In modern religious studies, there is a provision on the evolutionary path of the origin of religion: from the simplest forms such as animism, magic, polytheism to more complex ones such as monotheism. In the process of the development of religious studies, certain religious schools and directions developed. In contrast to the evolutionary path, an approach was formed based on the concept of the original primitive monotheism. This religious studies school has set itself to show the correctness of its judgments based on specific ethnographic materials and facts. One of the ideologists of this trend was the German ethnologist and religious scholar Catholic priest Wilhelm Schmidt.
Schmidt believed that at the origins of primitive religion in the minds of the so-called primitive peoples, there was an idea of a Supreme Being, transcendent from everything earthly. This Supreme Being had personal characteristics and was represented in the form of a certain Potency, which should gradually unfold in the history of humankind (Harold, 2010). Schmidt testifies that ancient man was a fully developed being and could form general concepts and find the cause of things. The ancient man as a person turned to the Supreme Being with requests (Winfried, 2017). Petitions were expressed in words and through the whole body to show that all parts of the body belong to Him. Almost all primitive tribes call Him Father. (Miles, 2017). During prayers and sacrifices to the Supreme Being, the ancient man directly contacted Him, experiencing a certain religious experience. Man became the bearer of the Sacred in his being. And even being itself became for him a kind of sacred action, a permanent holy dialogue.
In conclusion, there is a certain connection between the consciousness of primitive man and modern man. The ideas of a Single Supreme Being are rooted in consciousness initially as a kind of potential revelation. Monotheism presupposes a personal relationship with God, lively dialogue with Him, conversion in prayer, and the belief that this prayer will be heard. If such a dialogue is impossible under pantheism because it does not presuppose God as a person, then monotheism gives a person the opportunity to build a relationship with God.
References
Harold, A. (2010). Christianity and Religious Diversity: Clarifying Christian commitments in a Globalizing age. Baker Academic.
Miles, T. (2017). A God of many understandings. B&H Publishing group.
Winfried, C. (2017). Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. IVP Academic.
A visit to a church of a different congregation can be a very educational experience. I belong to the Baptist congregation and never had any personal experience with the Catholic Church. Obviously, I know many Catholics, but I have never visited their churches because it seemed inappropriate. For this assignment, I have chosen to visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis which is a part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The History of the Church
The Archdiocese of St. Louis belongs to the Roman Catholic denomination. It is one of the oldest churches in the area. It was founded in 1826 by missionaries and pioneers seeking escape from persecution. The church was inaugurated by multiple missionary bishops. The main effort was made by Bishop DuBourg, who was helped by Bishop Rosati. Later Bishop Rosati became the first Bishop of St. Louis. One of the main reasons for the location of the church in St. Louis was the relative proximity to the Native American territories. Bishop DuBourg was very inspired to work with the native population. As of 2017, the church is 191 years old. Over this period it has not changed its denomination and worked through many of the troubling historical events.
From 1843-1903 the church was one of the most popular places of worship among the immigrants into the St. Louis area. To help immigrants with monetary issues, Father Ambrose Heim created a banking program titled the Bishops Bank to provide loans to poor immigrant families that were unable to get loans elsewhere. During the Civil War, the church remained neutral.
The next fifty years were formative for the modern incarnation of the church. During this time the construction and decoration of the Cathedral were completed, the church began to be involved in political movements and brought special attention to the needs of the poor. This has always been a priority for the church as it is one of the base beliefs of the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, the church did not involve itself in the difficulties the African-American Christians experienced until 1937. After the Second World War, the church became one of the first to take a stand against racial segregation in schools. Up until today, the church actively responds to political changes that concern religion such as abortion legalization ( Archdiocese of St. Louis ).
The Visit
I went to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis as it seemed to be one of the larger and more grandiose parts of the Archdiocese. It was completed in 1914 and is considered the mother church of the Archdiocese. The building is done in the traditional Roman Catholic style with two large towers on either side of the entrance. On the outside, a sculpture is placed dedicated to the promotion of racial harmony which was a big focus of the church since the late 1930s ( Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis ). The interior of the cathedral was beautiful. A magnificent mosaic covered the ceiling, even the complex curved areas of the dome and arches. This mosaic was only completed in 1988, and it is still emasculate. The main area of the church consists of two rows of pews before a large altar area. Above the altar, a large crucifixion is placed, as well as a smaller dome with organ pipes behind it.
