Religion Definition Essay

1. What is a piety? Youve read our textbook authors comment employ that definition as a starting point to go further.The discussion organized religion is such a broad word that to this twenty-four hours on that point is no one definition that can satisfy completely religions. For the era organism, it is better to simply be open to many attainable definitions, with start embracing any single one. Different people especi tout ensembley in disparate religions provide all subscribe to a difference in opinion when trying to use very few words to rig religion. The traditional definition of religion is a system of belief that involves reverence of a god or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code.Religion is cardinal to many people because it gives them something to believe in. Religion helps military personnel deal with their mortality. As human organisms, we look to religion for answers to animatenesss unexpected or unknown questions such as death, pain, afterlife, or rebir th. Religion has a carriage of helping us deal with death and brooks comfort.Religion also helps us be creativity and posit ourselves through music, dance, and art. It gives us a smell of viewing life as something beautiful and lively. People who have a religion usually atomic number 18 more(prenominal) happy knowing that they life can reflect something of the supernatural that they do non understand. Through art, we attract to express how we are feeling on the inside. Many people use music, dance, and art to show another(prenominal)s what they cannot express through words. Religion gives them a intellect of confident.2. Discuss some of the characteristics that religions have in common.Some characteristics that religions have in common are belief system, community, central storys, ritual, characteristic emotional experiences, substantive expression, and sacredness. Not all religions will consist of all elements scarcely instead some of these characteristics are common ly accepted. Many believe in a worldview were all things in the universe and human being has a betoken in it. Humans need of belonging helps them run intok out for a community where they can belong too and share their ideals and practices. Many religions have this so people can rely on one another. early(a) characteristics that are shared in religions are passed wipe out from generations to generations through stories or reenactment of major events in the religious group. Each religion has its own myth that is central to the religion. Not only are myths passed down but rituals as well. These beliefs are enacted and made real through ceremonies. Also, ethics are passed down which are set guidelines for the group of people these are viewed as being revealed through a supernatural soil.Religions also allow people to express themselves emotionally and give a sense of inner peace that cannot experience from outer resources. Material expression allows religions to make use of astonis hing mixing of physical elements. Each religion has a source of sacredness that is distinctive from the ordinary. Ceremonies express the distinction through antithetic language, clothing, and architecture. Each tradition exhibit close of these characteristics but for those who practice them will manifest them in different ship canal and at different times.3. In addition to characteristics in common among religions, there are some patterns with regard to beliefs, world views, etc., that are exhibited by just about religions. Discuss these patterns. there are three different patterns that we look for to see similarity and difference among religions. The first pattern is views of the world and life. Religions must offer answers to lifes great questions that are asked. All questions are the same, but the answers very depending on the religion. Because of the great variety of worldview individually answer is different and must be examined close to get a better sagaciousness of why it is the charge it is. Some religion view the universe as being created by a Creator while others believe it has no generator and no ending. Some view nature as the realm of evil where it needs to be overcome. Others believe that humans are called to class it. Each view differs from religion to religion.The second pattern is the focus of beliefs and practices. There are three concepts that are practiced, although one whitethorn be more dominant than the other depending on the purpose of impressiveness. Sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and line uply as the path to salvation. Some believe that correct ritual influences the processes of nature. Prophetic orientation implies that a human being may be an all-important(a) intermediary between the believer and the sacred. This is prominent in Judaism, Protestant Christianity, and Islam. Mystical orientation seeks union with something greater such as divinity fudge, nature, the univers e, or reality as a whole. Upanishadi Hinduism, Daoism, and some Buddhism stress the importance of this.The third pattern is the view of male and female. As human being the role of men and women are very important and religion has had some(prenominal) to say about the roles of men and women on earth and in the comprehend realm. Today many influential religions consider the male as harness the sacred and full-time religious specialists are usually males. Although this may not be completely true, in the past, female divinities once played an important role in many culture and religion.4. Having converseed in last calendar weeks Discussion Board postings your own reasons for taking this World Religions course, discuss some of the benefits of studying the major religions of the world cited by our textbook author. perusing the different religions around the world allows for a better understanding of each religion and helps educate and improve ones experience of other related subjects . When studying other religion it allows insights into the religious traditions such as values, relationships, personalities, and human creativity. Not only that but it gives the outsiders an appreciation for the things that are not obvious to the insider.Other benefits include insight into cursory life. Religions influence everyday life in many ways. Many people use religion for moral issues, on buildings, comic strips. The study of religion with help a person recognizes the religious influence everywhere. For someone who has no religion or is on their religious quest, understanding and studying the many different religions will help them find a place to belong too. Knowledge of the different religion will aid a person in their expedition of life.Short Answer Questions5. What is the gillyflower and meaning of the word religion?The origin of the word religion comes from the Latin roots re-, meaning again, and lig-, meaning conglutination or connect. The translation would then me an to join again, or to reconnect. This word suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world.6. What is the meaning of sacred? unspeakable is a God or gods that is set apart because of its holiness. These deities are considered suitable of spiritual respect or devotion.7. lay out and contrast monotheism and polytheism.Monotheism is the term that intend a belief in one God. Those who believe in God believe that He is all powerful, pure spirit, and not fully definable in words. Polytheism on the other hand means worship of or believing in many coexisting gods. These multiple gods may be fairly separate entities, each in charge of an aspect of reality, or they may be multiple manifestations of the same basic sacred reality.8. Define and contrast atheism and agnosticism.Atheism is the denial of the existence of any God or gods. Agnosticism is to argue that the existence of God cannot be proven.9. How are symbols used in religion?Symbols are important in religion b ecause religions are so varied in their teachings and in conflict with each other that symbols help express truth. Symbols are fairly concrete, ordinary, and universal that represents and helps human beings intensely experience something of greater difficulty.10. What is a sacrament? Give dickens or three examples of sacraments in a religion with which you are familiar.A sacrament is a religious rite or act seen as way of receiving Gods grace. In some mysterious way God uses physical things to bring about spiritual changes and give His grace. As a Christian, a few sacraments that we hold are baptism, communion, and fasting. These are all important in receiving Gods grace.11. Contrast linear and orbitual time in the study of religion.Linear time place an accent mark on creation, religions that believe in this is Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, time is very important. Linear time means moving in a straight line from the beginning of the universe to its end. In cyclical time, the universe simply moves through without end changes, which repeat themselves over grand periods of time. Buddhism believes time is cyclical and is not as crucial because ultimately the universe is not moving to a nett point.