... the cross; for Jesus and the Jews, the Star of David; and for Muhammad and the Muslims, their symbol is the crescent moon and star. These aren't just symbols to each respective religion; they are sacred emblems that evoke feelings of awe and reverence. According to Emile Durkheim, "Religions use symbols to represent what the group considers sacred and to separate the sacred from the profane" (519). Ceremonies or repetitive practices known as rituals are also symbols that help people into a moral or religious community. Some rituals, such as the Holy Communion of Christians and the bar mitzvah of Jewish boys, are designed to create unity with one another and a devout feeling of closeness with God. Rituals include kneeling, and praying at set times, bowing, crossing oneself, singing, lighting candles and incense, scripture readings, processions, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and so on. Both symbols and rituals have developed from beliefs. ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now