Brilliant Thoughts of Descartes

• "It is not enough to have a good mind, the main thing is to use it well."

• "I think, therefore I am."

• "Conquer yourself rather than the world"

• "Doubt is the origin of wisdom."

• "How can you be certain that your whole life is not a dream?"

• "If you want to be a real seeker of the truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible of all things."

• "To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them."

• "The only thing we have power in the universe is our own thoughts."

• " Common sense is the most widely shared commodity in the world, for every person is convinced that they are well supplied with it."

• "All is to be doubted."

• "Intuitive knowledge is an illumination of the soul."

• "Wonder is the first of all the passions."

• "Variant - when it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is the most probable."

• " We call infinite that thing whose limits we have not perceived."

• "It is the most generous souls who have most gratitude; it is those who have most pride, most base and infirm, who most allow themselves to be carried away by anger and hatred."

• "So far, I have been a spectator in this theater which is the world, but I am now about to mount the stage, and I come forward masked."

• "Few look for truth, many prowls about a reputation of profundity by arrogantly challenging whichever arguments are the best."

• "In order to improve the mind, we ought less to learn, than to contemplate."

• "I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake."

• "Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the self-same well from which your laughter rises was often-times filled your tears." 

• "I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error."

• "The principal use of prudence, of self-control, is that it teaches us to be masters of our passions, and to so control and guide them that the evils which they cause are quite bearable, and that we even derive joy from them all."

- René Descartes
French philosopher,
 mathematician
 and scientist

The Mind and the Thoughts

The mind is our centre of command. 
It alerts us, makes us think, plan, solve, laugh, worry, wonder, suffer, desire 

We are controlled by our emotions.. if we feel sad, if we feel bored, if we feel anxious., if we feel hungry, if we feel threatened. 

Emotions are the expression of the mind.. cause emotions come from thoughts.. How do we know how we feel? through our thoughts…

And the mind rarely wants to be calm, doing nothing.

The mind needs entertainment.. even if it's watching a movie, eating or dreaming during the sleep.

Just then, the mind shuts up its voice - the thoughts.

It's like a child.. if you don't entertain it with something, it will make you think, normally about the most recent events.. and normally the ones that are worrying you, that needs to be solved

It's like a punishment! 
It wants to have fun and you are not giving it.. so the mind will complain..

You should do something.. eating, creating, watching tv, reading, working, doing sport, being with people doing something.. whatever..

Maybe you will not do, what it would like you to do, but at least is entertained, distracted, focused in something.

It can be quiet and calm for a while, but then it will start to get bored..

So, why the mind cannot be quiet?

Because the mind doesn't exist in the silence.. if we can remain in absolute silence.. there are no thoughts.. so the mind is not talking.

And why do we need to separate the mind from us?…well, our minds do all this thinking without us wanting, asking, doesn't?

I have been reading about meditation - the tool to control the mind...but is not that easy…

It's like domesticating the mind.. 

To just think when we want it to think,

To make it work for us, help us when we need it, instead of invading us whenever it wants

The end of the daily noise

Meditation it's a practice to learn to not let it control us.. to be in charge

This process can take ages

It needs to be practiced everyday.. trying not to think in nothing

Focusing in something, like breathing

It's so difficult because it's extremely boring for the mind

The mind will fight it.. thoughts will come stronger than ever..

Meditation is seen as something zen, peaceful.. but it's very aggressive. It's forcing the mind to be something that doesn't want to be.. quite..

and to shrink the ego until it recognizes its insignificance

It's like torturing the mind with the thing that hates the most..silence

It's similar to domesticating the children.. 

They don't want to be quite … it's boring!

It is, actually, a great achievement..but a very hard process

The mind is really something surprising!

Capable of brilliant intelligence but yet so restless..It seems to have its own will

And dependently how you see yourself, is how your mind will treat you

So it can be very mean… very destructive…

And how you see yourself can be very difficult to change cause it can come from your parents education, from past experiences, how you dealt with it and how the others dealt with you.. 

.. did they blamed you? did they victimized you? did they ignored you? did they punished you? did they mocked you? did they helped you? did they explained to you? 

It is very hard for us to really see how we are. 
We see what we think we are.  And that's what our mind sees too.

