Introduction
People attend churches, temples, and other religious institutions in search of moral support and spiritual development. Being Muslims, my people attend a mosque to practice our religion, Islam. However, other religions have always been interesting for me, as many of my friends come from Christian communities. While they told me a lot about the peculiarities of their religious traditions, there has never been an opportunity to attend any of their religious holidays.
The field trip to the local Catholic church was a prominent event in my life, as it allowed me to witness something absolutely different yet similar in its general purpose. The way the sermon is held, as well as other aspects of the liturgy, are very different in Islam and Christianity. Still, some similarities could be spotted; the major one being people’s sense of unity during the prayer. The experience helped me realize that, no matter how contrasting the outward aspects of religion are, the ultimate purpose of people attending a temple – purifying their souls and seeking internal peace – is the same. The liturgy, religious paraphernalia, and the process of socialization play crucial roles in Catholics’ church-attendance experience.
Liturgy
First, the liturgy is the central part of a church service, and as it was my first time in a Catholic church, everything was new and unusual to me. The use of the Bible, the focus on the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, and the priest’s preaching were the momentous aspects for me. The music was also amusing as it was my first time hearing a piano played in a church.
When the congregation joined the player in singing, it was both touching and powerful. It was feasible to grasp the “didactic and pedagogical functions” of the liturgy (Igbekele 18) through the symbols, actions, and sacraments, and the experience was overwhelming. Also, the priest is a man, as in Islam, where the imam must be a man, and a woman cannot lead men in prayer. The liturgy is a unique process in every church, but its overarching goal of uniting people in prayer seems to me the same in all places of worship.
Religious Images and Paraphernalia
Second, while the primary purpose of attending a place of worship is praying, there are strong associations with various details and adornments in different types of temples. For me, the interior of the Catholic church was awe-inspiring, as it differs radically from that of our mosques. While the latter are known for simplicity of design, the former are filled with religious images, icons, crucifixes, and other items characteristic of Christianity.
Right upon entering St. Edith Stein Church, the stained-glass windows made an excellent impression, which represented different periods of Christ’s life. Of special concern for me was the crucifix, as we do not have that in our religion. Even though my beliefs differ from those of Christians, this element of the church was deeply touching, as it represents the self-sacrifice that Jesus made for his people.
The priest’s clothing was yet another object of my attention since it was pretty different from what an imam in a mosque wears. It seems that the congregation suffered psychologically during the COVID-19 pandemic when they, like many others, were forced to turn to online worship and were missing the physical space of their church (Oliver 1-2). I was able to experience how religious images and paraphernalia affect the feeling of attending a church.
Socialization
Additionally, socializing is vital for church-goers, as it promotes collaborative efforts in seeking answers to their questions of faith. Even when one has problems at home, school, or work, they can forget about their worries while being at church. Not only do people have a chance to pray and share their burdens with the almighty power, but they also benefit from communicating with others.
One could not help but notice the supportive and encouraging spirit within St. Edith Stein Church. Many people came with their spouses and children, and everyone was cheerful and helpful. A notice board with upcoming events caught my attention, and one post was particularly fascinating.
There was a webinar scheduled for February 8 on the topic of confronting antisemitism and islamophobia. For me, as a Muslim, it was extremely valuable to learn that this catholic church makes attempts to accept and embrace my religion. It was a precious experience, and it was clear that this is an integral part of their assembly life, which is so cherished in Christianity (Lathrop 68). It was evident that socialization meant much to the people attending this church.
Conclusion
The field trip allowed me to see with my own eyes what had been suspected throughout my whole life. That is, when people gather in the name of faith, it is a beautiful experience, no matter how they express it. Everything was unusual to me, but I appreciated the rituals these people followed and respected their traditions. Although my religion is different, I noticed that ardent belief and devotion are common across religions. This experience was unique, and I was touched by the efforts to bridge the gap between Catholics and Muslims in this particular church.
Works Cited
Igbekele, Anthony O. “Liturgical Catechesis and the Formation of the Faithful.” BODIJA JOURNAL: A Philosophico-Theological Journal, vol. 11, 2021, pp. 17-35.
Lathrop, Gordon W. The Assembly: A Spirituality. Fortress Press, 2022.
Oliver, Willem H. “From In-Person to Online Worship.” Verbum et Ecclesia, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 1-9.