For the service, I went to see the evening prayer on a Saturday. The church was about half-full with mostly older people in attendance. The audience was evenly split between men and women who both were involved in praying. The prayer was done in Latin with portions in English. This signified the traditional performance of the evening prayer. The service was performed by male members of the clergy including altar boys. I have not seen a female member of the church. Organ music was used during the singing portions of the prayer, and the acoustics of the building made it highly effective. The laypersons were showing high respect towards the clergy during and after the service as I saw them being very thankful to the people who performed the ceremony. I did not feel like an outsider, and when I approached another person who came to see the prayer, they were very welcoming and ready to help.
Reflection
The visit was not as unusual as I thought it would be. While the structure certainly differed from the ones I was used to, the service and atmosphere were not foreign to me. I expected it to be much more formal, but the members of the church were very willing to communicate with people after the ceremony, and it did not feel impersonal as I thought it would. The service itself was more traditional than I was used to, as the complete duration of the evening prayer was a very structured proceeding. It initially put me off, as I felt it was too impersonal, but with time I learned to appreciate the artistry and tradition of its structure. I was most surprised by the absolutely beautiful mosaic that decorated the building. I knew it was a very large mosaic, but I was not expecting for it to leave such a lasting impression.
Each person is uniquely gifted, which manifests in extremely different spheres. However, it also provides an opportunity for different people to help each other by using their distinct talents. While my hobbies may not be the most artistic in their classic sense I do not draw or sing I express my creativity through the power of words. Combining my passion for writing with innate ability to explain complex subjects in a concise manner allows me to teach important Christian values to young children.
My first talent is writing fictional stories that convey a specific message. From the early days of childhood, I was drawn to reading fictional stories. However, my real passion was writing my own stories with their own plot. This childhood hobby persisted, and I continue to enjoy writing to these days. Now, I look at younger children, spot their behaviors, and write short stories on the basis of their actions. However, all such stories have a larger message, which usually drives children to improve their behavior. As such, I teach children to value honesty and respect for each other via writing short stories.
One of my favorite lines from the Bible was stated by Jesus in Matthew 13:51-52. As he addressed the disciples: every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old (Parallel Bible-PR-NASB/Am, 2006, p. 1180). I like to imagine myself as a scribe who educates children on important values. My stories always have a verse from the Bible that accentuates the moral of each story. Subsequently, by showing children how immersive reading is, I endorse them to read more and seek more inspiring stories, including ones from the Bible.
I consider my ability to explain complex subjects in simple words to be my second talent. I have discovered that the best way for me to learn something new, whether for the purpose of education or entertainment, is to explain it to myself or to someone else. Now it is my favorite pastime I seek opportunities to help people understand subject they do not comprehend. As it is written in the Bible: you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? (Parallel Bible-PR-NASB/Am, 2006, p. 1389). As such, by engaging in explanations, I simultaneously learn myself and show others what is true within Gods Kingdom when they fail to understand it.
One talent that I would like one day to develop is rhyming. People who can easily create a rhythmic text are especially appealing to me. The reason for my interest in rhyming lies in poetrys ability to be memorable and succinct. Sometime, two lines that rhyme are more effective in learning than reading two pages. Rhyming would help me with my goal of teaching children by telling stories while making those stories more interesting and varied.
Altogether, writing and explaining are my passions. I use them primarily to help people find meaning where they see none and to teach children important values. I do lack the ability to produce rhymes, which limits the immersion of my short stories, and I do hope to be able to rhyme myself one day. For now, I am content with showing people the truth within Gods Kingdom, and it is surprising how many people fail to understand the most basic truths.
Not every religion around the world shares a similar set of views, although, in some way, religion is readily available in our societies. Faith tends to shape the thinking of people, their social actions, and religious practices. This research project has four categories of participants that have been interviewed. Two of the participants consider themselves as Muslims and the other two are categorized as atheists. The study participants have been termed as participants succeeded by an alphabetical letter. The main objective of the study is to investigate why participants choose certain non-religion or the religion to follow and the motivation behind their choice.
Demographic Data
Muslim population rose in the UK becoming the second largest religion in the region. A research done by the UK, 2011 census indicates that the Muslim Population was at 4.4% of the total population. Emerson (2019) reports that the figure rose 3,372,966 in 2018, and the numbers keep growing. Majority of the Muslims in the UK are in England and that is 4.3% of the total population. NatCens British Social Attitudes 2018, indicates that 2M Christians from the church of England deviated and joined the Muslim society. (Shivers, L., 1949) explains that a large group of people remained non-religious, they believed in the non-existence of God; this accounted for half (49%) of all the people in Britain. Moreover, the numbers rose from 31% in 1983 to 43% ten years ago and in 1983, nearly 12.8M people confirmed that they were categorized as atheists, (Religious Affiliation and Political Attitudes 2010, 2019). Emberson (2019) further explained that Christian religion declined from 40% to 17% between the years 1983 and 2014. In my semi-structured interviews, the interview sections were divided into two: Atheists and the Muslims.
