...everything that exists in modern day society can easily be defined by the majority of the population, producing a collaborative and similar definition. If a student were to ask a simple question of, “What is ‘history’?” or even something more challenging such as, “What is ‘art‘?” the majority of responses would answer that they are the culmination of past events, and freedom of expression by a human, respectively. With most objects, both concrete and abstract, forming a definition is not a challenge; however the question, “What is ‘religion’?” has spurred millions upon millions of definitions from countless people who can be divided into two categories; insider or outsider. In Gary Kessler’s book, Studying Religion, Kessler does not preach his own views of religion; instead he teaches readers how to be a sympathetic outsider, while studying the practices and religion of an insider, among many other aspects that make up the foundation of religion. After reading portions of Kessler’s book, I would confidently say that although I do not incorporate a religion into my personal life, Kessler’s writings have influenced me to become a better student of the aspects of religion that he writes about, including sacred power and spirituality as well. If you had asked me to define religion ten years ago, I would have said that I was a Christian, I go to church at my school every Friday, and that I believe that Jesus Christ gave his life for my sins. It seems like a very standard response...
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...Religion A religion is a composed gathering of convictions, social frameworks, and world perspectives that relate humankind to a request of presence Many religions have stories, images, and hallowed histories that intend to clarify the significance of life and/or to clarify the root of life or the Universe. From their convictions about the universe and individual temperament, individuals may determine profound quality, morals, religious laws or a favored way of life. As indicated by a few assessments, there are approximately 4,200 religions on the planet. Numerous religions may have composed practices, pastorate, a meaning of what constitutes adherence or participation, heavenly places, and scriptures. The act of a religion may incorporate ceremonies, sermons, celebration or love (of a divinity, divine beings or goddesses), presents, celebrations, galas, daze, starts, funerary administrations, wedding administrations, reflection, petition to God, music, craftsmanship, move, open administration or different parts of human society. Religions might likewise contain mythology. Some of the key essential for a tradition to be called religion included the emphasis on the intellectual or cognitive component. The desire for people that ought to identify "the deeper motive which underlies them made most of the popular traditions to be regarded as religions because they needed to identify with something that they felt was bigger than them and of great immense value. The sacredness...
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...Humanities 10 Fall 2012 What is Religion Anyway? The definition of religion is very subjective. Many people change their definition of religion to suite their own needs, or to justify their own beliefs. Each religion has its own take on being “religious”; I feel that it is important to have a foundation on which the term religion can be defined. To me, religion can be defined by the following three categories: the belief in a higher power that physically or mentally can have an affect on ones life and is the authority in a “religious culture”; having a set of written or oral scriptures that are passed through the generations, used to teach the people of the culture the ways and traditions of their religion and way of life; and rituals that are carried out within the Religion. A higher power must be one that the “religious culture” believes has an impact on the people and that they view as the one an only higher power. The written or oral scriptures are the center point of the teachings of the religion, detailing the past and helping to pave the future for the religion. Rituals are carried out at certain times, places and events in order to please or praise their “God” or higher power, and as celebrations in the religious culture. These rituals can be but are not limited to, song, dance, praise, worship, meditation, and acts of kindness. The primal religions believe in a “God” or higher power even though they do not identify who or what that higher power is specifically...
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...1. What are some of the questions religion seeks to answer? Reflect on these deep metaphysical and ethical questions, and give an account of how you have tried to answer these questions, either through a theological or philosophical response. (For some of you this course may be your first opportunity to independently reflect on these deep rooted religions questions.) I think some of the questions religion seeks to answer are questions like: What happens after we die? Where did we originate from? How should we treat others and our surroundings? I have come to a current conclusion on not knowing for definite the answer to any of these questions. I have many thoughts on them. I think that maybe after we die our energy disperses and creates new beings in some fashion, not even necessarily beings but matter. I feel like maybe déjà vu occurs because we are compiled of energies from a million other beings/substances and it’s your energy remembering a similar situation. I think this out of the context that energy cannot be created or destroyed. I don’t know as if we will continue to have the same collection of consciousness or not. I would like to think we would because that’s a fun thought. I have spent a lot of time contemplating ideas such as these. I also don’t know where we originate. I understand our planet’s evolution and a bit beyond that. What I don’t understand (and probably never will) is what is beyond that. So, ok, we evolved through billions of years and I get that but...
