The concept of martyrdom is not exclusive to any distinct religion, faith, or society. Becoming a martyr is an idea that has been embraced by many different people with very different beliefs and ideas. A martyr by definition is “a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion. (Dictionary.com) While this definition varies depending on the person you ask, the basic idea is that martyrdom is influenced by religion. The act of giving one's life for a religious cause is what makes someone a martyr. Due to the many different beliefs about what a martyr is, becoming a martyr in different religions means different things and is achieved through different acts. Some people can give their lives for others, some can take their own, and some can take innocent lives along with their own. Contrary to popular belief, martyrdom is not an idea exclusive to Islam. Christianity, Judaism and Islam, also known as Semitic faiths, all believe in the concept of becoming a martyr. The only difference regarding martyrdom between these three religions is that the motivating factors and path to becoming a martyr have changed over time to best suit each individual doctrine. (Hakam) Christianity itself is based on the belief that Jesus Christ gave his life to wash away the sins of man. This could be considered the greatest act of martyrdom of all time. To preserve the innocence of his followers and save their souls, Jesus was tortured and crucified willingly knowing that he was giving his life for a greater cause. Jesus Christ hoped that by giving his life he would give humanity a second chance. This is why many Christians dedicate their lives to living a sin-free life with the hope of going to heaven after their time in...... middle of paper ......and defending their faith.Works CitedMartyr. Dictionary.com. LLC. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martyrHakam, S. (n.d.). The concept of martyrdom and Sikhism. Retrieved from http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/articles/The Concept of Martyrdom and Sikhism-Dr Hakam Singh.pdfGreenberg, I. Israeli Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Tourism. (n.d.). Masada: desert fortress overlooking the Dead Sea. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.htmlZarick, A. (2007). Shades of martyrdom. Dean's Book Course, 2. Retrieved from http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:9vRoYLhK_6QJ:scholar.google.com/ shades of martyrdom Allison Zarick&hl=en&as_sdt=0,3Pakin, Tern Toles. “Explosive Baggage: Palestinian Female Kamikazes and the Rhetoric of Emotions.” Women and the fall of language 2002: 79-88