Interview Questions
Atheist
In my interviews, I began by interviewing the Atheists and when asked reasons for not believing in God, they responded as follows:
Participant A (Atheist): I was born in a Christian family but I fell out of the religion and became an atheist without a proper reason
Participant B (Atheist): The idea of believing in God or any other supernatural power bothers me so much, and it makes me have other thoughts that Im not devoted to my own beliefs as Id think of. This fact confuses and makes me frustrated with the feeling of something that I dont believe in it.
Analysing participant As responses denotes that he was a believer, but due to an avoidable circumstance he found himself a non-believer. Same for participant B, he believes that there is no God at all and the fact that people believe in Him frustrates him even more. According to Cognitive aspects of religious symbolism.
Moreover, the atheists were asked if their families are atheist and the responses were as follows;
Participant A (Atheist): Im personally an atheist though my family is religious. And Im sure if I happen to tell them that Im not religious theyll send me out of the house or even disown me.
Participant B (Atheist): Everyone in my family is religious, and my parents believe that everyone has freedom of religion. Thus, theyre very comfortable with me being an atheist.
Participant As family members are very religious and this is expected that every member of the family follows suit and that if anyone chooses their own religion then disciplinary action is taken against them. But with participant B, they have freedom of choice to either become religious or not.
In addition, they were also asked what they think of believers and they responded as:
Participant A (Atheist): Most believers in any religion are somehow deluded, yes. Anyway, I believe everyone should live and let live, therefore whichever is up to each one.
Participant B (Atheist): I think believers believe in nothing because there is no God .
Both participants suggest that there is no God.
Moreover, they were asked how they think the wider public views them and they responded as;
Participant A (Atheist): I think they probably view me as someone who doesnt know God at all .
Participant B(Atheist): The wider public believes that being an atheist is a non-believer. Believers dont discriminate me at all. We do most of the social activities together. Even at my workplace, Im treated equally. They believe that people will always have different convictions towards societal religion.
Participant A believes that the wider public think that being an atheist is subject to religious discriminations. That their views are never appreciated by the society. However, participant B is never discriminated by the public.
And when they were asked whether the society should make room for religion or not, they responded as follows:
Participant A (Atheist): Id rather say that our societies need to put into consideration what they deem as worth and real in putting their faith in. Since no one knows anything beyond them.
Participant B (Atheist): I believe the society requires faith. Though I wonder sometimes why most societies cant have faith in one another but instead they develop a deity vague against themselves.
Both participants appreciate the need to have faith, but it is not pegged on the kind of religion one has to be in. But faith comes naturally, attracting positive thoughts and doing what is right based on their convictions.
Islamic Religion
The representatives of Islamic religion were also interviewed and when asked how often they attend places of worship for prayers, they responded as follows;
Participant C (Muslim): I get to pray 5 times daily. And since Im close to my place of worship, I never miss midday prayers every Friday
Participant D (Muslim): I dont get to my worship place for prayers more often. My work requires to me to travel.
Both participants agree the need to attend to services at their places of worship but due to distance as well as job requirements participant D cannot make it to a place of worship.
And when they were asked to rate how strongly they believe in God/Higher power, they responded as follows:
Participant C (Muslim): I would say that Allah exists, and I have a lot of faith in Him. On a scale on of 1-5 where, Ill rate Him 5 to mean I strongly believe in Allah.
Participant D (Muslim): When my father died, I thought that was the end of everything. To an extent, Allah gave me strength through prayers Id give Allah 4.
Both participant C and D regard Allah to be more powerful, though participant D at some moment lost faith in Him, but he regards Him to more powerful.
When asked whether their friends and family members were religious, they responded as follows:
Participant C (Muslim): My family members are all Muslims, but most of my friends are Atheists
Participant D (Muslim): Im a Muslim but my family members and friends are all Christians, and they are comfortable with me. They claim that religion cant be a basis of discrimination. These responses denote that religion is essential in a society and shouldnt be used as a basis of discrimination.
In addition, they were asked how felt the wider views their religion, and they responded as:
Participant C (Muslim): Were viewed as a religion that produces a lot violence in the world.
Participant D (Muslim): The public views Islam as a decent, kind and honest religion
Participant C responds that the public views Islam as a religion that is so violent. That Islam is the cause of wars that is being experienced in some countries. But participant D responds that the public believes that Islam is one of the most honest, kind and law, abiding religion.