Maybe you were the villain of an episode, but if you see yourself as the corrector of something that was wrong.. that's how you will see yourself. 

Maybe there's really something wrong and you are correcting it… but maybe the other person also thinks that his way was the correct way… you hurt the other by your correction, but the other was hurting you by acting incorrectly in your eyes.. 

So, in the end.. the wrong and right depends on the perspective…each person has their own truth.. inserted in their own society values and morals.

Your mind will always protect you somehow… 
For you, that is your reality..so it's the truth and you are right and the other wrong..

And the same happens  for the other

Well, the mind will always somehow be in your side. 
If you really believe you did what was right.. but if deep down, you have doubts.. it will talk about it.. all the day..maybe for days.. so you better get busy..if you don't want to feel guilty and regret..

Because if you keep feeling like this.. you will have to do something about it.. Perhaps talk with someone about your doubts? ask advise? try to fix it? apologize? Or make excuses and ignore it.

We cannot see our mind as the enemy.. it is a reflection of us..  but if you don't entertain it, satisfy it, it most probably will remind you what you want to forget

The mind doesn't like to be ignored, repressed

We are what we think…

if we believe we cannot jump.. we will not jump..cause we believe we can't.. that's how it works in our life.. what we don't believe we can't do it, we will not do it.. cause we are sure we can't do it.

We are the obstacle to ourselves

We, consciously or unconsciously, create limitations to ourselves.. we and the education we received, the experiences we have and the environment we live in and lived.

Those are the origin of the obstacles we create to ourselves.  

The good thing is that this can be worked.. similar to the meditation and the prayers of the religions.. it's a daily practice .. training your mind to be what you want it to be, for you to become what you want to be. Your best self. 

You want to jump.. you start to internalize it, visualizing yourself making it… until you believe it.. until the perception of yourself changes.
Instead of asking God please help me to jump, you ask yourself directly.. 
You believe you can do it, instead of believing you can't.

The emotions might get on the way too..  fear, anxiety.. and that's why it needs daily practice. 
It's like reprogramming your mind, brainwashing yourself. 

But why we can't remember our experiences as a baby?

Why the mind don't wants us to remember when we were the most vulnerable.. dependent babies…..

That's the big mystery.. why? when you needed the most.. it has no memories...

When we are defenseless... we couldn't do nothing to protect ourselves.. we couldn't act.. not even run away

Maybe cause we have no image of ourselves yet.. so the mind cannot work without nothing.. our personality is in construction..

Or simply the mind didn't exist yet and it needs to be built with our experiences, actions and future memories. 

And then there's this duality in mind…what you should do and what you want to do…many times is not the same.. 

How our mind reacts here?

It analyses… the pros and cons.. the consequences.. our emotions, also, get on the way… 

What is going to win? 

The good or evil? 
the right or wrong? 
what we should do or what we want to do? 
what we consider wrong or what we consider right? 
what is considered wrong by the society and what is considered right? 

We are what we think but when the thoughts become actions, we are also what we do.. 

And, then, we have to deal with the consequences of what we did and said.. cause we live in society.. 
..everything we say or do will offend or please someone thinking and expectations of you.. and it will be judged.. positively or not.. 
..or positively by ones and negatively by others

Because each person has their own mind… their own world of thoughts.. everything that goes in your mind, happens too in the other living billions of minds…

Each one is unique.. even the followers of others' ideas.. there is always something theirs.

And that is why conflict happens.. every mind is different and very mind thinks differently and every mind wants something.. and they all live in the same society.. world

That's the reason some created religions, dictatorships, propagandas and manipulations.. So one mind can rule the others.. one mind decides others' lives, others' needs,. others' thoughts, other's everything.. 

Or even democracy.. some minds trying to decide what is best for all the minds… implementing rules, laws and morals ..what should be the will of the majority of the minds and the reflection of its culture and values.

Developing forms to control and punish the darkest thoughts of the minds.. the ones that they don't confess not even to themselves.. so that thoughts will never turn into actions…

We know very little or nothing about our own minds. 
We know something about our physical brain and body, but not much. We still don't know how to properly take care of it. We still suffer with diseases and "cure" them with chemicals that damages the body. 
The source of life is the food and we still don't know how to proper feed ourselves. 


