My great aunt was the greatest influence in my desire to explore the different religions in my town. My parents understood this desire and did not suppress it. I wanted to know what else was out there. As I grew I discovered there were other religious beliefs not represented in our town. I needed to research these other areas to ensure I had found the true faith for me. A study of Catholicism, and Judaism, among others has led me to my increased appreciation and belief in my Christian faith.

The term Christian comes from the belief in Jesus Christ of Nazareth and his teachings about God. Jesus was born about 5 BC and died at the age of 33. The Christian religion was not acknowledged until the year 311 by the Roman Emperor Constantine. The Christain pra

Active Experimentation I now participate in most services when I am a guest in the Catholic Church. I am careful not to infringe my practices or beliefs on friends of the Catholic religion. I do not pressure the same people to participate in areas of our services in which they are not comfortable.

At Christmas time there was no recognition of the holiday by the Jewish physicians. I learned they celebrated Hanukah about the same time as Christmas. I had heard of the term before, but never thought to question what it was. At Easter time the Passover was celebrated instead of the death and resurrection of Christ as practiced in my faith. There were other holidays I overheard being spoken of by them, such as Yom Kippur, Succoth, and Purim. I did not intrude to question the reasons behind these holidays.

ctice remains largely Catholic in structure though some of the Catholic laws were abolished, including the allegiance to the pope. The differences between these religions, such as the worship of Mary and the Saints, confession, and the acceptance that has led to a lack of understanding during this time when faith is a presence and an option throughout the world.

Abstract Concepts This experience as a child did not stop me from wanting to know more about the differences between my religion and the Catholic religion. In fact, it heightened my interest. I needed to understand why there were differences as well as similarities.

The first time I entered their church I was stunned by its size. It was decorated with huge stained glass windows, the statue of Mary holding an infant, and an immense altar with Jesus on the cross on the wall behind it. My church was quaint and simple. Small stained glass windows of saints lit up the room and Jesus on the cross looked down onto the small altar at the front of the church.

On a lighter note, I asked him, "What's the purpose of the skull cap worn by the Jewish men." He informed me, "It's called a Yarmulke. In Hebrew it means, 'Fear of Kingship'. It reminds us there is something greater than us or above us and it keeps us humble." I told him the men of my faith removed their hats when entering the church, but the women kept them on.

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Approximate Word count = 3268
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)