Piecing It All Together

PieCing it tOgether

What we share “We realised how much the different religions share.” “We enjoyed piecing together the information about all these different faiths, but there is a lot more we didn’t have time to find out about.”

Water is an important part of religion. Washing, bathing, and being anointed with water are all ways that people express their faith. In Ireland, rivers, lakes, and bogs were sacred in prehistoric times. Today, people still visit holy wells to find cures and water is used in many religious ceremonies including baptism.

Lighting of candles is common in many religions from prehistoric times to the present day. Candles are symbols of purification and are lit as offerings. They are often seen as the eternal flame of life and provide hope in dark times.

Nearly all religions have a special place where people can gather to worship; such as churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, outside altars, and sacred places.

Baptism

Greek Temple

26 Digging Our Faith

Front page from an early version of the Holy Bible DCM Collection Holy books and scrolls are an important shared part of religion too. We saw many different types of these in the Chester Beatty Library and in other places we visited. They were written on whatever type of material was available; vellum, papyrus, paper, leather and bark from trees.

Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in one God.

Bells are used by many faiths in ceremonies to purify and concentrate the mind. They also call people to prayer.

Representation of God

Bell from Drumgath, Co Down – Ulster Museum, courtesy of the Trustees of National Museums Northern Ireland

Digging Our Faith 27

Women singing in Malaga cathedral, George Campbell DCM Collection

A Muslim believer at prayer Graveslab from Kilcoo, Co Down depicting an angel playing a trumpet

28 Digging Our Faith Sculptures and paintings were important in many faiths to teach religion to those who could not read. They are still popular in many denominations and places today.

Music and singing are shared in many faiths. In Judaism and some Christian denominations the congregation joins in worshipful singing. Ancient musical items have been found in lakes in Ireland and Europe perhaps given as offerings to gods. In medieval and later times, angels are often shown with trumpets and other muscial instruments.

Prayers are a common way of communicating with God or gods.