So,  I can only analyze my mind..

The other's I cannot see. I cannot see how their thoughts are conceived, how the sequence is created.. to give birth their logic and stories

But, mine I can observe. So, I can just assume that every mind works according to the same basic principles.

Sexualisation of the Society

The next generation will see photos of their mothers, fathers, grandparents semi naked in provocative poses, posted in the social networks.
Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins are already seeing provocative photos of the younger family members in the internet...

Before, just the most brave and bold would take the roll for the photographer to print photos like that.

But, today, society lost the shame and shyness. And everything is getting more and more sexualised: the clothing, music lyrics, dance, movies, advertising, photos, .. directly and indirectly influencing behaviors, changing mentalities and cultures.

Was sexuality and desires repressed and are we, now, setting them free? So we can freely live it, without guilt?

But is the public exposition of our sexuality a needed freedom?

Do the sons, daughters and grandsons really need to feel sexually stimulated by their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, their school's teachers, the cashier of the supermarket,  just by a click in the internet.. 
Do the parents, grandparents, uncles need to feel the same for their sons, daughters, grandchild, nieces,..?

Can this change or damage the family dynamics?

Is sexual freedom turned into lust?

Our ego only seeks satisfaction, pleasure, amusement
The ego needs to be entertained, pampered, massaged with compliments..

But, the awakening started...Many are starting to realize that the ego will never be fulfilled, it will always want more..it will consume us, if we don't feed our soul..

Sexuality shouldn't be seen as something dirty, but it cannot be explored by the industries; to get attention; and to build self-esteems on it.. cause sexuality provokes desires, sensations...  
..and in the end, it involves an intimate contact, that results in an experience.. 

Sexuality should be seen as something normal and natural and not something arousing and provocative. 

Friendship

Childhood friends, best friends, school friends, work friends, toxic friends, night-out friends, friends of friends, social network friends, casual friends, long distance friends,..

Friends are, in fact, an important support system, that motivate us, advice us, help us, keep us company, with whom we share experiences, trust and expect loyalty. 

But, if we think concretely about friendship, we realize that it's a relationship based in exchange of favors.

 - I go shopping with you today, tomorrow you will go with me to my doctor appointment.

- I help to fix your car, cause I know you would do the same for me.

-I lend you money, as you did the last time I needed.

Common values are key in friendships. 

People need to relate, to feel comfortable with their friends' life styles and personal choices. 

Their friends' behaviors and reputation reflects theirs, cause they are socially associated with them. 

Friendship also requires availability: Time.

A friend that never have time for us, hardly will last. 

Friends need to spend time together, to strengthen the bond. A friend that is always absence, you can't never count on.

The respect for the other boundaries and privacy: 

- To accept when a friend says "No" 

- To not control their life and ask explanations

- To not give unrequested advices

- To not impose opinions 

- and others

The majority make their friends, unconsciously, considering all these points, but there are others that choose their friends intentionally. Also for the mentioned reasons, but mainly for utilitarian reasons, like: social status, money, popularity, professional opportunities, connections

It is not easy to spot them, as they are friendly, charming and manipulative, but there are some signs that will certainly help:

• You don't feel you can really trust them;

• You don't have fun together;

• You can't connect with them at a deep level;

• You don't really feel comfortable being yourself around them;

• You don't have common values

True friends are hard to find. 

A person can just be a true friend if it's a good person. And the best qualities of a good person are caring, empathic and sincere. 

Just because someone is friendly, doesn't mean it's your friend. 

Death Penalty

I agree with the life and the death that each person chooses for themselves. 

Therefore, the death penalty procedure goes strictly against what I believe. 

How many innocents have been executed in the hand of their justice’s executioner?! 

I can understand the government's intention that wants to instill fear to possible criminals and to use the damned as an example, as a discouragement method. 

But isn’t it of an extreme cruel nature? Are we the good guys cause we kill the bad guys? Is this the justice we are seeking? Kill to apply justice, isn’t killing too?

How many times did the death penalty served political and economic interests?! 

Doesn’t Death Penalty discriminate rich from poor?

Isn't it a tempting tool for our corrupt leaders?

Are the moral values of the society and its laws sufficient to distinguish what is or is not a crime? 

