Category: Belief

Religion and faith make a very pivotal aspect within the social setting because of the significant influence it has on the wellbeing and existence of individuals within the community. Society consists of very diverse individuals who practice different forms of culture. Religion is one of the different forms of cultural practices that the people practice. Religion greatly influences the decision and actions of different people who adhere to the rules and regulations of their religion. Religious leaders within the community are responsible for ensuring that their followers are taught to adhere to their religious norms and enhance faithfulness to their religious practices. Some of the major religious groups within our societies include Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Judaism. Faith and religion should enable individuals to make the world a better place.

Human behaviour is greatly aligned with the teachings of their religious beliefs. Religion enhances a better living since it allows individual to acquire only good behaviours that enhance a peaceful coexistence with other individuals. Religion also aims at ensuring that we care for our environment because human beings greatly depend on the environment to survive. Religious leaders teach their followers the importance of environmental conservation (Francis, 2015). Pope Francis, the leader of the largest religious group across the world, encourages that us should care for the ecological system. In his book Laudato Si, he highlights the impacts of global environmental degradation and its effects on the existence of individuals in society. Faithful Christians who follow his teachings adhere to his teachings, proof that faithfulness enables individuals within society to think critically for effective coexistence.

Environmental conservation from individuals who practice different forms of religion has also ensured that proper teaching on environment care has also made the world a better place. Environmental theology also advocates for environmental ethics to avoid the causes of ecological degradation. All religious groups within the society relate the environment with God and encourage their followers to protect the ecosystem. Different Christian believers have faith that God still has a connection and interacts with people through the environment. Ensuring harmony between the environment and the individuals has also made the world a better place.

Christianity provides an opportunity for believers of different religious-cultural beliefs to have faith in their religious practices. Christianity enables believers of a given religious practice to have their own religious identity within the community. Christianity also allows for a great understanding of faith from different perspectives of diverse religious cultures around us. Diversity in Christianity has also enhanced spirituality awareness, promoting an appropriate coexistence and harmony.

The main role of religion within society is to ensure harmony and peaceful coexistence between individuals with diverse cultural beliefs on faith and religion. Religion enables individuals to act in the right manner by being faithful and adhering to the teachings of their religion. Religion also helps ensure that there is peace between human beings and the environment by teaching the importance of environmental conservation. Religion and faith play an important role in ensuring the world is a better place because it helps ensure that all individuals act with high ethical behaviours that will enhance a peaceful and productive coexistence amongst individuals of different cultural backgrounds in society today.

Reference

Francis, P. (2015). On care for our common home : |b the popes new encyclical. Word Among Us Press.

Religious beliefs and the reasons behind them are very personal matters, and different people are likely to offer varying accounts and testimonies of faith. Belief in God is central to many peoples lives and, for them, requires no evidence, only trust in the Divine. Faith in the Deity is intuitive and reflects the desire of a person to better themselves and their community and lead their lives righteously and justly.

Self-improvement is a vital component of the belief in Divine power. The Bible encourages people to change and grow in order to become better versions of themselves and positively impact their community and all those with whom they cross paths. In Ephesians 4:22-28, it is stated that the path of righteousness is to put off your old self to be renewed into a new self after the likeness of God (Ephesians 4  Unity in the Body of Christ, 2020). Research in psychology supports the idea that most religious people are highly self-enhancers and exhibit a strong desire to view themselves positively (Mercier et al., 2018). Thus, to believe in God is to believe in the possibility of positive change in oneself and others.

Furthermore, religion provides a moral guide for self-enhancement and assists people in their journey of improvement. Faith is intertwined with morality, with the Bible providing guidance for leading a moral life. The Holy Book does not ask people to rely on faith alone but to supplement it with virtue, knowledge, self-control, devotion to self and others, righteousness, and brotherly affection (2 Peter 1, 2020). Regardless of their differences, all religions ask their followers to conduct themselves in a virtuous manner within the frameworks for personal behavior provided to them in their respective Holy texts (Huda et al., 2019). Therefore, one of the reasons to believe in God is to seek moral guidance and values that can help govern our lives. In my opinion, it is a highly compelling reason, and I choose to be a person of faith and follow the moral teachings of the Bible to better myself and positively impact my community. I believe that this self-improvement is impossible without religions moral beacon.