The participants were also asked about their own views concerning other religions and they responded as follows:
Participant C (Muslim): I view other religions as non-believers.
Participant D: I view other religions as equal, for instance Christians pray to God, whereas, we Muslims pray to Allah. We were all created.
Based on the responses from the interview, participant D believes that were one jointly created by a creator who is God-Allah. But participant C is a discriminator, he feels that all other religions are non-believers.
Moreover, when asked what they think concerning the society creating room for religion, they responded as follows:
Participant C (Muslim): Yes, the society needs religion, because religion formulates rules and guidelines upon which human beings conduct themselves
Participant D (Muslim): No, people can conduct themselves, make their owns rules without religion
Participant C believes that it is the work of religion to formulate rules on how people ought themselves in the society whereas Participant D believes that people can create their rules without necessarily having religion in the society
And lastly, when asked whether the state should have religion, they responded as follows:
Participant C (Atheist): No, because if religion and government are united, the end results will be corruption
Participant D (Atheist): Being religious is a matter of individual faith. And because of this, I think religion wont play a big role in shaping the society.
Conclusion
The study project samples the basic reasons as to why groups of people chose and believe in various religious and non-religious convictions. It has also demonstrated views different people have on various religions. Due to generational displacement, only elderly generations in the UK belong to strong religious groups. This might result into further research to be done on the growth of atheism as other religions are on the decline.
Questionnaire
Atheist
Why dont you believe?
Are your family atheists
What do you think of believers?
How do you think wider public views you?
Do you think society should make room for religion?
Should the state have a religion?
Islam
How often do you attend place of worship?
How often do you pray?
On a scale how strongly do you believe in God/Higher Power?
Are your friends and family religious?
How do you feel wider public views your religion?
How do you view other religions?
Do you take holy texts to be literal or metaphorical?
What do you get from going to your place of worship?
Should the state have a religion?
Reference List
Religious Affiliation and Political Attitudes 2010 Web.
Emberson, I.A. (2019). Faith Survey | Christianity in the UK. Web.
Humanists UK. (2019). Religion and belief: some surveys and statistics. Web.
Shivers, L., (1949) Cultural sociology (A revision of An Introduction to Sociology). By John Lewis Gillin and John Philip Gillin,Social Forces, 28(1), pp.95-95.
Hellwig, M., (1984) Introduction to Christianity. By Mary Jo Weaver., Horizons, 11(2), pp.442-442.
Cults belong to the phenomena that fill people in equal parts with curiosity and caution due to the closeness of the subject matter and the large number of myths that surround it. A cult can be defined as excessive veneration of a specific object or a person, as well as the associated religious practices (Mill 99). It is often believed that the members of a cult have little to no agency of their own and are, therefore, in complete command of the religious organization of which they are participants (Mill 101). While the identified statement has a grain of truth in it, the variety that cults represent is quite impressive and, in fact, not always imply taking complete control over the participants. Even though the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), Christian Science, and Hare Krishna is based on different beliefs and philosophies, the consistent focus on promoting specific values and ideas as the foundation for interactions between the community members, their decision-making, etc., is what brings the three churches together.
Worldwide Church of God
The Worldwide Church of God (WCG) may have changed its name, yet the foundational principles according to which it operates remain the same. Known nowadays as the Grace Communion International (GCI), the organization positions itself as a Christian denomination that reinforces the concept of minimalism (Gauvin 17). The organization was founded by Herbert Armstrong in the 1970s and was initially started as the religious organization that performed its services on air. When considering the characteristics of Armstrongs teachings that set WCG apart from the traditional Christian denominations, one must mention the fact that Armstrong claimed the advent of Christ to occur in 1972 (Hinsley 221).
As expected, the failure of the prophecy that was witnessed in 1972 led to a massive drop in the popularity of the cult, yet the following rearrangement of the church and the reprioritizing of the organizations goals created the foundation for the further functioning of WCG. Now known as GCI, the organization has been exploring the opportunities for reviewing the existing theological doctrines (Hinsley 221). For instance, the concept of gender equality in the form of permitting women to become pastors and carry out the related responsibilities deserves to be mentioned among the distinctive features that the organization has today. The innovative way of viewing womens roles in contemporary society can be considered one of the factors that help GCI remain in the spotlight of the publics attention (Hinsley 221-222).
Christian Science
Christian Science (CS) is slightly older than WCG since it was started in the 19th century; however, it shares certain characteristics with WCG as another specimen of a cult. Despite its name, CS has practically nothing to do with the scientific method; instead, it promotes the idea of studying the Bible as the source of general information for peaceful relationships among people. In other words, Biblical passages, while not being taken for granted, are not interpreted literally, either ( Christian Science: Beliefs and Teachings ).