In some countries of Africa and Asia, being homosexual is punishable by Death Penalty!

Not long ago the Holy Inquisition sentenced to death millions of people for practicing other religions, formulating scientific theories and others. 

Currently, in the majority of the countries, these crimes are no longer considered crimes. Today is considered crime, killing people for these reasons. 

Unfortunately, the justice has several ways of being interpreted and applied..

Anyway, isn't the Death Penalty, a violation of all human rights?

Isn't it a primitive measure to solve crime?

 As a citizen of the world, I believe that the solution to lower criminality numbers is to improve people's living conditions, investing in education, training, providing jobs, better salaries, integration in society. A person that lives a decent life, hardly will commit offenses. 

As we are learning that is not correct to educate with violence, we must realize that we cannot re-educate with death. 

The violence in children’s education only teach them that they have to be submissive because the disobedience hurts, and that the stronger is who makes the rules. 

What would we be saying to our children by agreeing with the Death Penalty? Probably that if it's for a good reason, you can kill. 

As I also believe that the society shouldn't pay with their taxes for the livelihood of the criminals.  
Prisons shouldn't be just a state institution but managed as well as state companies. 
The inmates should work inside the prisons to provide for themselves. Agriculture, for example.

I believe this would be also a form of reducing crime inside the prisons and to prepare the ones with minor crimes for their future reintegration in the society. 

Every human being, criminal or not, shouldn't have the right to die their own death? 

It's still a human being, right? But, there are human beings that are very little or nothing humane. 
These ones should never be released.. like the pedophiles.. there's no cure for them.. they feel attracted to children like a man for a woman..it's in their nature.. they should never live in society.  Their sickness destroys others' lives forever..

Trying to understand Religion

There are around 4000 religions in the world. 
"Everyday" someone proclaims that was contacted by a divine identity and starts a new religion.

Some religions have more followers than others. 
It mainly depends on which country a child is born. This future adult will very probably adopt the main religion of his/her country. 
And normally the main religion of the countries with the highest birthrate have more followers. 

I made a research and found some characteristics of the world's leading religions.
I am sure to be missing many things, but this is just a short description. 

Buddhism (Mahayana) 

Founder: Prince Siddhattha  Gotama, known as Buddha. Born in Lumbini, Nepal. 

Religion Date: Around 2500 years old


Followers: Estimate of 200 to 500 millions worldwide


Convert: Understanding the Four Noble Truths:

1. Existence is suffering
2. The suffering is caused by craving
3. Suffering can be transcended
4. The end of the suffering can be achieved through the Noble Eightfold Path: Right understating, Right thought, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness and Right concentration).

Symbols: 

• A pair of golden fishes 
• Parasol
• Treasure vase
• Lotus
• Conch shell
• Endless knot
• Victory banner
• Wheel

Duties of a Buddhist: 

(Five Precepts)

• Refrain from harming or killing any living being
• Refrain from stealing
• Refrain from lying
• Refrain from immorality and sexual misconduct
• Refrain from using intoxicating substances as alcohol, drugs

Fundamental Principles:

• Karma
• Rebirth - Reincarnation
• Meditation
• Buddha Dharma
• Sangha
• Nirvana
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Noble Eightfold path
• The Three Universal Characteristics (impermanence, suffering and not-self)

Main Goal: The Nirvana (the absence of any desire) is achieved through moral conduct, wisdom and mental discipline. 

Who archives Nirvana, doesn't need to go through the suffering of rebirth, after death. 

Celebrations: 

• Losar (Buddhist New Year)
• Saka Dawa (Buddha's birth)
• Dalai Lama's birthday (6 June)
• Zamling Chisang (Universal prayer day)
• Choekhor Duechen (First teaching of Buddha)
• Lha-bab Duchen (Return of Buddha to the Earth)

Fasting: Buddhists should abstain from food, from noon to sunrise, everyday, for health. Fluids can be drunk.

Marriage: It's considered secular. So, the contract is done by the civil. However, a party is celebrated.

Divorce: It's according the civil law of the country.

Sexuality: It's seen as a normal part of lay life, but a distraction for the mind, that wants to reach the second stage of enlightenment. So monks and nuns are celibates. 

