Misconceptions about the Religion of Other People - Essay Example

? Report on Religious Field Research  Report on Religious Field Research Religion should not be viewed as ignorance, outrageous superstition, nor is it characterized by hate or opposition to a different area of human being venture. Religion entails having faith in a greater thing, something which is beyond human control or understanding. In addition, a misconception is explained as a misunderstanding; a mistaken idea, thought, or notion. I have decided to conduct a research on Buddhism. I had a chance to assess one of the religion’s proceedings, the Boundless Light Sangha, which involved a dharma message and meditation service. Boundless light is both love and the element of love past the individual or human beings. This activity is not designed by any individual or for any individual. Boundless light is all inclusive. It argues that actual nature entails displaying everything and every individual as absolute love, and one of the forms of love involves the soul (Hagen, 1998). The soul also acknowledges that it is the expression of the love of real nature. In addition, meditation has been identified as a core part of the Buddhist religion. It is not clear the number of Christians who pray, but a large number of Buddhists all through history have not engaged in meditation. Until recent times, mediation has been perceived as a basic activity and is solely practiced by specified monks. Moreover, the Buddha largely laid emphasis on meditation, but a number of traditions, for example, the pure land engage in minimal or no meditation in their activities (Brodd, 2003). This paper will be a report on religious field research. The paper will discuss personal misconceptions on Buddhism, analyze how my previous understanding about Buddhism was changed through my encounter, discuss whether misconceptions about the religion of other people are widespread and an explanation on why or why not, and recommend a minimum of one action that could help lessen misconceptions individuals have about other people’s religion. Question 1 There are a number of misconceptions that I have had about Buddhism. One, that chanting is useless and meaningless. In contrast, Buddhist recitation or chanting contains explicit meanings with specified uses. There are also numerous forms of recitations. The recitation involving loving-kindness helps in passing loving-kindness to other human. Chanting also helps during meditation. It helps the mind in developing concentration (Hagen, 1998). Two, that Buddha is a god. Conversely, Buddhism does not follow the notion of God that is widespread to the monotheistic beliefs. Buddhists hold the belief that all individuals have the power to become a Buddha. Three, that it is difficult to understand nibbana. In simple terms, nibbana refers to independence from the fundamental reasons of all suffering; the incorrect notion that people exists autonomously as a non-changing and intrinsic self. Nibbana illustrates the dousing of all delusion, hatred, and greed, causing extraordinary peace and clarity (Hagen, 1998). Three, that everything should be blamed on kamma. Conversely, kamma does not involve fatalism. Kamma refers to people’s choice expressed as actions of speech, body, or mind. What individuals presently go through, both pleasant and awful, are determined by the actions and thoughts of the individual in the past. Identically, what individuals will go through in the future is determined by their actions and thoughts in the present. A person’s kamma constantly changes based on how the individual act and think in the present times (Hagen, 1998). Four, women are mediocre and is punishment to be born a woman. In contrast, Buddhism does not perceive women to be inferior to their male counterparts. Buddha was clear about treating both men and women in the same way. Buddha included females in the Sangha in spite of severe oppositions. Question 2 My previous understanding of Buddhism was changed through the encounter. First, I developed listening techniques so that I could hear what people from the Buddhist religion had to say. The appreciation for listening to these Buddhists made me understand the correct information about practices involved in Buddhism. Second, I learned about practices involved in Buddhism. I read books, blogs and other sources written by members of the Buddhist religion. I also made a number of visits to the group members. This helped in developing an understanding about the religion (Baron, 2000). Third, my previous understanding of Buddhism was changed when I realized valuing diversity in human nature and appearance is essential. Diversity is the strength of humans and reality of nature. It is essential that an individual behave and think in ways which value and discover from diversity. My encounter with Buddhists enabled me value their diversity, consequently changing my previous understanding about Buddhism. Fourth, my previous understanding about Buddhism was changed through seeking self-understanding. Seeking self-understanding enhances the capacity to understand oneself and other individuals. Therefore, by being self-critical and self-aware, I was able to understand Buddhism practices better and change my perceptions about the religion (Baron, 2000). Fifth, responding to negative phrases about Buddhists helped me to know my position regarding Buddhism. I started to react to static names or terms associated to Buddhism in manners which illustrated that the employment of this names or terms was not appropriate. Question 3 Yes. Misconceptions about other people’s religion are widespread. Individuals merely do not contain correct information regarding other religions. Also, misconceptions are widespread about different religions because each and every person engages in religion in their individual manner (Brodd, 2003). In addition, misconceptions about different religions are widespread due to stereotyping. People may stereotype individuals from other religions as sexually repressed, dour, unhappy, mean-spirited, and inflexible. Nevertheless, when people have an encounter with people from a different religion, they realize that they are not any less or more sexually healthy, kind, or happy than other people who do not practice the same religion. Also, individuals who would oppose stereotypes involving gays or members of the black population may be willing to accept and repeat identical blatant and malicious stereotypes involving religions that they are not involved in. People also treat their religions as subjective. Whatever the nature of religious conviction, people from their individual religion regard their religious beliefs as factual and others as fictional. Religious illiteracy also plays a part in the widespread misconceptions regarding different religions (Brodd, 2003). For instance, religions that do not pardon capital punishment may argue against the Christian teaching regarding condoning war or capital punishment while the Bible commands Christians not to kill. Question 4 There are several steps that may be taken to lessen misconceptions individuals hold about different religions from their own. One, admit that you have been taught or you hold misreading information with regard to a religion that is different from your own. Without this admission misconceptions cannot be lessened, consequently, nothing can change. Only through the admission of the false information can the religious misconception be discussed openly and tackled in a manner which is likely to cause change (Baron, 2000). Two, an individual should be conscious of his self-talk about the religion that is different from their own. This is significant in the course of altering the prior religious misconceptions that an individual held. Talk about where the erroneous information came from and the limiting impacts of the information with an individual who will be non-judgmental and accepting. Being aware of the information is essential to lessening the misconceptions and substituting them with correct information (Baron, 2000). Three, a person should enhance his contact with or exposure to individuals from a different religion from his own. Misconceptions relating to a different religion only remain effectual when a person evades contact with people of the religion you hold misconceptions. Religious misconceptions will be lessened if people establish contacts with individuals from a different religion from their own. Reference Baron, J. (2000). Thinking and deciding (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press. Brodd, J. (2003). World religions. Minnesota: Saint Mary's Press. Hagen, S. (1998). Buddhism plain and simple. New York: Broadway Books. Read More