Inspecting the philosophy closer, one should mention that its core message revolves around a single statement taken from the Bible. CS perpetuates the idea of love as the foundation for the interactions between people: Christian Science and its healing ministry rests entirely on the affirmation from the Bible that God is love ( Christian Science: Beliefs and Teachings ). In other words, it could be argued that the philosophy of the CS rests on the principles of equality and tolerance as the key to developing loving and trustworthy relationships between the members of the community, as well as people worldwide.
Given the strong impetus for bringing the members of the community closer, one may assume that CS warrants the status of a cult. However, CS also reinforces the idea of people all over the world joining in a community based on the principles of love and acceptance ( Church of Religious Science ). Therefore, CS goes beyond the traditional idea of a cult and, instead, suggests a new way of looking at relationships between the people inside and outside the organization. Therefore, in the grand scheme of events, it contributes to the unification of people all over the world, which cannot be deemed as the primary objective of a typical cult. That being said, on a global level, CS can be viewed as the ultimate cult given the fact that it strives to unite all people, presumably under the umbrella of its philosophy of love ( Christian Science: Beliefs and Teachings ).
Hare Krishna
Of all cults, Hare Krishna, or International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is, perhaps, the best-known due to the focus on Indian subcultures that have been popular in media for quite a while (Melton 232). Putting a very heavy emphasis on Vaishnavism and implying that the participants of the cult should worship Vishnu as their god, the cult also addresses the significance of Radha as the female counterpart of the divine force. Therefore, the philosophy can be viewed as the basis for introducing the participants of the cult to the idea of gender equality (Chryssides and Zeller 329).
Similar to the cults described above, Hare Krishna has a set of values and principles according to which the participants must make their decisions and life choices. However, unlike CS and WCG, HK is more specific in its demands toward the followers. For instance, the cult prohibits any forms of gambling as a sinful behavior that must not be encouraged (Chryssides and Zeller 330).
The philosophy, values, and ethical standards of HK reside on the so-called seven purpose-related principles and four regulative ones. The identified standards of behavior can be interpreted as the ethical foundation for building the required values among the members of the cult. The fact that the cult encourages its members to promote the teaching of HK actively shows that the identified religious movement can be defined as a cult despite its relatively mild nature and lack of obtrusive elements (Chryssides and Zeller 330).
Much like CS and WCG, HK makes it clear that the traditional virtues such as mercy, propensity toward telling the truth, and the ability to control ones emotions help one reach the state of enlightenment and, thus, gain a unique spiritual experience. However, the significance of clearness of mind, which HK stresses, sets the religious movement apart from the rest of the sects. Nevertheless, the plethora of characteristics that the spiritual foundations of the religion share with SC and WCG show that HK is another cult (Melton 233).
Conclusion
The ideas and religious philosophies on which WCG, Christian Science, and Hare Krishna are based might be strikingly different, yet the goals toward which the proponents of the cult and its members are striving are surprisingly similar. Each focuses on the promotion of active communication and support between the community members, as well as reinforcing the idea of basing the participants decisions on the values and principles proclaimed as worth following by the cults in question. Thus, the foundation for forming a coherent structure in the community and compelling its members is created.
Praising and glorifying God is one of the core goals of the Christian faith. As the almighty creator who has brought us forth into this world, God should be revered highly and considered with due importance. In our creative and personal endeavors, we should strive to pay tribute to his hard work. Many artistic depictions or discussions of God can be seen as a form of reverence or understanding. In my creative writing project, I will seek to glorify God. I think that faith has a tremendous impact on any artistic outlet, shaping how people view or depict the world. Similarly, Christian craftspeople imbue their works with certain ideas and qualities that go in line with their beliefs, for me, this process involves writing about doctors. I think that the medical profession has an inherent connection with God, as it directly deals with protecting and safeguarding human life ( What it means to be a Christian doctor, n.d.). By writing about the miracles of medical work, I am hoping to demonstrate Gods grace, kindness and knowledge. As the creator responsible for giving doctors the ability to make others live richer lives, he is to be credited with the successes of their endeavors.
Standard 2
We are designed to find fulfillment for ourselves in using, developing and expressing the gifts that God has so richly given us.