Non-consensual sex, sex with a nun, a prisoner, an engaged person, a child, a married person, incest, prostitution and sexual exploitation are considered sex misconducts and are against buddhism teachings.


Woman: 
Women should reborn as a man before they can enter Nirvana.
Being born a woman is result of bad karma.
As a wife, women are expected to be obedient and submissive to their husbands. 

Punishment: Karma. The intentions of the actions have consequences in this life and in rebirth, positive or negatives, depending on the intentions. 

Pray: Prayers are normally used to ask what is desired. Buddha believed that affirmations are more effective, as they are conscious making the mind focus on that specific goal.

Temple: A place to worship Buddha and to meditate. 

Preacher: Senior monks pass their teachings to the monks and nuns at the monastery. They renounced the home life, the world, money, possessions, everything to develop their spiritual life. They will live from the charity of the community.
They shave their hair as the concern of personal beauty and vanity are not relevant for spiritual growth.
Monks just own a robe to wear and a bowl to eat.

Book: Jatakas

Hinduism

Founder: There's no founder. It grew out of culture and traditions in India. It's not an organized institution.

Date of religion - Around 4000 years old

Followers: Over 1.15 billions worldwide

Convert: There's no formal rituals to convert. 
Just to adopt the hindu way of life and believe that Brahma is the supreme God and the others 330 millions of gods and demons are the personification of aspects of Brahma.

Symbols:

• Om
• Swastika
• The sacred cow
• Lotus
• Trident
• Lotus feet
• Bindi or Tilak
• The Siri Yantra
• Dhvaja
• Conch shell
• Kalasha
• Lamp

Duties of a Hindu:

• Duty towards oneself - physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing
• Duty towards Gods - rituals, sacrifices and offerings of food
• Duty towards ancestors - rituals and food offerings
• Duty towards their children - take care of them and help them to grow virtuously
• Duty towards others humans - to help the poor, the needy, the monks with charity
• Duty towards other living beings - nonviolence and compassion. All have souls and plays and important role in creation.
• Duty towards society - Ensuring order and regularity
• Moral duties - living righteously, preserving tradition, discipline and purity
• Professional caste duties - There are certain duties and obligations for each caste related profession
• Duties toward others faiths - Tolerance and understanding

Fundamental principles:

• Rebirth - Reincarnation
• Karma
• Brahama is the Supreme God
• Dharma
• The pursue of the knowledge of Truth
• Moral order and right actions
• Time is cyclical

Main Goal: Moska - to become one with Brahma by ceasing to exist the individual self. It's the end of death and rebirth cycles.

Celebrations:

• Diwali (triumph of good over evil)
• Makar Sankrati or Lohri (devoted to the Sun God: Surya)
• Maha Shivaratri (to honor the God Shiva)
• Birth of Rama ( the 7th incarnation of God)
• Raksha bandhan (celebrates the religious duty to protect the loved ones)
• Krishna Janmashtami (God Krishana birthday)
• Navaratri (to worship the Goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati)

Fasting: Once a week to receive the Gods blessings. But the hindus, normally, do it 2 or 3 times a month. 

Marriage: It's considered sacred and is an obligatory religious duty. The marriage is believed to be extended to seven or more lives.
The bride is first married with gods and then given as a gift to the groom. 
Many are still arranged by the families with the couple consent. The man should pay a dowry for the bride.
She is expected to take care of the husband, children and house like a goddess.
In the funeral of the husbands, widows used to burn themselves to death (sati). This ritual is legally banned. 

Divorce: The hindu civil permits divorce but the religion doesn't. Marriage is a sacrament and cannot be dissolved for personal selfish reasons. 

Sexuality: sex is for procreation and continuation of the family lineage. Not for sexual pleasure. 

Women: Women were born to serve. They were born to tempt men, so they should be kept under control.
Women cannot become punjari in the temples.

Punishments: Karma. Each person creates their own destiny, by their actions, thoughts and words. 

The conditions of each person in their present life, are the consequence of their deeds on the past life and karma.

Good behavior improves their conditions and bad brings suffering to themselves.

Prays:  Prayer is daily and the time is at sunrise and sunset.  They should bring offerings for their Gods.

