What is a vow in religion?

In religion, a vow is a sacred, voluntary promise to dedicate oneself or members of one’s family or community to a special obligation that goes beyond usual social or religious requirements. Vows are common in Judaism , Christianity , Islam , Hinduism , Buddhism , and Jainism , and are taken by laypersons as well as members of religious orders. In Judaism , vows may be positive (a voluntary pledge to consecrate something to God) or negative (a voluntary pledge to abstain from something). Roman Catholic religious orders generally take three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Why do people make vows in religious practices?

In religious practices, people make vows as sacred, voluntary promises to dedicate themselves or their community to obligations exceeding usual requirements. In the ancient Middle East, vows were made to deities for divine favors, like Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to God's service. Ancient Romans made vows to deities in the name of the state, while Vikings saw vows as sacrosanct. Vows are common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism among both religious persons and lay devotees. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also see vows taken by laypersons and religious members. Roman Catholic orders take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, while Protestantism includes vows in rites like marriage.

What are some common types of religious vows?

A vow is a sacred, voluntary promise to dedicate oneself to a special obligation that goes beyond the usual social or religious requirements. Vows are common in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Examples of religious vows: * Jainism Jaina monks follow the five vows, or vratas which include renunciation of killing, lying, taking what is not given, sexual pleasures, and all attachments. * Buddhism Buddhist monks vow to practice 10 precepts, including nonviolence, chastity, and honesty. * Catholicism Roman Catholic religious orders generally take three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience, and sometimes a vow of stability to remain in a monastery. * Judaism Vows (Hebrew nederim) may be positive (a voluntary pledge to consecrate something to God) or negative (a voluntary pledge to abstain from something).

How are vows made and kept in different religions?

Vows are sacred promises central to many religions, often exceeding usual requirements. In the ancient Middle East, vows were made to deities for divine favors, exemplified by Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to God's service. In Hinduism, devotees vow special services, fasts, or offerings. Buddhist monks vow to uphold precepts like nonviolence and honesty, while laypersons adopt similar vows. Jain monks follow five vows of renunciation. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also recognize vows. Judaism includes positive vows to honor God and negative vows of abstinence. Catholic orders take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, while Protestants make vows during rites like marriage. Muslim saints may receive vows for help. Breaking vows carries consequences, such as expulsion among Vikings.

What happens if someone breaks a religious vow?

Breaking a religious vow carries significant consequences, varying across religions and cultures. In ancient Viking communities, those who broke vows were ostracized. In Judaism, vows, known as nedarim , can be positive (dedicating something to God) or negative (abstaining from something). While vows existed, Talmudic rabbis generally discouraged them unless absolutely necessary. Buddhists, including monks and laypersons, undertake vows such as nonviolence, chastity, and honesty. Across religions, atonement practices exist to restore relationships with the divine through repentance, good deeds, and prayer.

How do religious vows affect a person's lifestyle and responsibilities?

Religious vows significantly shape a person's lifestyle and responsibilities, often demanding commitments beyond usual social or religious norms. These vows, seen in religions like Hinduism , Buddhism , and Jainism , can include dedicating oneself to special obligations or abstaining from certain pleasures. In Roman Catholicism , members of religious communities take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, renouncing worldly goods for contemplation and spiritual perfection. Similarly, Buddhist monks vow to practice precepts including nonviolence, chastity, and honesty. Celibacy, a common vow, is viewed as a means to achieve inner freedom and spiritual advancement, separating individuals from ordinary life. Breaking vows can lead to exclusion from the community, highlighting their sacrosanct nature.

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What is a vow in religion?
In religion, a vow is a sacred, voluntary promise to dedicate oneself or members of one’s family or community to a special obligation that goes beyond usual social or religious requirements.

Vows are common in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and are taken by laypersons as well as members of religious orders. In Judaism, vows may be positive (a voluntary pledge to consecrate something to God) or negative (a voluntary pledge to abstain from something). Roman Catholic religious orders generally take three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience.
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2. vow
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Why do people make vows in religious practices?
In religious practices, people make vows as sacred, voluntary promises to dedicate themselves or their community to obligations exceeding usual requirements.

In the ancient Middle East, vows were made to deities for divine favors, like Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to God's service. Ancient Romans made vows to deities in the name of the state, while Vikings saw vows as sacrosanct. Vows are common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism among both religious persons and lay devotees.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also see vows taken by laypersons and religious members. Roman Catholic orders take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, while Protestantism includes vows in rites like marriage.
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1. vow
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What are some common types of religious vows?
A vow is a sacred, voluntary promise to dedicate oneself to a special obligation that goes beyond the usual social or religious requirements. Vows are common in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Examples of religious vows:
* Jainism Jaina monks follow the five vows, or vratas which include renunciation of killing, lying, taking what is not given, sexual pleasures, and all attachments.
* Buddhism Buddhist monks vow to practice 10 precepts, including nonviolence, chastity, and honesty.
* Catholicism Roman Catholic religious orders generally take three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience, and sometimes a vow of stability to remain in a monastery.
* Judaism Vows (Hebrew nederim) may be positive (a voluntary pledge to consecrate something to God) or negative (a voluntary pledge to abstain from something).
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are vows made and kept in different religions?
Vows are sacred promises central to many religions, often exceeding usual requirements. In the ancient Middle East, vows were made to deities for divine favors, exemplified by Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to God's service.

