Religion as the Source of Inspiration - Research Paper Example

? Introduction The society has been formed based on the need to deliver given attributes that are placed to present ideologies. The need to deliver a common place to articulate the desire to satisfy survival measures within the harsh environment. Without the source to present a unified thought in finding the needed hope, humanity would be plunged in chaos. The organization of groups into identifiable sectors within society has been placed to compose a movement. These have been in the form of cult or religion and other organized groups where ideology is shared and desires fulfilled. Of the organized groups to follow a unified theme, religion has been the most outstanding. Durkheim, Cladis and Cosman (2001) define religion as a set of beliefs that bring individuals together towards acknowledgement of the existence of a supernatural being. These beliefs have aided the development of positive virtues within the society an offer support during the difficult challenges subjected upon societal members. Societies and groups have been identified based on their variable religious affiliations. Other societies have been developed based on the shared belief and practices. In religion, individuals complete variable practices for the satisfaction of the rules within the set trend. Religion has existed within the continents for decades linking the practices to the behavioral adaptation of the members. Various religions present different practices and identity. The common example is found in the difference accorded in Christianity and Islam religion that depict varied theories and practices. Religion serves as the basis of articulating unanswered questions to clarify the foundation of existence and the larger society. Despite the variations that have been depicted in variable religious beliefs, religion has served as the sole purpose of presenting unity and the source of unanswered questions to humanity. Religion has been the source of inspiration and answers in society for decades. The belief in the existence of a superior power has instilled discipline in societies satisfying breaking the tension in war and corruption. The idea presented that there is an uttermost power providing security rejuvenates the human desire to belong to a particular setting. However, the religious affiliations existing within the society have been presented to hold varied norms. Governments and the rules holding the existence of humanity within the set society have been formed based on the dominant religion. The most dominant religion has been Christianity in America and Europe, while Islam and Buddhism have composed the provision presented in Asia. Without the set of beliefs, the formed governments would be destabilized, and the need to find freedom would be affected. The involvement within the religious setting has brought peace and developed the needed faith to overcome the challenges within the society. The hope presented in eternity has been the most striking with humanity accorded the purpose to live their current lives. All of the religious groups offer the opportunity to develop the idea for continuity. There is the conviction in that which is not visible and the pillar of belief centered on a common figure. Although Islam and Christianity consider the existence of a solitary being, the other world religions have been based on the need to have a life after the one within the modern earth. Those that lack the faith to belong to a religion have been considered outcasts with little definition to the life lived in the current society. Religion has been the ability possessed by the social groups to possess the belief in the unseen. Various religions present different meanings to the defining attributes of the supernatural beings. The leading world religions have been based on historical evidence of the creators of the set virtues. The belief in each religion has been presented to be contained in the basis found in their formation. Christianity that is the dominant world religion has been based on the existence on one God, and the belief in Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit as the other defining factor. In Christianity, the battle is torn between evil and purity that are the components within individuals and in the universe. There is the stress on life after the demise with the righteous enjoying eternal life in heaven. The second most dominant religion is found in Islam that is the basis for belief in a single God known as Allah. Islam shares the belief in five leading pillars that are the defining motives in the follower’s life. Islam believes that their religion had been presented in the Prophet Mohamed who had been the leading prophet to Allah. Buddhism, on the other hand, holds the belief in Buddha and their opinions are based on the desire to achieve a higher status. With the rules and the levels of life that the religion accords, the religion of the Buddha presents a more complex dynamic version to religion separate from Islam and Christianity (Schmiechen 2005). Moreover, Judaism has been the religion established based on the teachings of the Torah. Moses is accorded the founder of the religion with the Jewish possessing the belief that they had been chosen as the rightful religious groups. All the religions of the society hold a reference point to be regarded as the most valued treasure in predicting the history of religion. Judaism, Islam and Christianity, are recorded in outstanding books that are found to be the source of the historical development. The Bible, Quran and the Torah have been the key areas to record religious affiliations and their history. The values held in variable religious experiences have been extended to include values upheld in societies with the religion stated. The mostly valued religion has been incorporated in the rules that define the given society. In Middle East, for example, Islam has dominated as a religion and the rules have advocated for better values within the society. Women are expected to possess a given dressing code and be faithful to their husbands. The norms are taught from childhood, and they grow up with the notion that they are to adhere to their religious standards or face grave subjections. However, in the western societies, the value of Christianity has been based on the family level where the Bible states that there should be developed a love between individuals and any form of crime is forbidden. Without the desired traits, there may be limited virtues to develop within the society. Religion defines the nature of life with the consequences placed upon those who break the issued rules to face the wrath of the unpleasant after life. Religion accords identity to a given region and develops the dominant policies to be adhered to within the country. Furseth and Repstad (2007) suggest that, like the national language and culture of a given society, religion acts as the source of dominant because the norm establishes connection. Without the features within the policies of a country, there may be chaos and disorganization within the units that govern the country. Religion yields unity and presents the right consequences to the actions humanity subject towards the sustenance of the desired values. Religion influences variable societies in varied ways. Islam tolerates forms of violence according to some groups and this has been noticed in terrorist activities and religious wars, especially in the Middle East (Reuters 2012). Buddhism and Christianity, on the other hand, value peace with the provision included in the desire to establish closer bonds within families and societal members. The dominant religion within the given society has been described as the policy maker and the one that sets the trend with the foreign religion regarded as foreign. In Iran, for example, there have been cases of those that practice Christianity being subjected to punishment and torture. Likewise, the western nations like in the U.S., some individuals relate Islam to terrorism with a minimal form of stereotype noticed. Therefore, religious affiliations develop a form of stereotype in foreign societies that lead to dissatisfaction between the groups created. Without the universal acceptance of the variable religious affiliations within the global scene, the peace desired would be limited. Conclusion Religion has been described as the norm that establishes stronger connections between groups. The aspect breeds hope and unity between the members. Without the dominant religion in the established region, chaos and dissatisfaction in the mysteries about life would be presented. However, with religion, a stereotype is build based on the dominant religion. The society is defined, and rules created based on the beliefs possessed by individuals. References Durkheim, E., Cladis, M. S., & Cosman, C. (2001). The elementary forms of religious life. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Furseth, I., & Repstad, P. (2007). An introduction to the sociology of religion: Classical and contemporary perspectives. Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate. Reuters. (May 2012). Yemen: Militants Kill 32 Soldiers. The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2012, from: Schmiechen, P. (2005). Saving power: Theories of atonement and forms of the church. Grand Rapids, Mich. [u.a.: Eerdmans. Read More