God, the ultimate creator and source of all things, made humans in his own image. Humans, the pinnacle of his creation, were made in his image and given the ability to communicate, think and act. We are given the capacity to think, feel, and act similar to God. The freedoms bestowed upon us are sacred, and it is ones deepest goal to make use of them in their life. Following this belief, following in the footsteps of our lord, it is important for every individual to use their skills in a creative manner (Clarkson, 2021). Art, or crafts, play a vital role in self-actualization and spirituality. God has given me many gifts, including the capacity to write. I am capable of free thought and analysis, I can hold pen and paper, I learned how to write. All of these seemingly regular skills are a product of Gods will. Similarly, my skill for writing fiction can be seen as an extension of Gods plan. I was given the opportunity to express myself creatively, to translate certain meaning into words other people can understand. By actively using this skill, I improve my competencies and find joy. Both of these accomplishments are enabled by God, who made me capable of finding happiness and self-fulfillment.
Standard 3
We are to seek to be of benefit to others so that they may be able to look at what we create and say of it, It is good. The Christian artist always lives in community and is called to serve others in the development and expression of the gifts God has given to each one for the blessing of all.
I hope that my work will be of service to others, both creatively, spiritually and practically. People within my community will be able to read the fiction I have produced and derive entertainment from it. I will make the story emotionally engaging and curious, using fantastic concepts coupled with well-established conventions. As a narrative rooted in the work of doctors, it might also make the readers think about the real life medical profession, maybe seeing it in a new light or paying it more consideration. If nothing else, I hope that my writing will be a source of entertainment for others, a story they might remember for some time after reading.
Standard 4
In being creative, we fulfill our human design by exercising dominion over the earth.
In this passage, Barr refers to the ability of all men to use the fruits of the earth for their own benefit. As long as the process of consumption does not directly contradict with other moral principles of Christianity or contribute to the diminishing of human wellness, each person is encouraged to make use of resources available to them. In the case of pursuing my project, using resources provided by God is a necessity since I would not be able to write without tools. In my creative writing, I am actively utilizing resources available to me and transforming them into art. Pen, pencil and paper used for writing, as well as the computer are all creations made from earthly resources, harvested and repurposed for human uses. I will be actively utilizing them in an effort to seek personal fulfillment and bring joy to others. Through this act, I am using the gifts given by God to seek a better life for myself and for others.
Standard 5
We are called, in all we do, including in our creative work, to set back the boundaries of the fall, to restrain the abnormality of our present human life in its brokenness and sorrow and of our present world that is under the curse and therefore resists our dominion.
According to this standard, ones creative endeavors should be aimed at resisting ruin, promoting the growth and flourishing of humanity as a whole. Hope, in this work, is an especially important consideration, as it helps people overcome adversity (Sieben, 2021). With hope, a person can move forward with the right outlook in life, improving their own life and the lives of others. I think the central subject of my writing, medicine and doctors, reinforces important Christian morals and tells people about important social concepts. Discussing faith, compassion, care, full-heartedness and selflessness, my work will actively resist all the potential harmful or sorrowful influences. In addition, I will actively strive to develop a hopeful, inspiring message that prompts others to reflect on their own worldviews. As a result of this process, a fictional work that resists the abnormality and sorrow of our daily lives can be created.
The existence of any society depends on the efficient functioning of a number of institutions that provide the basis for the further evolution of various communities. In the course of its development, humanity has created and explored many different systems focused on the improvement of the quality of life and provision of the secure environment. In this regard, the modern society could be considered as the result of the cooperation of various institutions that limit the life of its members, care about their health, and provide some goal for the further development.
Additionally, members of any society should be united around a certain ideology and moral that will differentiate them from any other community. Religion is one of the main factors that impacts the formation of this very ideology and moral.
If to speak about this phenomenon, it performs a number of useful social functions. As mentioned above, religion has the great integrative power. It preserves and solidifies any society by introducing certain values and perspectives (Barkan, n.d.). People sharing the same religious interpretation could be characterized by strong interrelations and mutual supportiveness. This social cohesion is also conditioned by various rituals, institutions of worship, and customs (Ten most important functions of Religion, n.d.).
For instance, visiting Church every Sunday, community members become closer to each other and acquire the feeling of partnership and belonging to a certain social group. it the crucial function of religion as cohesion is one of the major concerns of any society.
Provision of a specific system of values and beliefs is another essential function of religion. Any community should rest on several core principles that will limit its functioning and highlight the perspectives for its further evolution (Some of the major functions of religion, n.d.).
The moral is the phenomenon that impacts the formation of these principles. For this reason, religion is extremely vital as it contributes to the creation of a common ideology shared by all members of society and promotes the development of a collective identity (Campbell, n.d.). Additionally, the major goals of any society depend on the values it appreciates. That is why, creating the moral basis, religion also encourages the achievement of a certain purpose and stimulates people.
