One of the earliest situations that mankind faced was our relationship with our Creator. It started out as perfect, but it didn't stay that way; mainly because our ancestors wanted to be in charge. There is a constant theme of wanting things our own way; there are mentions of early patriarchs who did follow instructions: Enoch,who 'walked with God', and Noah, who listened to God's instructions and built a boat. After the flood, Noah was given a very simple list of commandments: Do not eat meat with the life-blood in it; do not murder, remember that the promise to never repeat the Flood was given by God, who demands obedience. (Jewish tradition expands the list to seven instructions that are binding on all mankind.) Unfortunately, what we see is a growth of images that become a rival to God throughout Biblical times in many parts of the world, some of which are still being worshipped.
The current major worship practices are fairly simple in theory (although complex in practice): the Asian religions whose ideal is the loss of personality and becoming part of the Universe, and the three "Abrahamic" traditions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, all of which are based on a God who does interact with His creation.
Judaism is the "parent" of the other two; it is primarily based on a system of Divinely given Laws that if followed, will provide a good life, and if not followed, will bring disaster of both physical and political dimensions, which may follow generations for good or evil. Included are stories of people who have had special relationships with God, and literature that includes conversations, and responses to the overwhelming greatness of God. Over the years, the emphasis on law has expanded, and when challenged by Jesus and His message, became the primary interaction with God. The traditional fast of Yom Kippur is based on confessing and repenting for the sins of the past year.
Islam is the youngest of the three traditions, and it is based on the "revelations" to Muhammed, who lived in the Arabian peninsula in the 600's. It also includes a large body of Law, which is very specific and literal, and is the key the eternal judgment of "Allah", the Arabic name for God. There are only three ways to satisfy the demands it places on its adherents: total obedience to the Law; to take part in a extensive ritual of forgiveness which is part of the the "hajj", the pilgrimage to Mecca that is recommended for every Muslim at least once in their lives; or to be a martyr, to die in the process of killing an enemy of Islam.
Judaism and Islam depend on you: you are responsible for obeying the required laws in order to achieve the promise of fellowship with God. Christians also have a tradition of law, and many people consider them the most important of the part of the tradition. The problem with this is that it becomes more important to follow the rules in one's own strength than to admit that we can't do it on our own and submit to the power of God. This then opens up the real glory of our God: to recognize that God has already provided the means for us to be forgiven: and in a more powerful way than we could ever do it on our own. It is when we stop trying to be perfect and are willing to accept the power of what God did through His Son--which is the infinite power of God Himself--the total cleansing of our souls and the willingness to give up everything that is not fit for the presence of God.
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