Communion Practices Divide Christians

Communion Practices Divide Christians Communion has been the subject of some recent high-profile debates, ranging from calls to deny the Sacrament to Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry, to a decision to revoke the first communion of an 8-year-old Roman Catholic girl because she ingested a non-wheat wafer. (Broadway, B., 2004) The meaning of communion and its practices in churches have been a continuous discussion by members of different religions around the world for centuries. While the receiving of Holy Communion may mean different things to different people, globally, the Sacrament is a time when persons of similar beliefs and faith come together to eat of the body of Christ (bread), and drink of His blood (wine) in solemn remembrance of Jesus ' sacrificial death on the cross. This review will focus on the importance of religion in human societies, what is Holy Communion (the Eucharist), the purpose of the Sacrament, misconceptions on receiving communion and who or what determines who receives it. References to church law in the review relate to "Canon Law" which is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of Christian organizations (the church) and its members. (Catholic Encyclopedia, 2003)
Religion in Human Societies Religion is a cultural universal and plays an important role in human societies. Emile Durkheim was perhaps the first sociologist to recognize the importance of religion in human societies. (Schaefer, R. T., 2003). In his research, Durkheim viewed religion as a set of beliefs and practices specifically connected to religion as opposed to other institutions. Following his direction, contemporary sociologists study the norms and values of religion through their own religious beliefs and through the interpretation of the Bible by Christians and the Koran by Muslim groups. Despite the widely spread discussions of conflict between Christians and other religions, most

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