As a religious devotee, it’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not about the other 4,000 faiths spread across the world. To clear some things up, today we’re listing 18 common misconceptions about religions that you may not be aware of.
The Forbidden Fruit Was an Apple
Adam and Eve were chased out of the Garden of Eden for eating a forbidden fruit, and everyone thought this fruit was an apple. However, the Bible and Quran never specified what fruit it was. The confusion came when there were Latin translations of the Bible where mălum (evil) sounded like mālum (apple).
Jesus Was Born on Christmas Day
Contrary to popular belief, December 25 isn’t the birth date of Jesus. Rather, it’s an unverified date recommended by Pope Julius I in 350 AD. Today’s Christmas celebrations originate from the Yule celebrations of the winter solstice, which is why the season is also called the Yuletide.
Jews Adhere to the Old Testament
It’s well known that Jews wholly reject the New Testament, but did you know that they also don’t follow all parts of the Old Testament? Professor Levine from Boston College explains that the Tanakh is arranged very differently from the Old Testament and ends with the Second Chronicles, not the Book of Malachi.
Hinduism is Polytheistic
Hinduism has many gods (deva) and goddesses (devi), including Shiva, Krishna, Hanuman, and Lakshmi. However, Hinduism is a henotheistic religion, meaning that instead of being individual deities, the gods represent different parts of one true, supreme being, Brahman.
Hindus Worship Cows
Hindus respect cows so much that they have the holiday Gopastami dedicated to washing and dressing them up in flowers. Nonetheless, this admiration is only to the point of seeing them as sacred animals. Cows aren’t gods but are symbols of wealth, strength, and motherly love.
The Church of Satan Worships Satan
It’s only fair to believe “Satanists” take Satan as their own lord and savior, but this is far from the truth. CNN reminds us that the Church of Satan promotes “I-theism,” an advanced form of atheism where an individual’s free will is put at the center, separated from supernatural controls.
Jihad Means Killing for God
The Islamic term “Jihad” is mostly associated with bloodshed in Allah’s name. However, if we examine it more closely, the word actually means “effort and struggle.” In Islam, Jihad takes three hierarchical forms: internal struggle against sin, effort toward communal development, and holy wars to defend the religion.
All Muslims Are the Same
Muslims worship the same God, read the same Quran, and follow the same prophet, Muhammed. However, what many don’t know is that there are multiple schools of thought split between Shia and Sunni doctrines, with some being more relaxed or conservative than others.
The Dalai Lama Is the Pope of Buddhism
The Dalai Lama is one of the most popular figures in Buddhism, so much so that many think of him as a Buddhist pope. You shouldn’t, though–the Dalai Lama is the highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. He doesn’t have as much influence in Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism, or Newar Buddhism.
All Angels Have Wings
According to Biblical descriptions, angels do not always have wings. Some manifest as wheels, water, snow, or fire and are far from the pretty human-like representations seen in art and culture. The angels that do have wings almost always have more than two perched on their backs.
Yazidis Are Devil Worshippers
The Yazidiz worship the Malak Ṭāʾūs; an angel sent to hell for rebellion before reconciling with God. This sounds very much like the Islamic and Christian Satan, so it’s no surprise why people say Yazidiz worships the devil. However, the Malak Ṭāʾūs is only a peacock god that represents the world’s good and evil.
Christians Worship Three Gods
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three parts of the Christian trinity, but rather than representing polytheism, this trinity only represents three forms of one monotheistic God. All forms are equally divine and play distinct roles in Christian theology, as Stanford explains.
The Pope Can’t Do Wrong
As the sovereign leader of the Holy See, many believe the Pope is never wrong and that Catholics must follow all his statements. This isn’t entirely true; the Pope’s infallibility only applies to statements uttered “ex-Cathedra,” and only two have been made in history.
Islam Forces Women to Cover Up
Hijabs and burqas have been sources of contemporary debate, and the global West sees them as tools for oppressing Muslim women. Yes, conservative countries enforce them through punitive laws, but the religion itself only mentions it as a means for modest dressing and doesn’t prescribe any punishment for noncompliance.
Nuns Have to Wear Habits
The habit, consisting of a robe, belt, and veil (and sometimes a rosary and scapular), is a traditional identifier of nuns around the world. Despite its role in representing submission to God, it hasn’t been compulsory for “Sisters” to wear since the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s.
Muslim Women Can’t Drive
There’s a misconception that Muslim women aren’t allowed to drive, which is plain wrong. Sure, Saudi Arabia, where Islam originated, had had a long-standing ban on women behind the wheel. However, it was the only Islamic country with this law, and thankfully, the BBC announced that this ban was lifted in 2018.
Black is Part of Jewish Attire
The combination of black suits and black hats is popular among many orthodox Jews. However, this formal wear is only worn because some Jews believe they’re always in the presence of God and want to look presentable. Blue and white are actually more representative of Judaism than black.
It’s Only Valid to Confess to Priests
Finally, confessions are acknowledgments of one’s sins, which Christians believe are key to receiving forgiveness and mercy from God. However, this has nothing to do with priests, which many people assume; on the contrary, confessions require only true repentance, and no priest is actually needed.
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