Religion Paper

Rough Draft

INTRODUCTION

Religion is an important aspect that involves collection of cultural systems, beliefs and world views that relate humanity to the aspect of existence. Throughout history, religion has provided people with different answers, thus improving societal cultures and civilization. The study of religion has played a major role both in the past and present. It is also a major force behind human experience. All over the world, religion has offered different lessons to unity, peace, cleansing, conflicts, terrorism, economics, and politics among many others. On the other hand, religious traditions over the years, have laid foundations that promote the principles of human rights, international peace, justice and cohesion. Today, religion has undergone different challenges due evolvement of technology and science. The critics behind this two departments have argued that religion is a thing of the past and that soon it will be out of the way. They have also portrayed religion as a system that does not consider new stages of human existence (Harper, 2010). Comment by Nick Mayrand: Remember that I asked you to only use sources that we covered in class for this paper. I don’t know what this Harper reference is? Since the intro does work pretty well, I’ll let you leave it in here. But I do need you to list the full source information at the end of the paper since you did go outside of our course material.

Though such negative implications have been leveled against religion, many people around the world believe that religion persists any form of nature and is still on the rise. Through the study of religion, people are able to address different global issues and cultural conflicts. Religion is everywhere and improves people’s lives in different faiths that people have such as Christians, Muslims among others. Religious studies are also important because they offer relevance and better understanding to the world we live in.

Question 1

Many authors believe that religion through its diversity has a room for science and skepticism to improve the changing world. Today, it difficult to watch television, newspaper, listen to radio, or use social media without getting religious context and issues being addressed locally or globally. The discipline of religious studies also promote spiritual, social, physical and moral attributes that are necessary in providing reflection of how people behave. People are also able to understand the ultimate purpose of life and their relationship with God. It also gives people ability to understand there practices, beliefs, and teaching, in order to challenge their spiritual development.

According to many theorists, the basic principles of religion offers expression to humanity purpose and meaning. Therefore, though religion has strengths and weaknesses in the society. People need to focus more on the positive outcomes it offers. The weakness side of religion is normally attributed to the fact that some people i.e. non-believer’s do not support some of the contribution religion offers.

Question 2

In the article, Prothero comes up with different forms of competing versions. In this context, he refutes the belief that, different religions share a common goal and one God. In addition, Prothero suggests that there is need for cooperation in order to understand our real differences. Religion serves to ensure that people in different faiths believe in one God, but according to Prothero, “God is not one”. He also believes that religious unity in the 20th century provides different paths for different religious faiths to achieve their purpose (Prothero, 2015). According to him, all religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism and Yoruba have different paths and, thus there believe in one God is irrelevant. He also disagrees with protestant that religions are basically belief systems. He also believes that understanding religious differences helps in promoting cooperation among different religions and, therefore, help in making the world a better place. Comment by Nick Mayrand: So it’s clear in this paragraph that you do see the difference between the 2 versions. However, you need to be a little more clear about what each version involves. Try to write several sentences about Prothero’s version and several about the version he refutes. Then, you can write a little about how each of those versions is not quite perfect. You can use much of what you’ve written here already, you just need to organize it better and add a bit more about the version Prothero disagrees with.

Prothero also believes that God is not one because all religions in the world have different goals. He therefore refutes every point that Huston smith makes that all regions are one. Prothero also believes that religion responds differently to their problems, and thus each religion offers different solutions to its problems. I.e. Christian identify a sin as a problem and the solution to be salvation. According to the article, Prothero skips many essential aspects of religion that are important in addressing purpose to people lives and beliefs. In his approaches, he only creates impressions of world diversity in religious faiths. Also, is approaches are also not convincing because, he believes that understanding differences between religions helps people to work together without majorly focusing on God as a supreme being. Comment by Nick Mayrand: According to what article?

According to portier religion plays a major role in human experience and, therefore, different religions are served by one God. He also encourages different people in different religions to learn more aspects of religious materials and discuss them, to promote responsibility and ethical practices in the society. Though the, two authors differ on the aspect of one God being present or absent in religion, they agree that a common ground that describes people values, beliefs and understanding in promoting ethical values between religions is needed (Portier, 2015) Comment by Nick Mayrand: Start a new paragraph here. Comment by Nick Mayrand: I’m not sure how this part follows from the first part of the sentence.

Question 3

Nostra Aetate, is a declaration that was published in October, 1965.The document focused on improving relationship between the church and the non-Christian (Jewish-christian relationships).The document also served to improve personal relationships that did not exist between the Jews and the Catholics. It also made historic changes that impacted on theology and church policies, whereby the approach of the Catholic Church towards Judaism and Jews drastically changed to end aspects of sorrow and pain. Following a common agenda to improve the covenant that was left between god and the people of Israel. The religions came together to engage in theological and biblical discussion, whereby each side would get a position to understand each other side religion faiths (Cunningham, 2015). The approach is also attributed by Prothero and portier who believe that, understanding differences in other religion help people to promote values, beliefs and purpose. The dialogue by the church also helped in creating a bond between the two groups in order to understand the significance that the religion played in promoting love and unity between church and non-believers. Religion also strengthens the church relationship with the non-believers through bonding together in order to get a theological truths that help in understanding each group. Over the years, major tension between the Muslims have risen. To reduce these conflicts, efforts in achieving mutual understanding in each religion is required to ensure that benefits to all sides promote peace, understanding, moral values and justice. In conclusion, it essential to broaden the approach of religion to promote broader understanding of different faith’s commitments towards God (Angle, 2007). Comment by Nick Mayrand: Again, you were not supposed to use outside resources on this assignment. The idea was that you would use our class discussion about Nostra Aetate and the document itself to help you write this paragraph… So you’ll need to revise this section and take out the Cunningham stuff. Comment by Nick Mayrand: Again, no outside sources… take this out and revise the paragraph accordingly.