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...What is religion? What is religion? I believe that religion is the belief in something greater, greater meaning something that is not tangible to human beings. It is a belief in some kind of unknown that can be used to answer questions and fill in gaps that could not otherwise be answered or filled in. Also along with this belief in an unknown I believe there is a certain moral code or set of standards which are also believed in as a way aiding in a person’s decision making and guiding them through life in a positive way. If both of these criteria are met than it can be justified as a religion. The reason there is a need to believe in an unknown or something greater in religion is because it is the only way to justify answering questions that no one really has the answers to. When unknown things happen or questions are thought of that cannot be explained people need to have a way to explain them. It cannot simply just be ignored just because the answer cannot be found. People are curious by their nature and need to have answers. Believing in an unknown or greater power can answer peoples’ questions. This belief in an unknown makes the unknown justifiable, because people can create an answer to cure their curiosity. They can say that whatever just happened or is going to happen is because of the unknown. Along with this belief in an unknown a certain set of standards or positive moral code should also be followed to be considered a religion because there has to be something...
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...Eckankar is known as the “Religion of the Light and Sound of God” and was founded in 1965. The history and origin of Eckankar’s beliefs are steeped in controversy. Paul Twitchell, the founder of Eckankar, initially developed the philosophy behind Eckankar in articles published in the Seattle Post Intelligence. In an interview for the Seattle Post he discussed his idea “The Cliff-Hanger”; Twitchell’s explanation was “The Cliff-Hanger is a one-man cult. I am the original Cliff-Hanger and its sole disciple. This zany character is called the vanguard of a new religion, entitled ‘Eckankar,’ a Hindu word meaning union with God.” Scholars believe that Eckankar is “a Westernized version of the Punjab Sant Mat or Radha Soami Satsang spiritual tradition.”...
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...Religion is a large subject. Some think it the most important matter for consideration (or the only one). Others believe that it wasteful to devote time to the study of what has proved to be an archaic and often destructive force in human society. I, personally, am not sure what I think. This series of essays is my attempt to clarify a little bit about the subject: what it is, how it affects people's lives, and ultimately whether it is true, and good, and useful, or not. This first essay will attempt a definition. Merriam-Webster.com has several definitions for religion: "the service and worship of God or the supernatural"; "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices"; and "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." These are general enough, especially the last, to refer to atheists, communists, nationalists, and extremists of all flavors, as well as the more traditionally devout. But what really is religion? Some would say that our distant ancestors invented it as a way to explain the strange and mysterious world around them, and we are simply heirs to the diverse mass of mutually contradictory beliefs that have been invented, rejected, and revised by thousands of subsequent generations. (They then draw various conclusions about the usefulness of these beliefs, but that is for a future essay.) Others say that religion is simply truth that cannot be perceived by ordinary senses. At some point in...
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...What does it mean to be religious. Being religious means that you believe in what you think is right not the opinion of others. By having your own religion you have the power to decide what you think is right and wrong. “By our actions we create our destiny” ( Basics of Hinduism) This means that the choices you take and actions you take influence your life and the life of those around you in such a way that it creates not only your destiny but everyone else's as well. In Hinduism their beliefs are what they follow to make their destiny. There are nine belief that the hindu’s follow. They believe that their is one creator; one supreme being. They believe in the divinity of the four Vedas which represents sacred heritage. To hindu’s the universe undergoes endless cycles, endless creation; there are many births because of soul reincarnation. Besides the one supreme being their are also many others who lived on different worlds. All life is sacred....
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...Public Relations and Religion The media is a dangerous place when it comes to informing the public about accurate information regarding news, culture, events, and history. As an executive media specialist at CNN I decided to sit down and go over a very pressing topic with other specialists about three monotheistic religions that are skewed across the media. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are three major monotheistic religions in the world. It is important that each of these religions are accurately portrayed across the media because there is a growing dissonance over truly understanding a religion and the followers it has. Today I will be discussing in this report four key points about these three religions. I will be explaining each religion...
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...Egyptian religion presents a bewildering variety of gods and goddesses that vary in their degree of importance. The Egyptians imagined their divinities to be organized in a similar way to human society, and divinities assumed royal attributes and functions, like their earthly counterparts. They also believed that the stability of the created world must be carefully preserved through the maintaining of their deities. For this reason, the Egyptian concept of religion is primarily focused on individual and collective service to the gods and in certain actions. Each deity was associated with an animal that symbolized the virtues attributed to it. Thus, we find that, on the one hand, deities were represented by combining features of an animal, (usually...