Finally, this institution could also be considered the mechanism that creates strict limits aimed at the preservation of society. There are many examples from the past when church interfered the functioning of a state to punish people who acted not in accordance with the main principles outlined by the existing doctrine. (Functions of Religion, n.d.) These measures were rather cruel; however, a number of scientists agree that they helped to preserve the cohesion of society and guaranty its further evolution (Mondal, n.d.).
In the modern world, religious institutions do not have such an overwhelming power, but they still influence the conduct of people who believe in them. Religions sanctions could initiate various significant processes in society to protect or condemn a certain value or phenomenon. For this reason, this institution could be taken as the crucial and efficient mechanism which introduces the limits needed for the promotion of the existence of society.
To summarize, religion remains one of the main forces impacting the functioning of any community and performing a number of crucial functions, starting with the creation of the moral basis and ending with the monitoring of the state of moral.
References
Barkan, S. (n.d.). Sociological Perspectives on Religion. Web.
Campbell, C. (n.d.). The Many Functions of Religions. Web.
Over the years, the United States of America has been marked by religious pluralism and diversity. The foundation of religion is based on the native beliefs of the precolonial times. Religions in the USA include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism (McCutcheon, 2018). Since the 1990s, the influence of Christianity has increased, leading to the decline of the other religions. Through the constitutions first amendment, the USA government allowed Americans to have the freedom of worship. As per this amendment, the federal and state governments were not to interfere with any religious activities. According to the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the amendment also remodeled the provisions. These constitutional framers barred all persons from using tests to occupy religious offices.
A diversity of denominations characterizes the United States of American religion. In the USA, the majority of the people identify as Christians. Of all the Christians in the USA, approximately 78% are catholic and protestants; this accounts for 51 % of the American population (McCutcheon, 2018). The United States of America is commonly called the Protestants nation because of the high numbers of protestants. The foundation of Christianity in the USA is based on the Great Awakenings. During this period, interdenominational evangelism and Pentecostalism emerged. Further, new denominations such as the Adventism and restoration movement also developed. The Puritans introduced catholicism from England, who were protecting their commonwealth. The development of Georgetown University, which was the first catholic university in 1789, formed the basis for the growth of the catholic denomination (McCutcheon, 2018). Catholicism, over time, has expanded to be the largest denomination in the United States. After Christianity, Judaism is the second-largest religion in the United States. The American Jews identify themselves in terms of ethnic and cultural grounds.
The universal religion is as diverse as the American religion. The primary regions are classified into two: Abrahamic faiths and Indian religions. Those considered Abrahamic include Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (McCutcheon, 2018). The Indian categories are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. in the present day (McCutcheon, 2018) Christians have the largest population. It is approximated that there are more than three billion Christians globally. Christianity bases its foundation on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Globally the most prominent group is the Roman Catholic church. Other denomination with many followers includes the Eastern Orthodox churches and the protestants. The growth of Christianity was spurred through missionary missions and colonization.
The second-largest religion with many followers in the world is Islam. It is approximated that there are two billion Muslims in the world. The religion was established in Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia. Their God is named Allah, whose teachings are written in the Quran. Muslims believe that Allah speaks to them through his prominent prophet called Muhammad. Muslims are further divided into Sunnis, who form 80 percent of the total population, and the Shiah, who account for about 20 percent (McCutcheon, 2018). Hinduism is considered the third largest religion, with approximately one billion people. Its aspects, such as yoga, have spread all around the world. The current fourth-largest religion in the world is Buddhism. Its followers are approximately 500 million globally, with around half of them Chinese (McCutcheon, 2018). It has two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism, and both of them have the vow of nonviolence.
Reference
McCutcheon, R. T. (2018). Studying religion: An introduction. Routledge. Web.
In fact, part III is a complete description of the main ideas and aspects of God and religion in general. Despite the religious diversity, the basic elements of religion have similarities, the product of which was discussed in Part 3. This essay aims to profoundly understand the true essence of debates about God and to analyze judgments that may be fraught with subjectivism.
Firstly, the authors clearly distinguish between three types of attitudes toward religion, which makes it possible to determine ones positioning on the issue at a glance. Those who are certain of the existence of God are theists, those who deny it are atheists, and those who cannot answer the question are agnostics. Secondly, the main debate about God is in analyzing his perception. Most people claim that God is human, while more than a third disagree, and some religions present God as an animal or mythical creature.