It should also be acknowledged that religion is a source of great comfort and hope. However, it does not serve to make people feel better but to grant them a deeper understanding of the nature of the universe. Through trust in God and the Divine plan, people of faith are granted the sense of calm that can only arise from being privy to the ultimate truth. The comfort of religion contributes to people being more in control of their emotions, and it can be argued that this quality is vital in the modern world. According to Huda et al. (2019), trust in God and the moral teachings of religion lead to people being skilled at self-regulation and acting consistently with their values. Meanwhile, these skills are necessary for a persons emotional health and well-being (Huda et al., 2019). Thus, a reason to believe in the Divine is to master emotional steadiness.

In summary, being a person of faith or subscribing to atheistic doctrines is a deeply personal choice. Religion provides people with moral guidance, opportunities for self-improvement, and, therefore, emotional well-being and stability. I would argue that faith allows people to better understand themselves and the world around them. In addition, it also contributes to the people improving themselves and, consequentially, their communities through moral, calm, and just behavior.

References

2 Peter 1. (2020). Bible Gateway.

Ephesians 4  Unity in the Body of Christ. (2020). Bible Gateway.

Huda, M., Sudrajat, A., Muhamat, R., Mat Teh, K. S., & Jalal, B. (2019). Strengthening divine values for self-regulation in religiosity: Insights from Tawakkul (trust in god). International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 35(3), 122.

Mercier, B., Kramer, S. R., & Shariff, A. F. (2018). Belief in God: Why people believe, and why they dont. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(4), 263268.

Among the examples of steadiness and firmness in faith, few parts of the Holy Scripture are as impactful in this respect as the story of Abraham. The hardship he endured and the challenges he faced were colossal by any standard, yet his stalwart faith in God never wavered even in the face of the most dreadful prospects. The core of this faith was Abrahams obedience to God  total, unconditional, and undemanding yet fully conscious and willingly.

Abraham did not obey merely because he lacked the imagination to conceive another course of action. On the contrary, Abrahams faith rested on the adamant conviction that the Lord was both powerful and benevolent, and His will inevitably led to the best outcome. This faith in benevolence and omnipotence  and, moreover, the unity of faith and action  is what signifies Abrahams righteousness as a firm and obedient believer.

Obedience may well be Abrahams defining trait, and following the instructions of the Lord unwaveringly is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Isaacs father. Yet obedience may come in different forms, and what makes Abrahams unwavering dedication to follow the will of God so notable is its foundation. A person of a certain type could do what is told to him because the lack of intellect or imagination would not allow him to even imagine another course of action.

Yet Abraham obeyed God not because he could not fathom another option but because he believed. It was faith, not narrow-mindedness, that guided him: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went (Hebrews 11:8). This faith did not waver even when the ultimate test came: By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17). These verses show that the cause of Abrahams obedience was not his intellectual inability to disregard instructions but his willing and unlimited faith in the Lord.

The nature of this faith deserves due consideration as well: Abraham followed the Lords will not merely because he recognized Gods existence and superiority but because he believed God to be omnipotent. Isaacs father came as close to almost sacrificing his offspring: he had already reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son (Genesis 22:10). Had the angel not stayed his hand, there is no doubt that Abraham would fulfill the Lords will  and one reasonable explanation is that he did not believe the outcome to be permanent. In other words, this verse demonstrates that Abraham was ready to go through with the sacrifice because he believed that God could reverse death should He so wish.

This obedience in faith and readiness to sacrifice ones own child in Gods name also links closely with Abrahams conviction in the Lords benevolence. When promised numerous offspring, Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). There was no doubt in Abrahams mind that whatever God decreed was just and right and that following the Lords will would ultimately provide the best outcome. The verse showcases Abrahams unwavering conviction that God is unequivocally and inexorably good, and His decrees, whether understandable or not at first sight, serve the betterment of His chosen people. This belief that the Lord was not merely omnipotent but also fundamentally benevolent is the second facet of Abrahams righteousness in obedience.

The third essential component of Abrahams willingness to follow God was the unity of faith and action. Whenever the Lord decrees His will, Abraham does not merely endorse and internalizes it but sets out immediately to fulfill it to the best of his ability. The Scripture spells it out openly and clearly: Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (James 2:21-22).

Abraham is not passive in his faith  on the contrary, his obedience is active and always transfers to deeds that serve to fulfill the Lords will. This is the third facet of Abrahams righteousness in obedience: his respect to Gods instructions is not limited to his thoughts but transforms the world around him.

