Houston Historical Tours

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Religious Sites Tour

Religious tours take you on one of four four-hour tours to better understand the diversity of beliefs and institutions that serve Houstonians. It is our goal to help unite people by making them aware and appreciative of the diversity of Houstonians.

Consider taking the following tours:

Eastern Tour
Churches Tour
Temples and Synagogues Tour
Smorgasbord Tour

Note: Please be aware of special etiquette rules when visiting religous sites.
Religious Sites Etiquette

Eastern Tour

This tour takes you to a Taoist Temple, Buddhist Temple, and one Hindu temple in the greater Houston area. See the third largest Hindu temple in North America and be in awe. You will see magnificent architecture and shrines that are meaningful and beautiful. You will learn about the different deities and worship associated with the religions. Lunch can be arranged at one of the temples, a traditional Indian restaurant, or other convenient location.

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Churches Tour

Visit the oldest church in downtown Houston that dates to 1869. Go to two cathedrals, one Catholic, one Episcopalian. Visit the oldest African American church that was built in 1875. See the three oldest Hispanic churches and the largest Greek Orthodox church. Your mouth may drop when you see the exquisite stained glass and icons in some of the churches. Learn about the different practices and traditions of Protestant and Catholic faiths. We go to at least ten churches.

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Temples and Synagogues Tour

Visit the oldest active temple built in 1949. Learn the difference between temples and synagogues, the structure of the altars, see the scrolls in the arks that contain the Torah (Five Books of Moses). Visit the largest Conservative congregation in the United States , and the oldest congregation in all of Texas from 1854. We also go to the largest Orthodox congregation in the city and a Sephardic congregation whose membership was originally from Iraq, Iran, and a number of Middle Eastern countries. You will learn the similarities and the differences of the three main branches of Judaism. We visit at least five congregations. Lunch can be arranged at a traditional Jewish style, Kosher or other restaurant.

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Smorgasbord Tour

A mixture of Eastern, Christian, Jewish, and Moslem institutions. We will visit a Buddhist temple, Christian churches including African American, Hispanic, Episcopal, and Catholic, one Jewish temple, one Islamic mosque, and the Rothko Chapel. You may grow more spiritual on this tour than by attending one service.

As an option, you can select your top choices from a list of about twenty different houses of worship. This is very popular.

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Religious Sites Etiquette Rules

• Please refrain from smoking at all religious sites.
• Remove your shoes before entering Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, and Jain houses of worship. You may wear socks/hosiery, or enter barefoot.
• Do not wear or carry items of leather or silk in Jain temples.
• Females should bring and wear a head covering in all Islamic mosques.
• Do not chew gum or bring food or drink into houses of worship.
• Wear modest clothing showing a minimum amount of skin in all Hindu mandirs and Islamic mosques.
• Wear clothes that are neither see-through nor tight fitting in Islamic mosques.
• Wear long pants in Hindu mandirs and Islamic mosques.  Females should not wear skirts.
• Males should wear shirts with sleeves in all houses of worship.
• Females should wear blouses or shirts with long sleeves in all Hindu mandirs and
  Islamic mosques.
• Be prepared to sit on carpets in Islamic mosques.
• Refrain from provocative comments or wearing provocative clothing.
• Males should be prepared to wear a yarmulke/kippah/skullcap in Jewish shuls and synagogues. These will be provided on site.
• Use appropriate terms for spiritual leaders:
  • Buddhist and Taoist — reverend/monk
  • Hindu — swami/maharaja
  • Catholic — priest/father/padre/sister
  • Protestant — minister/pastor/preacher/reverend
  • Islam — imam
  • Jewish — rabbi/reb and cantor/chazzan
• All electronic devices should be turned off or put on vibrate.
• Relax in all houses of worship.

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