The world's religions emphasize the importance of adhering to a prescribed spiritual path that facilitates emotional maturity and offers the hope of transcendent wisdom. Such wisdom is accompanied by a heightened consciousness, a sense of inner silence, joy, gratitude, and a spontaneous morality. To develop wisdom, both Western and Eastern religions teach constraint, a disciplined morality, charitable concern, and compassionate action.

Mosaic of the Virgin and Child enthroned, flanked by Emperors Justinian I, left, presenting a model of the church, Hagia Sophia, and Constantine I presenting a model of the city, Constantinople, 10th century. Lunette, southwest vestibule, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. Photo credit: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, New York.

Among churches, the traditional setting for . . . [Full Text of this Article]