As one can see, Abrahams obedience to God signifies his righteousness in more than one respect. First of all, he obeys the Lord not because he lacks imagination or will to do otherwise but because he willingly and consciously believes, and, thus, subjects himself to Gods will. Secondly, his faith is rooted in the knowledge of Gods omnipotence, which gives him the strength to persist regardless of how unfavorable the appearances are. Apart from that, he never doubts the Lords benevolence, and this faith in the righteous intent also fortifies his obedience. Finally, Abrahams willingness to heed the course defined by God is not passive and translates into actions, meaning that his righteous obedience does not remain a mere declaration and changes the world around him.

After reading these primary sources regarding the removal and prohibition of idolatry in Peru, I conclude that the measures taken by the Holy Church were against the traditions of these communities. They were antagonizing the long-standing ways of living of indigenous people through direct interventions and prevention of any worship that might have occurred out of habit as much as out of true faith. Indeed, Indian traditions were sins in the eyes of God, yet such strict control over ones life could not achieve the adoption of True Faith. Indians were prohibited not only from communing with their gods but from holding traditional local celebrations and showing respect to their dead (De Arriaga, 1998). This approach can only lead to a failure of integration of local communities, putting the cohesiveness of local communities at stake.

These documents provide an in-depth look into the methods that the Church has employed against other religious beliefs in the past. These primary sources can serve as a summary of methods employed by the Church that failed to integrate non-believers by antagonizing them instead. Moreover, these documents reveal many methods of worship for Indian gods and spirits called huacas, giving a solid foundation for their discussion (De Arriaga, 1998). These sources also reveal the complexity of lawful regulations for religious crimes of that time alongside attempts to replace ones religious traditions with those of other civilizations. A research paper may analyze these sources to present religious laws and persecution of pagan believers by the Spanish Church. In conclusion, these documents provide an overview of anti-idolatry methods used by the Church after the conquest by Spain, and they can be used in discussions of inappropriate approaches to religious conversion.

Reference

De Arriaga, P. J. (1998). The extirpation of idolatry in Peru (L. C. Keating, Trans.). University Press of Kentucky.

Introduction

A belief system, as is generally understood, contains high values, moral ideas and thoughts which provide a moral lesson. An overview identifies different types of belief systems that have been prevailing in the modern world. One can regard belief system is the actual set of precepts from which you live your daily life, those which govern your thoughts, words, and actions. (Your Belief System, 2007).

It is possible for one to identify various types of belief systems which exert their predominant influence in the formation of various cultures. One can also see their deep influence in molding ones character. It is quite common that as one grew up, the society imposed many values and ideas upon him. General concept of the society is that if one wants to lead a peaceful life in this world, one has to believe in a particular belief system.

Most people believe that man cannot live without a belief system. Religion is the one belief system which is deep-rooted in human minds. So for majority of people religion is the backbone of their belief system. It is through ones parents one gets the glimpses of religion. He/she gradually acquires some knowledge about the religious belief and the same takes him/her to a particular religion and its values, beliefs, customs and tradition.

It is not only through ones parents that one acquires knowledge about the morals, values and ideas of a religious belief system but also through education and the social set up in which one lives. One of the main features of the modern communities is that they allow religious freedom to its people and let them either follow a particular religion or remain an atheist. After acquiring knowledge from his parents, a person is free to select a religion of his/her choice that acknowledges his/her freedom.

Discussion

As mentioned earlier, if one is born into a Hindu family then his/her parents teach him about Hinduism. As a kid, it is the only source through which he can acquire knowledge. Most often the parents would be telling him about Hindu gods or goddess. Hindus are polytheists and they consider every living and non living being as a part of god. So they consider eating beef as a religious sin. Hindus also believe in rebirth. Really speaking, our belief system should evolve as a result of our own thinking about our existence or the existence of every creature in this world.

When one believes in the religious belief system with full faith in god, it is possible that one can live happily. Such people can take shelter in the belief that god will serve them. They will think that after death they will reach god and they will have rebirth. When we believe in a religion we are likely follow their conventions, ideas and values. A Hindu will go to temples and a Christian will visit church on Sundays. They will go through their sacred books and will acquire knowledge.