Temple: Each hindu worships personal Gods and Goddesses. They can pray in front of altars at home or go to the temple. There is no collective ceremony in the temple. They perform their rituals individually.
Women cannot pray inside the temples.

Preacher: Punjari assists with the rituals in the temple.

Book: Vedas. From time to time are updated, when God himself reincarnate in the earth.

Christianity (Roman Catholic)

Messenger - Jesus Christ. Born in Bethlehem, Palestine - That is now  Israel.

Date of religion - Around 2000 years old

Followers - Around 7.3 billions christians worldwide (around 1.2 billion are roman catholic) 

Convert - Look for the local church and talk with the priest. After attending the catholic classes will come the baptism performed by a priest. It necessary to have a godmother and a godfather that will take the role of the parents, in case something happens to them.   

Symbols - the cross, crucifix as reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Duties of a Christian:  

• Prayer
• Chastity
• Charity
• Eucharist
• Penance
• Forgiveness - Forgive your enemies as Jesus forgave
• Compassion
• Follow God's will and obey His commandments, 
• Fear, glorify and worship God
• Never judge others (just God can judge) 
• Love one another as God love us 
• To live modestly

The Seven Sacraments:

• Baptism
• Confirmation or Chrismation
• Eucharist or Holy communion (the mass) 
• Penance (confession of sins)
• Anointing of the sick
• Holy Orders (bishop, priest, deacon)
• Matrimony

Fundamental principles: 

• Holy Trinity: God, Jesus - the son and the Holy Spirit
• God create the universe
• God is holy and humans are morally unholy
• Life after death
• Holiness of the church and the saints
• Crucifixion - Jesus died in the cross for the sins of humankind
• Resurrection and Ascension - Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven
• Day of Judgment and salvation of the faithful

Main Goal: 
Entry in heaven. Following God's will, will guarantee a place in heaven, after death. 


Celebrations: 

• Jesus birth (25 Dec)
• Lenten season (40 days of prayer and reflection)
• Ash Wednesday (First day of the Lenten season)
• Palm Sunday (Beginning of the holy week )
• Jesus crucifixion ( Holy Friday)
• Jesus resurrection (Easter Sunday)
• Corpus Christi ( Sacred body and blood of Jesus)
• The ascend of the virgin Mary to the skies (15 Aug)
• All Saint's day (1 Nov)
• Immaculate conception of Jesus (8 Dec)

Fasting - Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, no water nor food. As this would kill any human being, this ritual cannot be followed. 

Marriage - It's considered sacred and is a obligatory religious duty. 
Man and woman should be virgins for marriage. 
You can just marry once by church. Marriage should be for life. 
The couple should have minimum two witnesses: a godmother and a godfather.

Divorce - Marriage is a sacrament. The church doesn't accept divorce. The couple made the sacred vows to be together till death turn them apart.
They can divorce for the government, but they can't never marry again by the church, just if one part is widowed. 

Sexuality - Sex out of marriage is considered a sin. 
Sex is for procreation purposes. The use of anti-contraceptives, coitus interruptus and sterilization are forbidden. People cannot interfere with the divine plan.
Masturbation, homosexuality, fornication, pornography and anti-contraceptives are considered major sins. Abortion is punished by excommunication.


Woman - Woman is expected to be submissive to their husband as they are to God.
Women cannot become a priest, bishop or pope.

Punishments - All the sins done can be forgave if the christian regrets, makes a confession to a priest and prays for God's forgiveness. If not, the person will be punished after death. Where the soul will suffer in hell for eternity.

Prayer - Christians, normally, pray in their knees, with palms together, close to the chin.
They pray whenever they need God's help; forgiveness of their sins; to worship, to ask peace for the soul of their loved deceased; or to pay a promise. 
They can pray a whole rosary, using a string of knots or beads. 
The most important prayers are the Lord's prayer and the Hail Mary.
They should pray 7 times a day.

Church - The bell of the church will sound to announce the Mass. 
People should make the sign of the cross with holy water at the entrance. 
There is a daily mass, but at the weekend, when the majority is not working, is when more christians attend.
Christians can just receive the wafer - body of God - during the mass, if they previous made the confession and prayed for the forgiveness of their sins.


