Ethnography of a religious event Research Paper

Ethnography of a religious event - Research Paper Example As a way to better understand religious beliefs and the impact of such beliefs on the daily lives of its followers, it is often beneficial to complete an ethnographical study. This student desired to learn about the Muslim faith, specifically the methods by which females observe religious doctrine with the belief system. As such, she located a mosque in her local community and made plans to observe a Friday noon prayer service. Such an experience would surely give the student a perspective on the faith that simply studying research on the religion could not. It proved most enlightening to witness the Friday prayer service and this student now has a more informed understand of the Islamic faith and its influence on it followers. What follows is an in-depth analysis of the experience, coupled with an understanding of the Islamic faith itself. This student contacted a local Islamic Center and inquired about the possibility of a non-believer observing their Friday prayer service. She was welcomed and given some instructions to prepare herself. Since women and men are not permitted to worship together, she was instructed as to the entrance she was to go through upon arriving to the service, in addition to the location she would be relegated to. As an observer, the Islamic Center allowed her to enter the service and to stand reverently in the back to observe. This is a common practice for all non-Muslim and this student certainly felt comfortable under the circumstances. Attendance at this event consisted of a majority male population, with a scattering of females present.