A deeply religious man will not probably commit any crime for the fear that Gods punishment awaits him. They live in the hope that if anything bad happens in their life god will come as a savior for them. But on the other side the disadvantage is also there. Faith in a particular religion will make man possessive. He will not be able to love people of other religions. He may think of causing harm to those who have different thoughts and ideas.

There is also a school of thought which propagates that people with firm faith in God will not do immoral things because they think that if they do any thing which God does not like, they will be punished.

Religion has a role in the belief system which guides ones actions commonly known religious belief system. There are many viewpoints regarding belief system and one of them evaluates, Belief System can be one of our most powerful assets or our worst enemy. (Belief and healing, 2007).

Religion and the approach to spirituality of human beings offer a change in the way of thinking. Religious belief is centered around the existence and nature of life and the way of worship of a divine power. In spite of other belief systems religious belief system has certain qualities as they relate the values of social being at all levels. Religious belief system deals with existence of belief, the nature of the belief and the principles related to this belief. The system also offers explanations related to the belief and religion. Religious belief system focuses on varieties of systems of thoughts.

Tradition has a major role in the religious belief system. An overview reveals that religion gives out a lot of rigid rules and manners. Religion even exerts some control over men in their daily life. The rituals, customs, practice, conventions and beliefs in the religious belief system point to a very important role for tradition. One can see various rituals in every religion. These rituals are performed in a variety of ways. The customs and practices in different religions also vary.

There are a lot of conventions in the religious belief system. In other words the customs and rituals practiced by one religion differs from another. All these are the traditional elements and without these elements there will be no religion and no religious belief systems. So tradition is the corner stone of every religious belief system. In a way role of tradition in religious belief system makes the religion acceptable and valuable.

The role of tradition in religion differs from its role in religious belief system. Tradition influences religion or, in other words, religion is based on tradition. Religion often makes men understand the morals and teach them how to behave in a society. Every religion teaches men the morals, manners and beliefs. The customs, rituals, ritual practices, conventional methods and values together make a religion.

These traditional elements in a religion relate the values and practices transmitted by every spiritual leader. Religion, as a means of search of the meaning of existence often gives security and a certain identity. Traditional values in a religion provide comfort and peace. Tradition in every religion strengthens the belief and explains its truth in a way every one can understand. Thus tradition has a very remarkable way in the realm of religion in general.

One should have a deep knowledge about others belief and their attitude towards religion. This knowledge helps one to behave properly without hurting their religious belief. First, one should understand others beliefs, ideas and opinion towards religion. One should also have knowledge about their feelings, emotions, conventions and attitude towards religion. This knowledge is essential for a person. One can find out people who possess same thoughts and beliefs as himself.

If one is aware of others belief and attitudes it helps him to create a warm relation with others. Such knowledge helps one to interact with others freely. If one is unaware of other persons beliefs, ones attitude may cause irritation to the other. To avoid such irritations and hurt feelings one should have knowledge about others beliefs. There exists a deep relation between belief and knowledge. The belief will be knowledge if it is sincere and true. Belief systems are unique and universal in nature.

Conclusion

When reaching the conclusion, one can infer that belief is complimentary and it varies from person to person. It is the right of a person to be religious, atheist or spiritualist as he has the right to live on the earth. As there are different regions and beliefs, one can choose any religion which provides morality and values necessary to keep alive justice and safety of the people of the world.

Reference

Belief and healing. (2007). Youve to Find Your Way to a Peaceful Mind. Web.

Your belief system. (2007). Fringe Wisdom. Web.

Faith, the concept of having confidence in something regardless of whether it is grounded in facts, is often the only thing that offers consolation to people. However, it is beneficial during hard times and can inspire people to be and do better when they are already living well. This concept is most frequently associated with different religions and their deities, the Christian God, the Muslim Allah, or one of the many Hindu Gods. One of the most common arguments of those that do not believe in a higher power is the unfounded nature of faith. Charles Spurgeon notes, To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust him in the dark, that is faith. And disbelievers fail to notice their hypocrisy since they practice faith every day, the only difference being the object of faith. While these people might ignore the messages from the Lord, discarding them as unscientific or unbelievable, they have faith in themselves, other people, and incredibly important life.

First and foremost, humans are social creatures, and therefore most individuals will, throughout their lives, interact with thousands of other individuals. Having faith in the other person is crucial whenever there is any social or romantic interaction. There is no way of knowing what goes on inside someone elses mind, and yet a person must choose to trust another blindly to make meaningful connections. Saint Augustine said, Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. And it is perfectly evident on a daily basis  once a person begins to show faith in another, they show themselves deserving of that faith.