Preacher - The pope, bishops and priests should devote their lives to God, so they are celibate and cannot marry or have children. Sex is a distraction for the mind.
The priest leads the mass in the local churches, performs baptisms, confirmations, funerals and marriages. They receive a salary.

Book - The Bible

Islam (Sunni)

Messenger - Mohammad. Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Date of religion - Around 1400 years old


Followers - Around 1.62 billions worldwide (around 85% are sunni)

Convert - To be converted one needs to go to a local shariaw court and say in front of a Imman judge: "There's no true God but God and Muhammad is His messenger" in 

Symbols - Star inside a crescent moon. This symbol was the insignia of the Ottoman empire, later adopted by the muslims.

Duties of a Muslim: 

The 5 Pillars of Islam:

• Acceptance of God and His messenger (Shahada)
• 5 daily prayers (Salat)
• Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm)
• Annual charity for the poor (Zakat)
• Pilgrimage to the House of Ala (Hajj)

Fundamental principles:

• God Created the universe and man
• Allah is the one and only God
• Belief in the angels of God, such as Gabriel
• Belief in the book of God and in the messengers and prophets who revealed this book, as Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), Muhammad)
• Muhammad is the final prophet
• Life after death
• The Last day
• The Judgment Day
• Isa  ( Jesus) will return
• Organizing morally, judicially, economically, politically and military the society, according God's will. 
• Belief that God is responsible for everything that happens, both good and evil, because everything happens according to the will of God. The individual, however, is still responsible for his or her own moral and immoral actions.
• Just Allah can be worshipped

Main Goal:
Entry in heaven. Living according God's will, will grant a place in heaven, after death.


Celebrations:

• Laylat al-Qadr (When the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet)
• Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
• Eid al-Adha (The festival of sacrifice where a lamb is killed to celebrate the trials of prophet Abraham)
• Muharram (Islamic New Year)
• Al Mawlid al nabawi (Birth of Muhammad)

Fasting - Every year, for a month (Ramadan), the muslims fast, approximately, 16 hours per day and break the fasting during 9 hours per day. It's a daytime fast.

Marriage - Men are allowed be married up to 4 women at the same time. Women can marry just one man at the time. 
Many are still arranged by the families with the couple consent. 
The man should pay a dowry for the bride and give her a gift, normally gold.

The marriage should be carefully scheduled so bride wouldn't be menstruating for the wedding night. Marriage is considered sacred and is an obligatory religious duty.

Divorce - Muslims can marry and divorce as many times they need by presetting a reason. Men should provide support for his ex-wife  - mahr.

Sexuality - Male muslim should be circumcised. In some countries, muslim women are also circumcised. 
Sex out of the marriage is forbidden, but the virginity of the women is more important than the man's. 
Sex is for procreation and pleasure purposes. The satisfaction of the woman is important. If the husband doesn't provide sex to the wife for more than a month, she can request divorce.
Man is forbidden to have sex with his wife while menstruating. It's considered impure.
Homosexuality is forbidden.  


Woman - Is expected to be obedient and to take care of the house, husband and children. 
Women cannot become an Imam. 

Punishment - The offenders will be punished in life, by the sharia law and after life by God. 
Normally, there should be witnesses of the wrongdoing.

Pray - 5 times a day facing Mecca. 
They normally pray on top of a small rug.

Mosque -The prayer leader will call people for prayer through a loudspeaker in the mosque. 
Just men can pray inside the mosques. They should leave their shoes at the entrance. 
Women normally pray at home. Their body and hair should be fully covered.
Normally, more people attends on Saturday, cause is weekend and they are not working.


Preacher - The religion is taught in primary school. 
The Imam (leader of the mosque) leads the prayers and provides religion guidance. 
They have a normal family life as any muslim (marriage, children) and receive a salary.

Book - Quran. Should be offered and not bought. 

Judaism

Prophet - There are 48 male prophets and 7 female prophets.  Abraham was the first and Moses is one of the most important.

Date religion - Over 3500 years

Followers - Around 15 million

Convert - To be a jew, one should be born from a jew mother, regardless of the father. 
However, conversion is possible by making an appointment with a rabbi. He may turn the person away 3 times to test commitment. And then the person will start to study jewish history, law, culture, Torah and even language to pass the written and oral test in the jewish court.
After passing, a ceremony will be scheduled for the ritual bath of full body and to be circumcised. 