Nevertheless, various scholars have been dealing with God and religion on a philosophical level for centuries. For example, on the one hand, Thomas Aquinas introduced a scientifically grounded theory of the existence of God, which allowed the thinker to explain the reasons for the formation of various aspects of the right peasant life. On the other hand, the French mathematician Blaise Pascal presented more rational and pragmatic reasons for believing in God, sidestepping the subject of analyzing direct evidence for the existence of God. Pascal argued that by choosing two of the three attitudes toward religion other than belief, one would not get enough pleasure compared to the anguish experienced if God existed. At the same time, a religious person does not lose much in life but will be more than rewarded for believing in God throughout life.
Regarding the analysis, I agree with the authors view of the concept of tolerance of faith. The authors state: We need to understand religion and appreciate its power and importance, but we should not presume that everyone has or should have a religion or a religious outlook (Solomon & Higgins, 97). This quote urges us to understand that religion is not just for people of faith but for all individuals who want to find something in it for themselves, even without expressing their opinions publicly. At the same time, I partly disagree with the statement that: all religions do seem to have in common, and that is a general sensibility that we call spirituality, the feeling that we are part of something much greater than ourselves (Solomon & Higgins, 100). Many become religious to distance themselves from societys evils rather than become part of something greater.
To implement the preceding book, I have chosen a quote from Nietzsche that Gaarder (268) cites while describing an important aspect of existentialism: God is dead. In this very short quote, the philosopher emphasizes that, after all the world has experienced, people everywhere are convinced that God is only a collective belief. This quote does a good job of adding to the the problem of evil, where the authors ask the rhetorical question of why, if God is such a good character, innocent people still suffer in the world every day. I would appreciate the quality of this book, as the authors acknowledge only objective analysis of the most important philosophical concepts, showing the most uncomfortable questions to answer and answering them from different perspectives. Thus, this work is a logical continuation of the previous semi-fiction book Sophies world, where the author described the most important philosophers and philosophical movements.
Reference
Gaarder, J. (2007). Sophies world. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Solomon, R. C., & Higgins, K. M. (2022). The big questions (8th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing.
The cloth represents human behavior; on the other hand, a dirty cloth represents bad behavior such as malice, jealousy, malice, trickery, hypocrisy, pride, haughtiness, pride, arrogance, inflation, and indolence. All these represent a contaminated or impure state of mind. If one fills his/her mind with such things, even when one fills their mind with clean thoughts they are also contaminated. On the other hand, if one has a pure state of mind and associates with such people, they often contaminate their mind and eventually makes his/her mind impure. A clean cloth represents a pure state of mind, in that, someone who is free from hypocritical acts, malice, haughtiness, pride, trickery as well as arrogance and indolence. This pure state of mind passes on the clean nature of thoughts to those who interact with them. The same also applies to those thoughts that enter into their state of mind, as they can be kept and maintained pure. On the other hand, the dyes represent a particular group of people and thoughts, ideas that one interacts with, if its a clean dye, it represents pure people and thoughts such as sincerity, kindness, and generosity. Also, a dirty dye represents evil thoughts as well as contaminated people.
Say explicitly how this parable is meaningful to Buddhists as an indication of how Buddhist practices change an individual
When one abandons an impure state of mind, they have abandoned cupidity as well as malice, jealousy, malice, trickery, hypocrisy, pride, haughtiness, pride, arrogance, inflation, and indolence. He, therefore, experiences peace as well as satisfaction as a result of the same. When one does that they are now filled with joy as well as pre- satisfaction knowing that they have denounced the evil ways as well as embraced ways that are holy and pure. This, therefore, leads to a change of behavior as they can now impart positively those that they interact with. This leads to a change of behavior and the imparting of clean and pure morals when one emulates the Buddhist culture, they are changed people and these results can be seen. This person can therefore successfully make the choices in life that they have ever wished for with excellent results.
How is it that a bhikku [a Buddhist monk] may partake of the choicest rice with all manner of sauces and curries without any harm to his spiritual life?
Just like a dirty cloth dipped in clean water becomes clean and washed, that is the same way in which those who denounce their bad behavior and take on spiritual life can be. They are with a clean and better life that can clean up and still motivate those who are of an impure mind to change and become better people. In so doing they become better people who perform acts of compassion as well as operate on faith and love.
Wouldnt want such things to be a hindrance to enlightenment?
No, it would not be a hindrance to enlightenment as it would encourage more knowledge as people would able to have an open mind that is free from impurities. On the other hand, through acts of compassion and love, one would not hurt another as well as do anything that would be detrimental to the health of the other. This will, therefore, help in passing on clean and pure morals from one generation to another. In my opinion, by wanting such a state of mind, it would lead to enlightenment as one will be able to learn proper morals, therefore denouncing bad habits such as lying, stealing as well as doing things that are contrary to the spiritual law. Hence, it serves as enlightenment for people to rise to the challenge and embrace proper behavior.