Equally, if not, more importantly, is a persons faith in oneself. Throughout ones life, everyone makes mistakes and encounters obstacles; however, it is faith in the eventual success that has the power to keep one going. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, If you lose money you lose much, If you lose friends you lose more, If you lose faith you lose all. From this, one can learn that nothing is lost completely as long as there is still faith. By having that seemingly unfounded confidence in oneself, a person can find the strength and motivation needed to change his or her current situation. Furthermore, faith helps alleviate the anxiety surrounding failure (5 Reasons Why Having Faith Is So Important, 2020). Children are the most prominent examples of such faith, as they keep trying no matter how many times they fall. It is the faith in the different outcomes the next time, in their own strength and ability, that allows them to grow and develop.

However, it can be difficult to maintain motivation and faith in life without the sense of a higher purpose. For some people, it means believing in God; for others  in the power of astrology or manifesting, or millions of other things that are unexplainable and yet help people live another day. Mother Teresa said, Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. And the wisdom of it lies in the fact that faith does not have to be a grand gesture of believing in scripture or blindly following someone else. Faith starts small and inside a person and can take many forms. It is important for the sake of human interaction and maintaining motivation, but it does not have to be religious.

Work Cited

5 Reasons Why Having Faith Is So Important. Wanderlust Worker, 2020. Web.

Full bibliographic information of source

Rymarz, R., & Gerard McLarney. (2011). Teaching about Augustine: Providing a scaffolding for learning. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 8(1), 5364. Web.

Stated research question and thesis

The research question is how American Catholic youths lack of knowledge of their faiths can be amended. The thesis is that teaching them with an emphasis on seminal thinkers, such as Augustine, will improve their overall knowledge of the Catholic faith.

Major argument and refutations

The texts major argument is that the best approach to teaching about seminal thinkers is to structure the mentorship process as scaffolding for the new information. A possible objection to this proposition is that Augustines legacy can be too complex to be easily communicated to youth. The authors address this objection by listing specific strategies with examples, such as using controversy or weaving a life-related narrative as the titular scaffolding for future learning.

Implications of research

The implications of the research are to identify seminal Catholic thinkers and educate Catholic youth about their conceptual importance to promote overall theological literacy.

Critique of authors work including methods

One criticism of the article is that it does not always distinguish clearly between the scaffolding and the relatively complex concepts it is meant to support. It is particularly evident in the discussion of the nominating key ideas strategy, as Augustines key ideas are bound to be the very same complex concepts that the authors advise to prepare the students for in advance (Ryrarz & McLarney, 2011, p. 59). Another criticism is that the authors do not connect the laypeoples insufficient theological knowledge to the overall quality of theological education. In contrast, Shaw (2014) argues that the Catholic theological education experiences a general crisis, meaning that the laypeoples relative illiteracy may just be a symptom of a broader problem.

Research questions raised

• What is the general approach that could allow Catholic youth to learn more effectively about their faith?
• What are the specific teaching strategies that can be used for this purpose?

Quotes that can be used towards mentorship and business

A strong pedagogical strategy is to think in terms of providing scaffolding for future learning (Ryrarz & McLarney, 2011, p. 55). This quote illustrates how the gradual accumulation of knowledge takes place in mentorship.

This is not intended as the end of the educational dialogue or conversation but as a prelude to the student being able to engage on their own terms with some of the seminal claims of a religious tradition (Ryrarz & McLarney, 2011, p. 62). This quote highlights that the end goal of mentorship is the development of an independent thinker able to tackle intellectual problems on ones own.

References

Shaw, P. (2014). Transforming theological education: A practical handbook for integrated learning. Langham.

Rymarz, R., & Gerard McLarney. (2011). Teaching about Augustine: Providing a scaffolding for learning. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 8(1), 5364. Web.

A large part of Abrahamic traditions has similarities with Zoroastrianism, especially within the core texts of these religions. In his study, Akbar extensively compares Islamic and Zoroastrian teachings and points out substantial similarities, especially about the afterlife and the journey of a human soul (91-93). The same paper also found that even the descriptions of hell show remarkable resemblance in a way that «the form of punishment inflicted on the wicked corresponds to the crimes they committed in this world» (Akbar 98). This concept appears in Judaism as well in the form of hanging punishments. It is also evident that Zoroastrianism was in contact with Christianity, in terms of universalism in particular. According to Ramelli, the Christian concept of «apokatastasis» and Zoroastrian eschatology have a lot of common perceptions of universal restoration and reestablishment (357). With this in mind, the impact of Zoroastrianism on early religions is relatively clear.

