The Existence of Religion and Culture in Human Society - Essay Example

The existence of religion and culture in the human society usually suggests the existence of rules and regulations in the different human communities that are existent in the world today. Likely, the communities at present are reportedly considered to have a particular division due to the fact that religion and culture are setting distance among the perceptive following of human individuals towards the guidelines provided by the said organizing factors of the human society. Within the discussion that follows, it shall be investigated how the existence of both culture and religion in the human society affect the human individuals in the communities around the globe and how each other intend to affect the systems of understanding and life-guidance that is provided by both aspects of directive human living. Through this discussion, it is expected that a presented indication as to how human living and human perception toward modern Catechism and religious consideration have been changed through the years of human advancement due to the implicative elements that culture itself suggests to the human communities worldwide. OUTLINE OF DISCUSSION Introduction This section shall serve as a sneak preview on the major discussions that shall be presented within the general scope of the paper. Understanding Religion, Culture and the Society This part of the paper shall show a definitive pathway that would lead to the readers understanding of what religion and culture is and what roles are they playing g in the lives of human individuals living in certain communities around the globe. Catechism and the Changes that are acquired due to Human Cultural Preferences In this section of the reading, a defining factor on the differentiated approach of cultural preferences shall be presented in connection with the changes that it proposes on the recognition of the importance of Catechism in the society. Religious Development Based on Social and Cultural Acceptance of the Public This section shall tackle about the developments happening in the human society then and at present and how these developments affect the acceptance of people towards the guidelines and rules that are presented to them by religion through catechism. Modern Catholic Catechism and the Human Culture For this section of the reading, the researcher shall present the modern approaches to catholic catechism that reflects the effect of social culture towards the establishment of rules and ways of living suggested by modern religion. Conclusion Through the basic discussions, this section shall summarize all the necessary points that are importantly needed for the proving of the major options of realizing how culture and religion go hand in hand or on the other hand, stand against each other, in presenting modern human lifestyle guidelines. References This sections presents the list of references used for the completion of this material How does the culture of a select race affect the value of sacramental to the Church and individual spirituality? Introduction Religion and culture are two primary foundations of the present systems of human society. Basically though, these two primary entities of the human society comes through different approaches in insisting the norms and the beliefs that human individuals intend to use today so as to simply be able to get through with the activities that they are further expected to handle every day1. It could not be denied that somehow, these are the elemental factors that provide the human individuals the guidelines that they supposedly need so as to be able to find the most effective approach they need to handle their everyday responsibilities and somehow find worth to the lives that they are living. It could be observed though that both religion and culture are among the most diversified foundations of human living at present. Most of the time, these elemental factors of social control contradict each other especially in terms of becoming highly controlling on the lives of human individuals in the society. Because of these, there are many instances when people are forced to choose one over the other simply to be able to find one particular guideline that would be able to support him or her with the things that are expected of that person to be done2. It could not be denied that somehow, being able to handle the need of institutionalizing the society through culture or through religion, whichever fits the society best, has caused so many conflicts among human individuals through the years. For these reason, many people simply choose one particular aspect to adhere their beliefs into and be guided with the life that they ought to be living somehow. The discussion below shall show how culture basically affects the process by which individuals under the church are able to handle their sacramental responsibilities and further improve their spiritual being or standing further towards progress. Through this discussion, it is expected that the research performed could be presented in a rather useful effect that could explain why people who are torn out from being able to fulfill their cultural duties from actually completing their religious responsibilities even though there are huge conflicts between the two are somehow having difficulties in choosing what particular element to choose over the other as a source of practical guidance for them to be able to establish a more important effect in insisting on themselves a new sense of living. 