Hindu and Muslim religion columnists from the Kansas City Star, in Kansas City, Mo., address a question about their interpretation of faith: What does worship do for the individual?

Kris Krishna, an engineer and a member of the Hindu community:

Worship purifies the mind and helps the individual to grow closer to God.

For the Hindu, worship is of two kinds, external ritualistic and internal mental. In ritual worship, images or holy symbols are used. This is suitable for beginners. Mental worship is a kind of meditation more suitable for those who have made adequate progress in spiritual life. It is considered superior.

Worship is encouraged to develop special mental attitudes that generate a feeling of closeness to God. The shanta or serene attitude is less intense where the devotee does not want any personal relationship with God but yearns to know him.

In the dasya, or servant attitude, the devotee wants to serve God but wants to keep a distance out of respect for God. In the sakhya, or friendly attitude, the devotee looks upon God as a friend and expects reciprocal love from him.

In the vatsalya, or motherly attitude, the devotee looks upon God as a mother would toward her child, showering all her affection and love on him without expecting any in return. In the madhura, or sweet attitude, the devotee's intensity is similar to what spouses have for each other but in a strictly spiritual manner.

With these attitudes and following the disciplines of Bhakti Yoga, the individual's love for God becomes more mature, which gradually purifies his mind and enables him to have a vision of his personal God, or Ishvara.

Therefore, worship purifies the mind and enables one to get closer to God.

Syed E. Hasan, Ph.D., Islamic Research Foundation:

Worship helps the individual find mental peace and a positive attitude.

Worshipping God — who is referred to as Allah in the Quran — is one of the key requirements of the Islamic faith. It is an act of absolute submission and is done for God alone. In fact, Islam prohibits worshipping anyone other than God and warns us about the grave punishment awaiting those who ascribe a partner to God or elevate an individual, leader or even an object to a position equal to that of God in terms of his power and supremacy.

Worship to God brings about a sense of profound satisfaction in a Muslim's heart that comes from knowing that one has fulfilled his obligation to his creator. This satisfaction leads to a state of mental peace and spiritual tranquility that lets the person develop a positive attitude that reflects in his behavior and dealing with others. Most of the problems we face in our society result from lack of inner peace and satisfaction that frequently leads to tragic incidents and loss of innocent lives.

A Muslim worships God to seek his pleasure by reiterating his pledge to do good and prohibit evil.

He does so at least five times a day, during which he remembers his creator and the purpose of his life in this world. He reminds himself of the Day of Judgment, when all his worldly deeds would be evaluated to determine his ultimate fate.

He hopes he will be among those who would qualify for a place in paradise.