An extended definition of belief - Essay Example

An extended definition of belief can be derived from salvation, tolerance, and science phenomena depending on its use and application. Langston Hughes focuses the definition, use, and application of belief in salvation. Salvation is highly regarded as an individual choice. However, is it guided and informed by a supernatural force or being that in most cases is said to rescue the human race from their sins. Faith is a critical factor in salvation and religion in general. Believing in a supernatural being or force that one has not set eyes on provides the primary basis upon which salvation and religious practices are realized and undertaken.

From one generation to another, the younger generations are introduced to religious matters by the older people. Basically, the beliefs of these people are passed from the old to the young, and the trend continues. Although there are myriad questions that underlie this practice, most of them end up unanswered over the years as salvation continues. Hughes presents a very personal encounter with salvation as a young boy. Hughes had an abstract idea of how salvation comes about, but when it happened to him at the Reed’s church, it was rather forced to him than an experience of what he actually expected (Hughes 225-226).

In other words, salvation was not an actual experience of what the auntie or any other person had talked about. Belief in the salvation context is a group mind practice. Over the years, the congregation has adopted behaviors and routine of salvation. Praising, worshiping, mourning, weeping, praying, and celebrating a new child of God constitute the norm of salvation to the saved sinner. Although seeing the light and Jesus are essentially part of the salvation, they do not literally take place.

This implies that once the sinner takes the stand for salvation, these things automatically happen, with or without necessarily seeing them. After all, the congregation and the sinners are introduced to what they