3 Understanding Religion, Culture and the Society Religion is a major part of the human society that regulates the systems that exist in the present era. Aside from man-made law, many people believe that trusting in God for guidance is an essential part of the development of the society towards a peaceful situation.4 For many years passed history, it could be noted that religion and the people who have had faith on the said beliefs have created several changes in the society. Yes, through the existence of religion, many people believe that God is the source of the guidance that they need to be able to survive the fears and the agonies brought about by life. Noah Feldman’s book Divided by God is brilliantly written because the author discusses the history of church-state law in the United States of America and he also talked about the different discussions regarding the prevailing debates in the society. The author focuses on the two contradicting constituencies namely the Values Evangelicals and the Legal Secularists. In the Values Evangelicals, the group has been described to assert or demand the logical relation of religious values to the political matters and thus wanted the American government to show support in the movement for Christianity; whereas the Legal Secularists’ group strongly believes that religion should be excluded from the public sphere.5 These are the groups of people who want the state to be totally free from religion matters. The secularism movement has fought many battles to be able to remove religious matters from the public sphere. On the other hand, the conservative religious groups are trying to exert control to forge an incredibly close relationship between the state and the church by means of government funds to be able to support and help the religious groups. 6 According to Feldman, the clash between these two groups is that they are trying to ruin the people’s national vision. The author’s book brought up a captivating, unique, and careful view regarding the history of church-state separation in United States. He did a careful and precise examination regarding the issue. Feldman starts his book through clearly expressing his analysis, by trying to find out the different reasons why the founding fathers come to discuss the different matters regarding the separation of church and state, despite of the broad attack by the conservative groups of politicians if whether they will allow the separation or not, the outcome of their decision after many discussions the founding fathers have decided to separate the church and state. Feldman tries to elucidate the thinking of the American founders and the succeeding leaders regarding the purpose of religion in the nation. According to Feldman, religious division tries to threaten and intimidate the oneness of the American people. In Values Evangelical, they think that the solution regarding the separation is simply influencing the lives of people by this traditional belief. Meanwhile, Legal Secularists think that people can uphold their national unity if they will consider religion as their personal interest and it should be keep apart from matters regarding citizenship. 7 Catechism and the Changes that are acquired due to Human Cultural Preferences As the evangelicals prove that they have a strong faith, which they can show to the public openly, they pursue that government then should always support the activities and other programs regarding religious issues, contrary to the legal secularist’s idea that everyone true Christians ought to support their own beliefs, personal interests and other related activities in daily since religious activities are supposed to be kept in isolation. One important point to consider is that the founding fathers were not interested in public religious matters but were strongly opposing to public religious funding matters. Feldman expresses his purpose to be able to strengthen up the spiritual and religious beliefs of the American people8. The main point was to introduce to the public the facts of the two named highly popular groups mentioned earlier. Though people around the state are experiencing some massive disturbances about the separations of the church and state and the funding restrictions by the government in religion, Feldman immediately develops some different remedies that will awaken the people and will give importance to them. The government gives a greater restriction about the funding of the religions; though they are producing the needs and liability of these religious organizations, by all means it did not work out because money creates more coercion within the situation. They then intend to dictate what should be the activities and programs of the church rather than being submissive to them. In this situation, Mr. Feldman proposes to the public that even though there is lack of financial support from the government, the church and any other religious groups can serve the public by not being dictated by the leaders of the nation. Moreover, Mr. Feldman discusses what the tremendous effects are done by the liberals in putting too much time about the nativity statues and figurines in public places, instead of building habitual spiritual needs that can lead the public to a very excluded and limited knowledge in spiritual matters. The activities done by the liberal group did not bring up a good and effective idea but instead it leads to a serious effect and bad image reflecting the spiritual polyglot of the Americans. Religious Development Based on Social and Cultural Acceptance of the Public The success of the religious learning is thru the societies culture; it will spread easily and wisely if the society and as well as the leader of the community allows to express, demonstrate and show it to the public. The citizens will have a better religious communication with others if the government will allow the people to discuss and preview it to the public rather than banning I from the community. Also by serving the public and handing their time to the government in pure loyalty, the upper class men in air force academy in the United States gives numerous treats to their students instead of doing their basic cadet trainings. The upperclassmen could then switch the said movements to meaningful chapel activities; however, if the students refuse to attend these so called activities, they shall be punished. Some of the academy members were forcing their students to join their religious group, and become a Born Again Christian and visualize their religious beliefs. Others reported that upperclassmen were always using their authority to propagate their belief to the