happiness.
Today, the fruits of L. Ron Hubbard's work are available to anyone who wishes to reach for them. And no matter how different Scientologists may be — whether teachers and businessmen, housewives and athletes, artists and secretaries — they hold one vital factor in common: having significantly bettered their lives, they know that Scientology works.
Scientology is a twentieth-century religion. It comprises a vast body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths, and prime among those truths: Man is a spiritual being endowed with abilities well beyond those which he normally envisages. He is not only able to solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also to achieve new states of awareness he may never have dreamed possible.
In one form or another, all great religions have held the hope of spiritual freedom — a condition free of material limitations and misery. The question has always been, however, how does one reach such a state, particularly while still living amidst a frantic and often overwhelming society?
Although modern life seems to pose an infinitely complex array of problems, Scientology maintains that the solutions to those problems are basically simple and within every man's reach. Difficulties with communication and interpersonal relationships, nagging insecurities, self-doubt and despair — each man innately possesses the potential to be free of these and many other concerns. Scientology offers a pathway to greater freedom.
While the hope for such freedom is ancient, what Scientology is doing is new. The way it is organized is new. The technologies with which it can bring about a new state of being in man are likewise new.
Because Scientology addresses man as a spiritual being, it stands completely apart from other religions which see man as a product of his environment or his genes — fixed in the limitations under which he was born.
It does not depend upon a system of beliefs or faith. The emphasis is squarely on an exact application of its principles toward the improvement of one's life and the world in which we live.
To understand exactly how Scientology is utilized, something should be known of the track of research L. Ron Hubbard traveled and the antecedent of Scientology — Dianetics.
(for further information see, http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/description/index.html)
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Hinduism
Basic Beliefs
Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions since
it does not have a single founder, a specific theological system, a
single system of morality, or a central religious organization. It
comprises thousands of different religious groups sharing some basic
beliefs that have evolved in
Hinduism is generally regarded as the world's oldest organized religion.
Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing:
Hinduism has commonly been viewed in the west as a polytheistic religion——one which worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses.
However, others view it as a monotheistic religion because it recognizes only one supreme God: the pantheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity, simultaneously at one with the universe and that transcends it as well.
Some view Hinduism as Trinitarian because Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad:
- Brahma the Creator who is continuing to create new realities;
- Vishnu, (
- Shiva, the Destroyer, who is at times compassionate, erotic, and destructive.
Strictly speaking, Hinduism is a henotheistic religion—a religion which recognizes a single deity, but which recognizes other gods and goddesses as manifestations of that supreme God.
Most urban Hindus follow one of two major divisions within Hinduism:
Vaishnavaism: which generally regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity; and
Shivaism: which generally regards Shiva as the ultimate deity.
Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, and suffering are, therefore, seen as natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives.
Practices, Holidays, and Festivals
Hinduism is a diverse religion and not all Hindus will celebrate the same festivals. Some of these festivals and the approximate time they occur are:
- Maha Shivaratri, February
- Holi, March
- Ramanavami, April
- Janmashtami, August
- Dashera (Durga Puja), September/October
- Karava Chauth , October
- Diwali, late October/Early November
- Vaisakhi, late October/Early November
Clothing
Hindu women will often wear a bindi, a red spot worn on the forehead, to indicate her faith. In addition, many married Hindu women wear a necklace (mangal sutra) which is placed around their necks during the marriage ceremony and is worn in addition to a wedding ring.
A few Orthodox Hindu men wear a small tuft of hair (shikha) similar to a ponytail but this is often hidden beneath the remaining hair. Some Orthodox Hindu men also wear a clay marking on their foreheads known as a tilak.
Food
Most Hindus are vegetarian and will not eat meat, fish, or eggs.
(for more information, see http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htm)
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Islam
Basic Beliefs
Muslims believe in One, Unique, and Incomparable God (Allah). They believe in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets beginning with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus. God's eternal message was reaffirmed and finalized by the Prophet Muhammad. One becomes a Muslim by saying, "There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God." By this declaration, the person announces faith in all of God's messengers.
Central to all variations of Islamic belief are the Five Pillars of Islam:
1) The Declaration of Faith: This consists of the declaration: "There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
2) Prayer: Muslims perform five obligatory prayers each day. Islamic prayers are a direct link between the worshiper and God. Islam has no hierarchical authority or priesthood. A learned Muslim chosen by each congregation leads the prayers.
