Places of Worship

Worship

Worship can be at home or at a temple for Buddhists, as communal temple worship is not essential. Buddhists usually have a room as a shrine in their home with a statue or painting, candles, an incense burner or Buddha.

Temples

The Pure Land of Buddha is represented by Temples, that are designed to promote inner and outer peace.
They are designed to symbolise the five elements of Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Wisdom.
Temples face the east towards the rising sun.
The shrine room contains a image/statue of the Buddha and often the bodhisattvas.
Learning is very important in Buddhism therefore temples also have a library.

Viharas

Viharas are Buddhist monasteries.
Since Buddhism has developed, the word has come to mean a building with living quarters for monks around a courtyard.

Other places of worship

Stupas (shrines), are sealed cone-shaped buildings with relics, usually the remains of the Buddha (like the Shrine of the Tooth in Sri Lanka). People walk around them as ritual practice.
Gompas ('remote places') are composite buildings in Tibet containing a vihara, a university and fortifications.
- Pagoda is a Chineses development of a stupa, intended to house relics and sacred writings.
A 'Wat' is a sacred area for Buddhists with a vihara, a temple and large image of the Buddha, with three resident bhikkhus.

1Buddhism

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

4Islam

5Judaism

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