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The Hindu Temple Society of North America, Bowne Street, Flushing, NY

morriskristen2 — 2025-10-07 15:31:13 UTC

The Ganesh Temple in Brooklyn, New York is an exceptional example of the modern-day reverence for the ancient Hindu religion. Worshippers pay homage to shrines and idols, decorate and adorn the temple with beautifully ornate depictions and objects. The love for Brahman and the desire for ultimate moksha is seen in the everyday karmic duties of temple devotees (Brodd, 2009).

Temple Emanu-El of Atlanta, Spalding Drive, Sandy Springs, GA

morriskristen2 — 2025-10-07 16:14:08 UTC

The Emanu-El Temple in Sandy Springs, Georgia is a Reform Jewish synagogue founded in 1979. Members in the above Shabbat service are monotheistic and worship the God of Abraham, sole creator of heaven and Earth. Worship consists of prayer and songs, Tanakh scriptures and Talmud readings. True to Reformist beliefs, these temple devotees practice an inclusive, liberal form of Judaism which incorporates many social revisions, including "liturgy...in the vernacular rather than Hebrew" (Modern Judaism, RELG 220 class, p. 160). The progressive form of Judaism bases beliefs in reason and rationale, the approach that the Torah is ever-evolving in modern, everyday Judaism (Modern Judaism, RELG 220 class, p. 159).

Buddhist Church of Sacramento, Riverside Boulevard, Sacramento, CA

morriskristen2 — 2025-10-07 17:37:10 UTC

The Buddhist Church of Sacremento practices Mahayana Buddhism and offers weekly Dharma classes, as well as many church-wide community events. Foremost in their Buddhist belief is the enlightenment and subsequent teachings of the Amida Buddha. Devotees believe samsara, or the cycle of rebirth, is only broken once enlightenment, or nirvana occurs. The teachings of the Buddha, or Dharma, determines everyday outlook and moral standards of the Buddhist, and the Four Noble Truths are the fundamental teachings regarding suffering and the path to it's cessation of it. Kharma is the ability to make moral life choices, and therefore determines and shapes character and the outcome of the Buddhist's life. Members of this church practice Jodo Shinsu Buddhism, and thus the practices of impermanence, gratitude and compassion toward both the self and others, holding others and even animals in high esteem.

(Keown, 2000).

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Michigan Avenue Northeast, Washington, DC

morriskristen2 — 2025-10-07 20:18:44 UTC

Built in 1920, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located in Washington D.C., holds daily and Sunday Mass. Breathtaking views of domes, chapels, stained glass and stone carvings are evident in every direction, as the congregation recites the Nicene Creed. Catholicism is one of many branches of Christianity, a monotheistic religion which originated as a reform movement in Judaism and is centered around the belief of Jesus as the Messiah. Worship and beliefs are primarily founded on the historical accounts of Jesus' works and teachings, as found in the New Testament's four Gospels. Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and is found in every nation on Earth (Van Voorst, 2020).

1519 4th Street Northwest, Washington, DC

morriskristen2 — 2025-10-07 20:33:41 UTC

The Masjid Muhammad mosque in Washington D.C. refers to itself as the nation's mosque and is an example of Western Islam, or the practice of Islam among Western civilization. The mosque holds Jumah services regularly, and holds the universal belief by Muslims that Muhammad was the divine last and final prophet, delivered to the world by the one true God. Devotees read from the Qur'an, the direct word of God as revealed to Muhammad, as well as the hadith, the compiled transcriptions of the Prophet's commentaries. Islam is the most prominent example of a particular religion influencing culture; it's fundamental tenets extend into a secondary governing law, called Sharia. Here, mosque members prioritize expanding Islam, not just in the religious sphere of their community, but in local and national-level political spheres. Historically, growth, conquest and expansion has been paramount to the religion, and it continues to grow in both the Western world and globally (Ramadan, 2017).