3) Charitable Giving: One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God and that wealth is held in trust by human beings. Zakat, or charitable giving, "purifies" wealth by setting aside a portion for those in need. This payment is usually two and a half percent of one's capital.
4) Fasting: Every year in the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast before first light until after sunset. The fast is another method of self-purification.
5) Pilgrimage: A pilgrimage, or Hajj, once in one's lifetime
to Islam's holiest site in
The Qur'an is the record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his companions. The text of the Qur'an was cross-checked during the life of the Prophet. The 114 chapters of the Qur'an have remained unchanged through the centuries.
Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims
The majority of Muslims follow the Sunni form of Islam that was recorded and handed down by the companions and immediate successors (the rashidun) of the Prophet Muhammad.
Other Muslims, however, dispute that the Rashidun were
the true successors of the Prophet Muhammad. They believe that after
the Prophet Muhammad's death, the true successor was his closest male
relative, Ali ibn Abi Talib.
These Partisans of Ali (Shi'ites) revere
those they believe to be the direct descendents of Ali and his wife Fatimah,
the Prophet Muhammad's daughter. Most Muslims in
Practices, Holidays, Festivals
Daily Prayer
- Observant Muslims pray five times a day. Before prayer, Muslims wash their face, hands, and feet with clean water. This may be done in a restroom or other facility that has a sink and running water. Prayers may follow the following schedule:
- morning prayer may be offered from the break-of-dawn until just before sunrise;
- sunset prayer maybe offered from sunset until darkness; and
- night prayer may be offered throughout the night hours.
- Prayer may be performed in any quiet, dry, clean place. During
prayers, Muslims face
- The time and scheduling of prayers usually can be easily accommodated without disrupting the general work schedule. The complete prayer ritual usually takes about fifteen minutes. This enables Muslims to pray during break times or at lunch/dinner breaks. Muslim employees can pray in their offices and work sites (excluding bathrooms) as long as the surroundings are quiet, dry, and clean.
- Friday congregational prayer lasts 45-90 minutes and takes place
at a mosque around
Festivals
There are two days a year that Muslims must take off work to celebrate holidays. These festivals are:
Eid al Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) and
Eid al Fitr (The Feast of Breaking the Fast).
The Holy Month of Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is the period in which Muslims are required to fast. Observing Ramadan means refraining from eating, drinking, and smoking from break-of-dawn to sunset. Fasting does not mean that Muslims cannot work. An employee observing the fast will not be able to eat during typical lunchtimes.
Dietary Requirements
Islam prohibits the eating of pork and pork by-products as well as drinking alcoholic beverages. Muslims should be given choices, such as vegetables, eggs, milk, and fish that meet Muslim dietary laws.
Clothing
Both Muslim men and women are required to dress modestly. Some Muslim men wear a small head covering called a Kufi and Muslim women wear non-revealing, loose-fitting clothing, including a covering of the hair, called a Hijab or Khimar.
Social/Work Events
A Muslim employee should not be asked to serve or sell alcoholic beverages. Many Muslims are reluctant to take part in social gatherings celebrating religious holidays of other faiths or where alcohol is served.
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Jehovah's Witnesses
Basic beliefs:
Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Bible as the Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspired and historically accurate. Although they believe the Bible to be the Word of God, Jehovah Witnesses do not believe that every passage in the Bible is to be interpreted literally and do not pressure political leaders to promote a certain point of view, nor demonstrate against those who disagree with them.
Jehovah's Witnesses refer to what is commonly called the New Testament as the Christian Greek Scriptures and the Old Testament as the Hebrew Scriptures. They rely on both of these, the Greek and the Hebrew Scriptures and take them literally except where the expressions or settings obviously indicate that they are figurative or symbolic. They understand that many of the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled, others are in the course of fulfillment, and still others await fulfillment.
Jehovah's Witnesses is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. "God," "Lord," and "Creator"—like "President," "King," and "General"—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But "Jehovah" is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe. This reference comes from Psalm 83:18, according to the King James version of the Bible: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."
Jehovah Witnesses seek converts by going door to door following Jesus' call to his followers to "make disciples of people of all the nations," by "journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God."
