Shiite and Sunni: What are the differences? (CS Monitor)

[pinto]

2. Me too. I differ with the author's analogy with the Protestant / Catholic split a bit.

I think the differences are more akin to the separation of Christians from Jews in the 1st century over who was "the one", the "messiah" of prophesy.

That said, I found the differences in ritual interesting. Wasn't aware of them. And I'm interested in ritual, in general. Clocks are a ritual, imo, a construct of sorts. As are days, weeks and months. Yet all are an accepted construct we use as a framework in our lives.

While the latter are based on the movement of the earth around the sun and the religious frameworks are based on an established set of observances, I find them really similar.

I don't get up at the same time every day nor do I go to church every week. But both have some meaning in my life.



(ed for spell)