Symbols:

• Mezuzah (Shema prayer inside a case that is affixed in the doorpost of the jews's homes)
• Tzitzit (fringes to wear at the corners of the garments)
• Menorah (seven branched candelabrum)
• Yarmulke (skullcap to pray)
• Star of David
• Hamesh hand (hand of God)

Duties of a jew:

10 Commandments given to Moses

1. Believe that God brought the jews out of Egypt
2. Believe in God oneness
3. Do not mention the name of God in vain
4. Respect the Sabbath day for rest. Work six days and the seventh is holy
5. Honor your father and mother
6. Do not commit murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Don't bear false witness against your neighbor
10. Don't covet your neighbor's house, wife, servant, ox, or anything that belongs to him

Fundamental principles:

• God created the universe
• There is just one and unique God 
• Just God is worthy to be worshipped
• Shema prayer
• The prophets
• Prophecy of Moses
• The Torah was the only one given by God and was never changed;
• The Messiah is coming
• Life after death
• Kosher 

Main Goal: 
Entry in heaven. Following God's will, will guarantee a place in heaven, after death. 


Celebrations: 

• Rosh Hashanah - creation of Adam and Eve and jewish new year (lunar calendar)
• Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement (repentance)
• Sukkot - The travel from Egypt to the promised land;
• Shenimi Atzeret - Last day of the festival
• Simchat Torah - The beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle
• Hanukkah - the regained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the temple
• Tu B'Shevat - New Year for trees
• Purim - The salvation of jewish people in Persia
• Passover - The emancipation from slavery, in Egypt
• Second Passover - second chance
• Sahvuot - God gave the Torah at Mount Sinai
• Tisha B'Av - Mourning for the tragedies that have befallen to the jewish people

Fasting - Jewish dry fast for 25 hours during the day of Yom Kippur and the day of Tisha B'Av. 
They also fast from dawn to nightfall for Tenth of Tevet, for fast of Gedalia, for Seventeenth of Tammuz and for fast of Esther.

Marriage - It's considered sacred and is an obligatory religious duty.
The future husband should pay the mohar for the bride and give a gift called mattan. 
The couple should meet at least once before the marriage, if one of them don't find the other attractive, the marriage is canceled.
Bride and groom should fast the day before the wedding.
The marriage should be carefully scheduled so bride wouldn't be menstruating for the wedding night. 
The groom smashes a glass with his right foot as symbol of the destruction of the temple.
A man cannot marry a divorced woman. 

Divorce - Judaism allows divorce. However, women cannot initiate divorce. 
The husband needs to pay mohar to the woman in case of divorce.

Sexuality - Sex is forbidden out of marriage. 
Sex is for procreation but also for pleasure purposes. The satisfaction of the women is important.
The Talmud specifies the quantity and quality of sex that a man should provide to his wife, depending on his occupation. The husband should not reduce. 

Man is forbidden to have sex with his wife while menstruating. It's impure.
Male should be circumcised.
Abortion is permitted.
Homosexuality and masturbation are forbidden. 


Woman - Woman has the right to be consulted with regard to her marriage.
She is expected to be a good and submissive wife, mother and housewife.
Women cannot become rabbis.
After menstruating women should immerse herself kosher mikvah for purification. 

Punishments - Who have some sins, will suffer for their sins in life and after life, if they don't repent.
Who never did nothing good in life, cannot correct their sins even if they repent and will suffer in hell.
The very evil does not repent even in hell, so they will prosper in life to receive reward for any good deed, but can never be cleansed and will go to hell. 

Prayer - Three prayer services are recited daily at specific times. 
Men should wear a skull cap to pray.
A garment with fringes called tallit can be wore by man and woman.
For the morning prayer, some wear a tefillin (small black leather boxes with verses of the Torah, tied to the head and arms).
Both should be dressed modestly - covered.

Synagogues - Are the place used for prayer and study of the Torah. 
Traditionally, women and men pray in different sections.


Preacher -  The rabbi leads the prayers, provides services of weddings, bar Mitzvahs, circumcisions, religious guidance, conversions, funerals and other religious ceremonies.
They have a normal life like any jew (marriage, children). They receive a salary.

Book - Torah and Talmud

1.