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Animism

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When asked to “choose” a definition of religion that best fits my beliefs and understandings, I had no idea it would be this difficult. I have really fought with this answer internally, and although I do not necessarily agree with all the terms, I have to choose the definition by, Paul Tillich (1886–1965), German theologian, “Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of a meaning of our life.” The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright © 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. I decided upon this definition because if you insert “the Lord, or “God” in place of the word “concern”, then it best fits my beliefs. I understand that it does not say anything about a God or anything, but being a Christian I ultimately believe in the one and only all-powerful God. And that concern does indeed “grasped” me uncontrollably, and which gives me the “meaning of our life”. I believe that Jesus Christ my savior is the ultimate meaning of life. I was raised in church as a small child but I was ultimately able to transform my own mind, heart and soul into what I believe today. I was raised by a conservative Christian grade school teacher, who was always sure I knew what “right” from “wrong” was, even if we did not attend church. But I seem to have a strong connection to my morals and my religion. When faced with hard situations, I am quick to be cliché, and ask, “What would Jesus do?”. Rather or not this has to do with the way I was raised, which I think ultimately what it boils down to, or rather I just choose to do the right things in life. My own experiences conclude that, “That Ultimate Concern”, is my Lord. There is no way I would be this peaceful and at ease

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