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...Religion. It is because of religion that millions have died. More will die, due to religion. For hundreds of years, religion has created barriers between people. Outspoken and strong followers of a religion shake and whither the coexistence between different faiths. On a much smaller and nonviolent scale, I have experienced the wake of religious differences. I was raised a Catholic, but as I grew older, I veered away from this practice. Growing up in an area where religion wasn't a focal point of life, it was a major culture shock when my family hunkered down in Austin, Texas. Religion was one of the main aspects of life in my new home of Austin, which is something I was unaccustomed to. Everyone I knew was a Christian; all attending the same churches, same retreats, same summer camps, same clubs. I was a fish out of water. My friend Jackson was the son of a pastor. One day, a large group of friends gathered in effort to have a surprise party for jackson. Jacksons family was also in attendance at the party. So, the cast for the evening consisted of Jackson, his family, which contained a...
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...What Does Religion Look Like Course Title: World Religions In this paper I will discuss the criteria that I would employ to determine if people on earth can be spotted out by a religion. Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that institutes symbols that narrates humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have chronicles, symbols, traditions and scared histories that are intended to give a formation to life or to clarify the origin of life or the universe. On planet earth religion is something that is very noticeable beginning with the Amish and Muslims. You will be able to tell rather a person is religion by looking at there attire. A female Muslim would be dress with a hijab, which is a head covering. The hijab that the Muslim is covered with is a meaning of her appearance not being judged by men but are forced to assess there personality, character, and morals. (IslamiCity, 2012) The attire for a women is an entitlement that is given to them and not a obligation. So me coming from an unknown planet to visit earth, I would think they are quite different in some way. Not appearing to look like the other humans that are present on earth. Amish are a Protestant anti-modernist religious group that was founded in the 1690s. The Amish was created by a Mennonite preacher who criticized other Mennonites for their failure to adhere to traditional standards. Mennonite is a person...
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...What is the Connection Between Religion and Terrorism? Recalling the last twenty years, what is observed is the resurfacing of the drive for terrorism all due to one’s religious belief. One can accept that there is a logical link between religion and terrorism. The link being complicated in nature, aims attention to the role religion plays in violence being legitimized. Religious terrorism is considered to be a type of political violence that is driven by the outright faith that a deity has authorized the act of terrorism for a much greater triumph in that faith. Gus Martin defines religious terrorism as a religion legalizing violence as long as such violence is the desire of an individual’s deity. In today’s society, religion has become the dominant cause of political violence. However, nationalism and ideology aren’t the only great stimulants for extremist behavior. For the first time, dominating the international community are religious extremists. There is acceleration in the repetitiveness, magnitude and the far-reaching spectrum of religious terrorist acts which is encouraged by globalization. One's religious belief can be used as the main reason behind terrorism, whether it may be a primary or a secondary motive. The fine points of the political and the cultural environment are the main factors which these motives can be relied upon, significant to a particular terrorist act. Religion can be seen as the main motive behind a terrorist behavior; on the other hand, it can...
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...between heavy metal music and religions. It is generally thought by non-authority people that heavy metal is music of Satanism. This remains as a prejudice, because the truth is different from what is thought of. The early times metal bands are even conservative and they have nothing to do with Satan in terms of religion. But most of the metal bands used satanic elements in lyrics, in music or on the stage. However, the intension of it is to attract listener’s attention. On the other hand, there is a small group in Norway actually worshipping Satan. In spite of the fact that they are in small numbers, their big actions made people talked about themselves. WHAT IS THE RELATION BETWEEN HEAVY METAL AND RELIGION? Heavy metal is a music genre which has very hardcore sound and brutal theme in terms of lyrics. It covers the issues like life, death religion love betrayal etc. It is generally associated with black color and heavy metal bands seem very tough wearing black and silver stuff. This is some kind of requirement to be a metal band, because this music deals with the issues which are not mentioned explicitly by any other genres but heavy metal, then that music is something strong and brave. Therefore, who makes that kind of music should appear in the same way. If and only if, they ought to have a strong theme. This strong theme comes from the music which is made by powerful electric guitars and from the lyrics which are especially related to death and religion. Death is literally a...
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...What is problematic in defining ‘religion’ as presented by Daniel Pals, Mary Fisher and in your own words? Defining the term ‘religion’ is going to be controversial most of the time because there is no exact definition for it. According to Fisher, religion can be referred to as spirituality which are experiences, beliefs and values. He also mentioned that religion is found everywhere because they are useful to society and individuals. Religion help us to define ourselves and to comprehend the world and life (p. 4). When he talks about religion he states that people need inner strength for dealing with problems, they turn to the divine for help when they are suffering physical illness, privation, terror or grief. (p. 6) Also, people look to religion for understating, for answers to questions about life that do...
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