Jehovah Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions following the Biblical command found at Acts chapter 15, verse 20, Acts chapter 21, verse 25, and elsewhere, that Christians must "abstain from . . . blood." Jehovah's Witnesses request the use of non-blood medical alternatives that are widely accepted and used by the medical community
Jehovah Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or the birthdays of individuals. They refrain from dancing and drinking.
The most important religious event of the year for Jehovah's Witnesses is Memorial of Christ's death.
Throughout the year, Jehovah's Witnesses enjoy parties, picnics, and other events without feeling bound to obligations or to a fixed date. They also celebrate special events such as weddings and anniversaries. However, they do not celebrate holidays that have non-Christian religious origins or those that promote nationalism. They are not opposed to celebrations in general or to the giving of gifts.
(for more information, see http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/; http://www.watchtower.org/beliefs_and_activities.htm)
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Judaism
Basic Beliefs
As with Christianity and Islam, all Jews share a range of basic beliefs although they vary in exactly how these beliefs are defined and in religious practices. These underlying beliefs include:
- that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship;
- that God continues to work in the world, affecting everything that people do;
- that the Jewish relationship with God is a covenant relationship, in exchange for the many good deeds that God has done and continues to do for the Jewish People will
- keep God's laws; and
- seek to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives;
· that Judaism is the Faith of a Community; and
· that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to set an example of holiness and ethical behavior to the world.
Judaism is very much a family faith and the ceremonies start early, when a Jewish boy baby is circumcised at eight days old and girls are named in a special ceremony following the instructions that God gave to Abraham around 4,000 years ago.
Many Jewish religious customs revolve around the home. One example is the Sabbath meal, when families join together to welcome in the special day.
Judaism has four broad movements: Boundaries not that clear. Other variations emerge regularly.
Orthodox Judaism: The Orthodox branch of Judaism holds most strictly to Jewish laws and observances. In some parts of the world, Orthodoxy is the only practiced form of Judaism.
Conservative Judaism: The Conservative movement believes that Jewish laws and traditions need to change to incorporate modern ideas and practices. Most conservative Jews, nevertheless, observe most Jewish practices, such as keeping Kosher, and celebrate all major Jewish holidays.
Reconstructionism: Reconstructionists define Judaism as the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people. More open to change as society changes, innovate
Reform Judaism: Reform introduced innovation while preserving
the basic Jewish beliefs of God, Torah,
and
Strictly observant Jews keep the laws of Kashrut (Kosher) and refrain from work on the Sabbath and holidays, except where life is at risk. This includes traveling (except on foot), writing, switching on and off electricity, using a telephone and transactions of a commercial nature (that is buying and selling).
The Sabbath and all other Festivals begin at dusk at which time practicing Jews need to be at home or in a place of worship. Sabbath begins before dusk on Friday.
Jewish holidays are considered either major or minor.
Major Holidays on which observant Jews refrain from all work are:
Shabbat (Sabbath): The Day of Rest arrives every seventh day to commemorate God's rest after having created the world. Shabbat starts on Friday night and ends Saturday night;
Rosh Hashanah: the Jewish New Year, marking the beginning of the Days
of Awe which last through Yom Kippur;
Yom Kippur: the Day of Atonement;
Sukkot: a Harvest Festival, ending with Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah;
Passover: celebration of the Exodus from
Shavuot: a two-day holiday marking the giving of the Torah by God
on
Minor Holidays
Tu B'Shevat: New Year of trees
Yom HaShoah: Recognition of those killed in the Holacaust;
Purim: Celebration of the liberation of Jews from a plot by a Persian leader to destroy them;
Yom Ha'Atzmaut:
Lag B'Omer: the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer;
Tisha B'Av: remembrance of the destruction of both the First and
Chanukah: The Festival of Lights;
Rosh Chodesh: celebrating the day the new moon appears and the new month begins.
Clothing
Many observant Jewish men keep their head covered at all times as a sign of respect for God. Many observant Jewish women may wish to dress modestly and may not want to wear trousers, short skirts or short sleeves; some may wish to keep their heads covered by a scarf or beret or wig..
Food
Strictly observant Jews keep Kosher meaning that they will only eat food that is in itself Kosher, for example, eggs and most vegetables, and foods that, meat that has been slaughtered and prepared in special ways. Keeping Kosher also entails not mixing milk products and meat products at the same meal, even if each is Kosher. Eating pork and/or any pork and derivatives, and meats from other animals that don't a cleaved hoof and don't chew their cud, shellfish, and certain other fish, such as squid, are strictly prohibited.