Despite all those facts, some critical analyses doubt that the borrowings were single-sided. Since the religions were historically and geographically close, there is a strong possibility of mutual influence of traditions and beliefs. Substantial evidence of this is the same strategy of national unification Christianity and Zoroastrianism had in the Roman and Persian empires, respectively (Ramelli 354). It is, however, difficult to identify the single origin of this idea to unify the nation through religion, so the discussion remains unresolved. Regarding my point of view on Abrahamic religions borrowing concepts from Zoroastrianism, I believe it is somewhat natural. Since all those beliefs are built upon the same basic concepts, such as the afterlife, it is predictable for them to invent similar details. I think it is very much possible that early religions exchanged ideas and were inspired, probably, by some even more ancient traditions.

Works Cited

Akbar, Ali. The Zoroastrian Provenance of Some Islamic Eschatological Doctrines. Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, vol. 49, no. 1, Mar. 2020, pp. 86108. .

Ramelli, Ilaria LE. Christian Apokatastasis and Zoroastrian Frashegird: The Birth of Eschatological Universalism. Religion and Theology vol. 24, no. 3-4, 2017, pp. 350-406.

The collision of the two vehicles startled me. I swerved to the side of the road to ensure that I did not become a victim. My husband jumped out of the car before it had even stopped and rushed towards one of the cars that had been involved in the accident. Instinctively, I rushed towards the other car in an attempt to try and save the victim. From inside it, I heard the voice of a woman, calling faintly for assistance, someone help me& my back! My hips! I cant breathe, please help me! carefully, I pulled at the door. Immediately, it flung open. The woman was trapped between the drivers seat and the steering wheel. She was trying to pull herself from the entrapment but her attempts were all in vain because she did not move an inch. Slowly, I tagged at the seat and unfastened the seat belt. Luckily, there were no more complications and to our great relief, she was finally free! Pulling her from the smashed car, I carefully stretched her on a blanket offered to me by my husband, from my memory of first aid that I received in senior school, I covered her hastily to prevent the incidence of shock and waited for the arrival of the ambulance. This incident was stamped in my memory and it has never faded in my mind. It could be as a result of how much I received than I got. The assistance I gave this stranger gave me peace, inner satisfaction, and calm. Above all, it gave me one of lifes greatest lessons; giving unconditionally is a virtue that should be put to use because all kind of giving without other intentions helps to elevate human suffering and makes life more bearable.

One of the benefits of being helpful to people is the fact that all manner of kindness has the tendency to spread. This means that it may just start with you helping a couple of people that you dont even know and probably they will never get the opportunity to know you and soon, the number grows and you realize that a dozen more people have joined in to help, the number continues to increase to up to a hundred and even thousands. These people do not know each other but kindness still has a positive influence on the receivers and just like ripples of water in a lake, there will be a whole sea of people with happy faces across the country who are just gaining happiness from a mere action of help. This just serves to show that helping makes life bearable to both the sufferers and the helping parties (Lowe, par. 20; LArmand & Pepitone 193)

Good deeds rarely go unrewarded. There are three ways in which helping can be rewarding, one of them being that the probability of one receiving help later on in the future is high when they help other people. Another reward that can be obtained from helping is the fact that the person who is helped is relieved from the personal distress they were going through before they received help and finally, the last reward that can be obtained from helping others is that people can be able to gain approval from the society and thus increasing their self-worth (Burnstein 775).

Another good thing about helping is that help emanates purely from peoples hearts. Pure altruism comes by when someone experiences empathy towards an individual who is in need. This means that pure giving comes in when one is able to put themselves into the shoes of the people who are suffering and personally feel the emotional torment that the person is undergoing. When we are empathetic with someones troubling situation then we are willing to go through any options to attempt for purely altruistic reasons and this is done irrespective of what rewards one is likely to acquire through the help accorded (Darley 105)

Works Cited

Burnstein, Eric, Crandall, Earnest, & Kitayama, Evans. Some Neo-Darwinian decision rules for altruism: Weighing cues for inclusive fitness as a function of the biological importance of the decision. Journal of Personal Social Psychology74.6 (1994): 773-789.