In Hinduism, devotees vow special services, fasts, or offerings. Buddhist monks vow to uphold precepts like nonviolence and honesty, while laypersons adopt similar vows. Jain monks follow five vows of renunciation.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also recognize vows. Judaism includes positive vows to honor God and negative vows of abstinence. Catholic orders take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, while Protestants make vows during rites like marriage. Muslim saints may receive vows for help. Breaking vows carries consequences, such as expulsion among Vikings.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What happens if someone breaks a religious vow?
Breaking a religious vow carries significant consequences, varying across religions and cultures. In ancient Viking communities, those who broke vows were ostracized.

In Judaism, vows, known as nedarim, can be positive (dedicating something to God) or negative (abstaining from something). While vows existed, Talmudic rabbis generally discouraged them unless absolutely necessary.

Buddhists, including monks and laypersons, undertake vows such as nonviolence, chastity, and honesty.

Across religions, atonement practices exist to restore relationships with the divine through repentance, good deeds, and prayer.
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1. atonement
2. vow
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do religious vows affect a person's lifestyle and responsibilities?
Religious vows significantly shape a person's lifestyle and responsibilities, often demanding commitments beyond usual social or religious norms. These vows, seen in religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, can include dedicating oneself to special obligations or abstaining from certain pleasures.

In Roman Catholicism, members of religious communities take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, renouncing worldly goods for contemplation and spiritual perfection. Similarly, Buddhist monks vow to practice precepts including nonviolence, chastity, and honesty. Celibacy, a common vow, is viewed as a means to achieve inner freedom and spiritual advancement, separating individuals from ordinary life. Breaking vows can lead to exclusion from the community, highlighting their sacrosanct nature.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

vow, sacred voluntary promise to dedicate oneself or members of one’s family or community to a special obligation that goes beyond usual social or religious requirements.

In the ancient Middle East, individuals often made vows to a deity to perform certain acts or to live in a certain way in return for a divine favour. Hannah, the mother of the Old Testament judge Samuel, for example, vowed that if Yahweh, the God of Israel, would grant her a son she would devote him to the service of the Lord. She did bear a son, and she kept her vow. Persons dedicated to the service of Yahweh might be released from their vows, however, by paying a certain amount of money.

Ancient Roman religion encouraged vows to a deity in the name of the state, thereby putting the vow-giver in debt to the gods until the vows were fulfilled. During wars, vows were made to Mars, the god of war, to sacrifice a large number of animals in exchange for support in battle.

Among the Vikings, vows to the gods, often considered a type of prayer, were viewed as sacrosanct, and those who broke vows were cast out of their community.

Vows are very common in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, not only among ordained religious persons but also among lay devotees. Hindu followers of the bhakti (devotion) movements often vow to render special service to their gods; individual Hindus also often vow special fastings or offerings to priests and gods on special days. Buddhist monks, who follow the rules of the sangha (community of believers), vow to practice 10 precepts, which include nonviolence, chastity, and honesty. Buddhist laymen and laywomen also take on some of the vows of monks and nuns at some time or times during their lives. Mahāyāna (Greater Vehicle) Buddhists sometimes adopt the vow of the bodhisattva (one destined to be enlightened), which is very strict and involves certain stipulated preliminary actions or abilities, as well as the personal power to generate the thought of enlightenment. Jaina monks follow the five vows, or vratas of Mahāvīra, the 6th-century bc reformer of their religion—renunciation of killing, lying, taking what is not given, sexual pleasures, and all attachments.

Among the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islām, vows are taken by laypersons as well as by members of religious orders. In Judaism, vows (Hebrew nedarim) may be positive or negative. A positive neder is a voluntary pledge to consecrate something to God or to do something in God’s honour that is not required by law. A negative neder (Hebrew issar) is a voluntary pledge to abstain from or deprive oneself of a legitimate pleasure. In general, however, the taking of a vow in Judaism was not encouraged by the Talmudic rabbis, unless it was to be used as a last resort. Roman Catholic religious orders in general take three vows—poverty, chastity, and obedience—and in some cases an added vow of stability, i.e., to remain in a monastery. In Protestantism, vows are made during certain rites (e.g., confirmation, ordination, and marriage ceremonies). Muslim saints revered for their curative or spiritual powers are sometimes appealed to by the faithful, who offer vows of various sorts in return for specific help.

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