Editing Kiss (section)

===Religion===
A kiss in a religious context is common. In earlier periods of [[Christianity]] or [[Islam]], kissing became a ritual gesture, and is still treated as such in certain customs, as when "kissing... relics, or a bishop's ring."<ref name=Brayer /> In [[Judaism]], the kissing of the [[Sefer Torah|Torah scroll]], a [[Siddur|prayer book]], and a [[Tallit|prayer shawl]] is also common.<ref>Kuraweil, Arthur.''The Torah for Dummies'', Wiley Publishing (2008) p. 218</ref> Crawley notes that it was "very significant of the affectionate element in religion" to give so important a part to the kiss as part of its ritual. In the early Church the baptized were kissed by the celebrant after the ceremony, and its use was even extended as a salute to saints and religious heroes, with Crawley adding, "Thus Joseph kissed Jacob, and his disciples kissed Paul. Joseph kissed his dead father, and the custom was retained in our civilization", as the farewell kiss on dead relatives, although certain sects prohibit this today.<ref name=Crawley>Crawley, Ernest. ''Studies of Savages and Sex'', Kessinger Publishing (revised and reprinted) (2006)</ref>{{Rp|126}}

A distinctive element in the Christian [[liturgy]] was noted by [[Justin Martyr|Justin]] in the 2nd century, now referred to as the "[[kiss of peace]]," and once part of the rite in the primitive Mass. [[Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|Conybeare]] has stated that this act originated within the ancient Hebrew [[synagogue]], and [[Philo]], the ancient Jewish philosopher called it a "kiss of harmony", where, as Crawley explains, "the Word of God brings hostile things together in concord and the kiss of love."<ref name=Crawley />{{Rp|128}} [[Cyril of Jerusalem|Saint Cyril]] also writes, "this kiss is the sign that our souls are united, and that we banish all remembrance of injury."<ref name=Crawley />{{Rp|128}}