undergraduates. Some arguments that were implemented by Feldman are connected to the religious society today, Everson V Board of education statement really creates various meanings and understanding to the religious believers around the globe, though it is really favourable to the legal secularism. The statement undertaken by Everson V Board of education creates minimal separation between church and state. However, they developed and passed some religious laws that are very beneficial to them. The laws stated that the state or federal government could put up a church in the community that will aid their religions and support their needs. The rise of secularism increase deeply, different kinds of religions and beliefs as well as the pagan theory spreading to the society, skeptics, and indifferences usually create major doubts to the believers. For better improvement in the rising of secularism, the Blaine amendment was given a chance to remove some errors; their major purpose is to protect religious minorities from persecutions. They also propose a reformation that religious considerations should be formally excluded from any civil affairs; and religious beliefs should be added immediately to the public education. Multiplicity of sects become very rampant because of the many kinds of religions that have been developing to the community creating groups such as the Catholics, Protestants, Muslim, and Jews, hence, they all have different important contribution regarding the natural language of law and religious language in the public square9. Though worshiping and expressing thoughts and beliefs with another became very complicated during the middle of 17th century, the different theoretical theory became much harder to understand hence, giving birth to the evolutionary beliefs. British Philosopher John Lock gives his progressive ideas as well as his theories to influence the people regarding the arguments containing the discussions on religious tolerance and liberty of conscience. The said arguments were easily forwarded in time to the nation’s deviser to set aside plans on how to respect the beliefs of others. Through this influence created by Lock, religious diversity guaranteed some religions free from restriction and control enabling them to use power to act and express their beliefs and has religious freedom by itself10. These arguments, ideas, and theories were previously forgotten in the present time, but Feldman re-birthed this topic to give people a deeper understanding about the religious control during the past centuries. Modern Catholic Catechism and the Human Culture Because of the modern norms that human individuals need to follow at present, it could not be denied that somehow, the process of Catholic Catechism has already taken different paths of development that lead to the change in the process of seriously considering the laws and the rules of the church as these procedures sometimes conflict with the culture and the norms that people are currently making themselves involved with.11 To be able to considerably be able to pass through the different conflicting guidelines that both procedures of social control are providing the society with, some individuals choose to handle the matter through the application of their own decisions. Most likely, they compromise some part of the guidelines provided by their religion with the things they want to do in connection with their culture or the norms that they want to follow in the society. Certainly, because of this fact, it could then be deeply realized that one could not serve two gods all at once; if one chooses to serve the other, then he compromises the other. Yes, it is likely that a person should choose only one particular guideline to use in his or her life, may it be culture or religion, balancing each other might not be as easy as it may sound and the challenge should be faced by those aiming to make the two conflicting ideas meet for their own benefit. 12 Conclusion From this discussion, it could be seen that not only does culture and religion create a conflicting reaction between each other’s existence in the human society, but they also create confusions as to what is right and what is wrong. As per discussed by Fieldman in his book, culture and religion are two strong force of beliefs that tend to control how people today are trying to live their lives. The rules and guidelines released by the perpetrators of religious beliefs in the society today are at times creating many issues when it comes to dealing with the culture that people have already been accustomed to embrace. Removing these elemental factors though would make it harder for the society to control their lives. This is the particular reason why it is very important for every individual today to be able to balance the ways by which he or she tries to use culture or religion as it is to control the life that that individual is trying to live by. It is also from this particular study research that it has been understood that culture should be respected [whether or not it belongs to an ethnic group or just the regular population in the society], and religion never be forced to anyone who does not feel the need to have one. All these guiding matters of the society are supposed to be well recognized instead of being criticized. Using them thoroughly and effectively to establish a better society could be considered to be a more successful approach that insists on the unity rather than the diversity of the society that lives in one single community on earth. References: Noah Feldman. (2006). Divided by God: Americas Church-State Problem--and What We Should Do About It. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Reprint edition. Taylor and Francis. (2009). Culture and Religion. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/01438301.html. (October 01, 2009) Culture and Religion. (2009). http://www.cultureandreligion.com/. (October 01, 2009) Routledge. (2009). Culture and Religion An Interdisciplinary Journal. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713694811. (October 01, 2009) Read More