Religion Definition Essay

1. What is a faith? You’ve read our text edition author’s definition ; usage that definition as a get downing point to travel farther.

The word “religion” is such a wide word that to this twenty-four hours there is no 1 definition that can fulfill all faiths. For the clip being. it is better to merely be unfastened to many possible definitions. without encompassing any individual 1. Different people particularly in different faiths will all hold a difference in sentiment when seeking to utilize really few words to specify faith. The traditional definition of faith is a system of belief that involves worship of a God or Gods. supplication. ritual. and a moral codification.

Religion is of import to many people because it gives them something to believe in. Religion helps human trade with their mortality. As human existences. we look to religion for replies to life’s unexpected or unknown inquiries such as decease. hurting. hereafter. or metempsychosis. Religion has a manner of assisting us cover with decease and offers comfort.

Religion besides helps us be creativeness and express ourselves through music. dance. and art. It gives us a sense of sing life as something beautiful and lively. Peoples who have a faith normally are more happy cognizing that they life can reflect something of the supernatural that they do non understand. Through art. we get to show how we are experiencing on the interior. Many people use music. dance. and art to demo others what they can non show through words. Religion gives them a sense of confident.

2. Discuss some of the features that faiths have in common.

Some features that faiths have in common are: belief system. community. cardinal myths. ritual. characteristic emotional experiences. material look. and sacredness. Not all faiths will dwell of all elements but instead some of these features are normally accepted. Many believe in a worldview were all things in the existence and human being has a topographic point in it. Humans demand of belonging helps them seek out for a community where they can belong excessively and portion their ideals and patterns. Many faiths have this so people can trust on one another.

Other features that are shared in faiths are passed down from coevalss to coevalss through narratives or reenactment of major events in the spiritual group. Each faith has its ain myth that is cardinal to the faith. Not merely are myths passed down but rites every bit good. These beliefs are enacted and made existent through ceremonials. Besides. moralss are passed down which are set guidelines for the group of people ; these are viewed as being revealed through a supernatural kingdom.

Religions besides allow people to show themselves emotionally and give a sense of interior peace that can non come from outer resources. Material look allows faiths to do usage of amazing assortment of physical elements. Each faith has a beginning of sacredness that is typical from the ordinary. Ceremonies express the differentiation through different linguistic communication. vesture. and architecture. Each tradition exhibit most of these features but for those who pattern them will attest them in different ways and at different times.

3. In add-on to features in common among faiths. there are some forms with respect to beliefs. universe positions. etc. . that are exhibited by most faiths. Discuss these forms.

There are three different forms that we look for to see similarity and difference among faiths. The first form is positions of the universe and life. Religions must offer replies to life’s great inquiries that are asked. All inquiries are the same. but the replies really depending on the faith. Because of the great assortment of worldview each reply is different and must be examined near to acquire a better apprehension of why it is the manner it is. Some faith view the existence as being created by a Creator while others believe it has no beginning and no stoping. Some position nature as the kingdom of immorality where it needs to be overcome. Others believe that worlds are called to determine it. Each position differs from faith to faith.

The 2nd form is the focal point of beliefs and patterns. There are three constructs that are practiced. although one may be more dominant than the other depending on the intent of importance. Sacramental orientation emphasizes transporting out rites and ceremonials on a regular basis and right as the way to redemption. Some believe that correct ritual influences the procedures of nature. Prophetic orientation implies that a human being may be an of import mediator between the truster and the sacred. This is outstanding in Judaism. Protestant Christianity. and Islam. Mystical orientation seeks brotherhood with something greater such as God. nature. the existence. or world as a whole. Upanishadi Hinduism. Daoism. and some Buddhism stress the importance of this.

The 3rd form is the position of male and female. As human being the function of work forces and adult females are really of import and faith has had much to state about the functions of work forces and adult females on Earth and in the Godhead kingdom. Today many influential faiths consider the male as dominate ; the sacred and full-time spiritual specializers are normally males. Although this may non be wholly true. in the yesteryear. female deities one time played an of import function in many civilization and faith.

4. Having discussed in last week’s Discussion Board postings your ain grounds for taking this World Religions class. discourse some of the benefits of analyzing the major faiths of the universe cited by our text edition writer.

Analyzing the different faiths around the universe allows for a better apprehension of each faith and helps educate and better one’s experience of other related topics. When analyzing other faith it allows penetrations into the spiritual traditions such as values. relationships. personalities. and human creativeness. Not merely that but it gives the foreigners an grasp for the things that are non obvious to the insider.

Other benefits include insight into mundane life. Religions influence mundane life in many ways. Many people use faith for moral issues. on edifices. amusing strips. The survey of faith with aid a individual recognizes the spiritual influence everyplace. For person who has no faith or is on their spiritual pursuit. apprehension and analyzing the many different faiths will assist them happen a topographic point to belong excessively. Knowledge of the different faith will help a individual in their journey of life.

Short Answer Questions:

5. What is the beginning and significance of the word “religion” ?

The beginning of the word “religion” comes from the Latin roots re- . significance “again. ” and lig- . intending “join” or “connect. ” The interlingual rendition would so intend “to articulation once more. ” or “to reconnect. ” This word suggests the connection of our natural. human universe to the sacred universe.

6. What is the significance of “sacred” ?

Sacred is a God or Gods that is set apart because of its sanctity. These divinities are considered worthy of religious regard or devotedness.

7. Define and contrast monotheism and polytheism.

Monotheism is the term that means a belief in one God. Those who believe in God believe that He is all powerful. pure spirit. and non to the full definable in words. Polytheism on the other manus means worship of or believing in many coexisting Gods. These multiple Gods may be reasonably separate entities. each in charge of an facet of world. or they may be multiple manifestations of the same basic sacred world.

8. Define and contrast godlessness and agnosticism.

Atheism is the denial of the being of any God or Gods. Agnosticism is to reason that the being of God can non be proven.

9. How are symbols used in faith?

Symbols are of import in faith because faiths are so varied in their instructions and in struggle with each other that symbols aid show truth. Symbols are reasonably concrete. ordinary. and cosmopolitan that represents and helps human existences intensely experience something of greater trouble.

10. What is a sacrament? Give two or three illustrations of sacraments in a faith with which you are familiar.

A sacrament is a spiritual rite or act seen as manner of having God’s grace. In some cryptic manner God uses physical things to convey about religious alterations and give His grace. As a Christian. a few sacraments that we hold are: baptism. Communion. and fasting. These are all of import in having God’s grace.

11. Contrast additive and cyclical clip in the survey of faith.

Linear clip topographic point an accent on creative activity. faiths that believe in this is Judaism. Christianity. and Islam. clip is really of import. Linear clip means traveling in a consecutive line from the beginning of the existence to its terminal. In cyclical clip. the universe merely moves through eternal alterations. which repeat themselves over expansive periods of clip. Buddhism believes clip is cyclical and is non as important because finally the existence is non traveling to a concluding point.