Darley, Johnson & Batson, Cole. From Jerusalem to Jericho: A study of situational and dispositional variables in helping behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 27.3 (1973): 100-108.

LArmand, Katrina, & Pepitone, Arwin. Helping to reward another person: A cross-cultural analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 31.7(1975): 189-198.

Lowe, Richard. Being helpful. Online mind, 2009. Web.

Introduction

The article The articles of 21st-century faith by Julian Baggini is the authors attempt to reimagine the definition of religion to fit realistic expectations set by a society that is increasingly atheistic.

Updating the Religion

The article is a proposition that the author makes for religious people. It consists of four concepts that Baggini describes as the way to make religion less outdated (Baggini, 2011). These articles show that religions have a particular set of values, do not require the belief in the supernatural, should avoid contradicting scientific communities, and admit that they are man-made (Baggini, 2011). Believers might not agree with them, but they can help in discussions.

Commentary

The article presents a refreshing look at a long-standing debate between atheists and religious communities. The author clearly shows that there are biases from atheists that may prevent fruitful discussions from occurring and addresses common points of conflict in his articles (Baggini, 2011). These four points are stated in a clear and concise manner to be easily understandable and non-vague to avoid further arguments. First and foremost, their goal is to bring order into an otherwise highly diverse range of worldviews.

Bagginis articles can be seen as threatening to some, yet, under additional scrutiny, the reasoning behind their formulation reveals the need to implement something akin to these four concepts for faith to remain actual. The discussion sparks a new way of viewing faith: the author shows that its purpose is to become a common ground for people with particular values and personalities to converge and cooperate (Baggini, 2011). It appears that the author hopes that it could be difficult to argue with the core concept.

The value of the articles needs to be analyzed as well. This suggestion was sent to both atheists and religious people so that the author would gain the most objective data possible regarding an otherwise controversial topic. Through such a conversation, Baggini attempts to create a link between atheist critics and believers. Articles are on-point with their definitions of how beliefs form communities, although other points may appear to be imposing. Three out of four points composed by Baggini call for the abandonment of the past postulates, on which some faiths were based in their entirety. Despite this radical move, such an attempt has a positive intention that has place to be.

The author imposes a challenging task upon himself and his proposition. Due to this complexity, Baggini does have to turn to a two-sided view on the issue of the definition of religion. Although Baggini (2011) first writes that atheists want every believer to be two-dimensional, he himself concedes to the necessity of clearly stated opposite views. These are the necessary simplifications that need to be made in order to create a concise arguing point.

Asking for a refusal of the claims opposite to those proposed by the author may appear offensive to some believers. The author outlines what it means when some religious people reject the proposed claims, which may appear to lack faith for some. As the author shows, the implied rejection of the articles opposite to those proposed by him also means that believers would admit that atheists were right at least partially (Baggini, 2011). It may set a dangerous precedent and cause a degradation of faith and its foundations.

Undoubtedly, these articles possess a degree of controversy since they may be understood as the call for dismantling the history of religion. However, Baggini (2011) clearly states that these articles may not capture what is most important for any given individual. They are not imposing new, updated views but propose a different look at the agreeable definition that is adequately limited to the real world (Baggini, 2011). In the end, it is up to each person to define what their belief means to themselves and what God or Gods they choose to pray to in what way.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the articles presented in Bagginis paper present a topic worth discussing among religious communities, as their acceptance would be beneficial for the image of modern-day faith. Despite the potential controversies that can stem from such a modernization, the core concept of religion  ones values and way of life  remains a centerpiece of the proposed claims. Although such articles can appear as imposing onto others beliefs, many faith practitioners can find them as a viable definition that would suffice modern-day expectations of societies with a growing number of atheists.

The four points for updating the concept of religion by Baggini have a foundation linked to the discussions of faith with non-believers. However, such a discourse may vary in its nature depending on the religious views of the involved sides. It is undeniable that the author wrote his article in an attempt to establish a conversation between believers and non-believers, yet these points may be too controversial for some people to accept. It can be argued that some religions are based on traditions that may be dismantled with the introduction of these articles.

Reference

Baggini, J. (2011). The articles of 21st-century faith. The Guardian. Web.