There are many misconceptions about the major religions that exist around the world. These have caused confusion and even conflict over the years. Keep reading as we clarify 20 of these false facts so that you can better understand different religions.
Jewish People Are a Race
Jews aren’t a race of people, but rather, they follow the religion of Judaism. Maybe in ancient Biblical times, they were limited to the Israelites, but today, there are Black, Caucasian, and Asian Jews from diverse ethnic and national backgrounds. If you adopt the faith of Judaism today, you will become a Jew yourself.
All Hindus Are Vegetarians
Given that cows hold an almost divine status in Hinduism and that the scriptures promote vegan diets through compassion for all beings, it’s easy to see why many mistake all Hindus for being entirely vegetarian. However, Pew Research tells us that only 40% of Hindus actually have a strictly vegetarian diet.
Karma Is About Punishment and Reward
Karma originates from Hinduism, where it’s referred to as the ‘Rig Veda’ and is said to carry over into the next life. But, while many think of it as a reward or punishment for our actions, karma is only about simple cause and effect—a law of consequences that aims to promote balance and harmony in the universe.
Buddhists Worship the Buddha
Yes, Buddhism has its name tied to Buddha. However, its followers never worship Buddha. They revere him as an enlightened leader whose teachings help us better understand our world and spirituality. What’s more, meditation and following the Eightfold Path, not worship, are central to Buddhist practices.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality Unequivocally
The Bible never makes an explicit mention of homosexuality as a sin. Even the punishment given to Sodom and Gomorrah was due to a combination of factors like sexual immorality, violent crimes, and a lack of hospitality. Different denominations of Christianity have their own interpretations of the Bible that they follow.
Muslims Worship a Different God
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are called Abrahamic religions for a reason: They all originate from Abraham’s faith and covenant with the same God. ‘Allah’ is only an Arabic term for God, just like ‘YHWH (Yahweh)’ is the Hebrew word for God. Islam also emphasizes the same prophetic lineage as Christianity, with the addition of Mohammed.
All Jews Follow the Same Religious Practices
Like Christians, Jews adhere to multiple denominations within their faith. There are Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews, and Conservative Jews, each with its own philosophy and interpretation of the laws contained in the Torah. Cultural differences further influence practice within these denominations worldwide.
Hindus Worship Many Gods
When we hear the names Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi—all presented as gods—it’s so easy to believe that faith in Hinduism runs on a polytheistic system. However, these ‘gods’ are only different manifested aspects of the faith embodied in a single supreme being, Brahman.
Jesus Was Born on December 25
The most popular (and celebrated) misconception about Christianity is that Jesus was born on December 25th. The Bible never specifies his birth date, though. The Times of India explains that June is the more feasible month for Jesus’ birth and that December was chosen because it was more convenient to celebrate alongside Roman pagan winter festivals.
Women Are Forced to Wear the Hijab
Yes, we see women being forced to cover their heads in certain Islamic countries like Afghanistan and Iran. But the Qur’an itself doesn’t make hijabs mandatory for women; it only encourages women to wear coverings as a form of faith and modesty. The practice is largely influenced by local cultural and social values.
All Christians Believe in the Trinity
Although they may be small in number, there are denominations in Christianity that don’t believe in Trinity (the nontrinitarian). For instance, the Washington Post narrates how the Apostolic Pentecostals separated themselves from the concept that God is manifested in three beings in 1916.
Jihad Means Holy War
The term ‘jihad’ translates directly to ‘struggle,’ and in Islamic theology, the highest form of jihad is that of the heart, where followers strive against Satan and sin in their worship of God. The Qur’an prescribes constant self-improvement, and, unlike how extremist groups interpret it, holy wars are only allowed for self-defense purposes.
The Torah Is the Only Jewish Scripture
Although the Torah is the most prominent of the religious texts in Judaism, it’s only one of the three books of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). In all, the Jews have the Laws (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi’im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). Other texts, like the Talmud and Midrash, also shape Jewish traditional literature and values.
The Caste System Is Integral to Hinduism
Hinduism and the caste system have been intertwined in Indian societies for centuries, and now they’re conflated to be sourced from the same religious teachings. In reality, the caste system is only a social construct, and some modern Hindu reform movements reject the idea of it.
Nirvana Is a Place
Nirvana isn’t like heaven or Valhalla, which are places where nobles go to receive rewards for their good deeds. Instead, as Britannica clarifies, it is a mental state characterized by the absence of suffering. It also signifies the end of the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara).
The Pope Is the Leader of All Christians
Although he is the most recognized Christian leader in the world, the Pope only has authority over the Roman Catholic Church. Denominations, like Orthodox Christians, are under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, while Protestant leadership is decentralized amongst ministers, pastors, and priests.
Sharia Law Is a Single Set of Laws
Rather than a single set of rules, like the Ten Commandments, Sharia is a combination of a broad set of principles gathered from the Quran and Hadiths. Its interpretations are varied by scholastic schools of thought. Shariah also covers matters of morality, not just legality.
Jews Do Not Believe in an Afterlife
Jews believe that there is life after death, but it’s more diverse and complex than in other Abrahamic religions. As the BBC shares, “most Orthodox Jews believe that the physical body will be resurrected in the Messianic Age when the good will rise from the dead.”
All Hindus Believe in Reincarnation
Hinduism offers many diverse perspectives on life and death. While reincarnation (the concept of an eternal living soul) is a widespread belief among Hindus, it isn’t universally recognized in the religion. Some sects focus on moksha (liberation from bad) rather than the cycle of rebirth (samsara) after death.
Christianity Is a Western Religion
Given how widespread it is in the West and how the West has helped promote Christianity to the rest of the world, it’s easy to believe that the faith originated there. In actuality, Christianity is a Middle Eastern religion that spread to other parts of Asia and even North Africa before reaching Europe.
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