(for further information, see http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_desc.htm; http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/)
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Parsi (see Zoroastrianism)
Rastafarianism
Basic Beliefs
Rastafarianism grew out of the “back to Africa” movement of Marcus
Garvey in
The Rastafarians' core belief is that Haile Selassie was the living God for the black race who the scriptures prophesied as the one with "the hair of whose head was like wool (matted hair of a black man) and whose feet were like unto burning brass (black skin)". Rastas believe that Selassie was the Jesus of the New Testament.
Garvey and his followers took great pride in being black and wanted to regain the black heritage that was lost by loosing faith and straying from holy ways.
Rastafarians live a peaceful life, needing little material possessions
and devote much time to contemplating the scriptures. They reject the
white man's world, as the new age
Festivals
- Birthday of Haile Selassie 1 July 23rd;
- Ethiopian New Year Sept 11th;
- Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie 1 Nov 2nd;
- Christmas Dec 25th.
Food
Vegetarian including the avoidance of eggs. Many Rastafarians eat only organic food as close to its raw state as possible.
Clothing
Hair is worn uncut and plaited into ‘dreadlocks'. It is often covered by a hat which is usually red, green and gold.
Other
While the faith supports the smoking of ganga (marijuana), this practice
remains unlawful in the
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Sikhism
Basic beliefs
Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 in
The Sikh religion is strictly monotheistic and teaches that the universal God of love is obtained through grace and service to mankind. Sikhism views life not as a fall from grace, but as a unique opportunity to discover and develop the divinity in each human being.
Guru Nanak was followed by nine successor Gurus over two centuries.
In 1699, the tenth and last of the Sikh Gurus, Gobind Singh, gave the Sikhs their modern form which includes five articles of faith:
- unshorn hair as a gift of God and Guru and a mark of Sikh identity;
- a small comb for the hair;
- a steel bracelet that signifies a reality with no beginning and no end, and is also symbolic of a Sikh's commitment to the ideals of his faith, much as a wedding ring might indicate fealty and identity;
- a sword indicative of resolve and commitment to justice; and
- knee-length breeches in keeping with the disciplined life-style of a Sikh.
Guru Gobind Singh also freed Sikhs from
The Sikh Scripture
The collection of the teachings of the ten Gurus, the Guru Granth, is an ecumenical and eclectic collection of spiritual writing and the repository of all spiritual knowledge and authority. In temporal matters all authority rests with the Sikh community worldwide acting democratically and in mindful prayer with an awareness of the spiritual heritage which is embodied in the Guru Granth.
The Gurdwara
The Sikh place of worship (gurdwara) historically has also served as a refuge for the homeless, the helpless and the destitute, no matter their religion, with the only requirement that they remove their shoes and cover their head. Gurdwaras usually display and fly the Nishan Sahib, a yellow (saffron) triangular flag bearing the Sikh symbol of Khanda.
The worship consists of singing of the liturgy as well as exposition of Sikh history, tradition and religion. Non-Sikhs are always welcome. Any layperson may perform any Sikh rites, none of which are restricted to the ordained clergy.
Sikhism promises women an equal place. There is no activity in a gurdwara or within the community that is permitted to a man, but not to a woman. There is no religious function from which women are barred at any time in their lives.
Sikh Holidays
There are several days on the Sikh calendar, which is known as the Nanakshahi Calendar, with special religious significance:
- Birth of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Prophet
- Sikh New Year (Holla Mohalla)
- Ordination of the Order of the Khalsa
- First Ordination of Sikh scripture
- Birth of Guru Nanak, Sikhism's founder
Dietary Requirements
The Sikh Rehat Maryada, the Sikh Code of Conduct, prohibits consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other intoxicants that are known to pollute the body. It also prohibits use of all sacrificial meat because Sikhs believe that one can't please God through rituals or sacrifices.
Head Covering
Sikh men and women are enjoined to cover their heads at all times. All Sikh men wear a turban; Sikh women sometimes wear a turban and often cover their head with a scarf.
Ceremonial Sword
All Sikhs, who have been baptized, are enjoined to carry a small ceremonial sword called the Kirpan as a symbol of the Sikh commitment to fighting injustice. The Kirpan is worn most often beneath the clothes. The Kirpan itself is usually no bigger than 3.5-4 inches long and the blade itself is dull, since it is an article of faith as opposed to a weapon.
Shaving or Cutting of Hair
Sikh men and women cannot remove hair from any part of their bodies. The Sikh Rehat Maryada, the Sikh Code of Conduct, strictly prohibits shaving or cutting of hair.
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Wiccan
Basic Beliefs
Wicca is the common term for many different traditions of Neo-Pagan
nature religions that celebrate seasonal and life cycles and revere a
Goddess and a God. Most Wiccans celebrate eight seasonal sabbats (days
of rest) four of which are considered major: Imbolc (February
2), Beltaine (May 1st), Lughnasadh (Aug
1), and Samhain (November 1). The minor sabbats correspond to the four solstices. Pagan and Wiccan traditions have a long history preceding that of any
of the major Western religions. Originating as agricultural festivals
going back for thousands of years, many sabbat practices
were incorporated into Roman, Greek, and other traditions and also
found their way into subsequent Western religions. Pagans and Wiccans are
not anti-Christ or in opposition to any religion. Their beliefs and
practices focus on the earth's seasons and the natural cycles of the
world. They are largely pacifist in nature. Their only “rule” is to “harm
none”. They stress reverence for nature; belief in ecological principles
and that the divine is in everything as well as that there are multiple
deities and many different pathways to the divine, and acceptance of
reincarnation. The circle with five points, “the Pentacle” is the most
common symbol used in Wicca. Its five points symbolize Air, Fire, Water,
Earth and Spirit, in the circle of eternity. Wiccans are
found primarily in
Nothing in Wiccan beliefs should prohibit work interruption.
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Zoroastrians (Parsi)
Basic Beliefs
Zoroastrians are the followers of a great thinker (Manthran) known to Greeks as Zoroaster and to the Persians as Zarathushtra. His teachings span back to the early dawn of civilization some 3500-3700 years ago. The prophet through his revelation propounded that it is through Global Wisdom that the Universe emanated, and it is the Supreme Divine Intellect that continues to govern and advance the course of the Cosmos.
The basic ethical tenets of Zarathushtra are:
- to think Good;
- to speak Good;
- to act Good.
The major Zoroastrian Festivals are:
- Nouruz: The New Year (Nouruz) is celebrated on the day of the Spring equinox; and
- Khodad Sal: The birthday of the Prophet Zarathushtra.
Zoroastrians are required to pray five times during the day, saying a special prayer for each part of the day:
- sunrise to
- mid-afternoon to sunset;
- sunset to
Prayers should be said in front of a fire or a symbolic replica of fire.
In addition, a ritual is performed each time a Zoroastrian washes his/her hands although the ritual is not always strictly performed in all its detail. When it is performed, the individual will stand on the same spot and must speak to no one during the ritual. No special facilities are required. A prayer will also be said before eating.
Festivals
Dates follow the lunar calendar and vary from year to year:
- the Prophet's Birthday
- remembrance of departed souls
- water festival
- harvest festival
- water festival
- fire festival
- mid winter festival
- death of the Prophet
- festival of All Souls
- New Year
In addition, there are six seasonal festivals:
- early autumn
- mid autumn
- mid winter
- pre-spring
- mid spring
- mid summer
Clothes
Zoroastrians, both male and female, wear two pieces of sacred clothing, the Sudreh (shirt) and the Kusti (cord) which is a string which passes loosely around the waist three times and is tied in a double knot at the back. It is the Kusti which is ritualistically retied each time the hands are washed.
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Sources
An Elementary Study of Islam, http://www.alislam.org/books/study-of-islam/jihad.html
An Employer's
Guide to Islamic Religious Practices from the Council on American-Islamic
Relations,
Encyclopedia of
World Religions. Miriam-Webster.
Huston Smith, The World's Religions. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.
Reconstructionist Judaism: http://www.jrf.org/recon/whois.html
Reform Judaism: http://rj.org/whatisrj.shtml
The Sikh Coalition, http://www.sikhcoalition.org
WEB SITES
Guide to Religion in the Workplace. http://www.acas.org.uk/publications/pdf/guide_religionB.pdf
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