Religion Is a Primordial Part of the Social Institution - Essay Example

December 14, 2008 AMERICAN RELIGION ESSAY Religion is a primordial part of the social thathas affected the society as a whole, from the early beginnings of civilization. It has as well become a significant factor in understanding the various religious experiences of the Asian Americans as differentiated from that of the other minority groups in America. In the last century, with a huge number of Asians migrating to America, each of them brought their respective kind of religion akin to their culture and their respective ways of life. Hence to the West came Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and other forms of religious faith. While the Asian Americans came with astonishingly diverse cultures and religions, it is notable that Christianity, amongst all the different creeds, has significantly permeated their varied forms of religious experiences. Christianity was predominant as it seemed to have provided answers to the seeming need for a sense of community or belongingness, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of an ethnic desire for their identity development in America. In attributing the Christian faith to be the popular choice of the Asian American immigrants, it is likewise important to recognize the fact that through this newly acquiesced form of religious fellowship, they have been given opportunities for leadership, a feeling of oneness and unity, a remarkable sense of renewed hope in existing in a foreign environment. All told, the Christian congregations have given in effect the much needed resources to enable them to overcome whatever deficiencies they may have in their social status. In an era that is marked by a myriad passion of faith, the religious role has become an integral part in the process of acculturation. The influence of Christianity in this aspect cannot be ignored. The sharing of common socio-cultural traditions and national history among Asians has led them to this closely-knitted socio-religious networking and has given them comfort in their day to day experiences. To say the least, religion has not only given them a most intimate experience, but more so, a widely shared community sharing that bestows on each one the provision of comfort and solace of life's uncertainties and even that of death, in effect inspiring them to achieve their dreams and aspire for renewed hopes to face the realities of everyday life. To a large extent, it can be said that, this religious orientation has in truth and in fact become very crucial to the adjustments in the way of life of the immigrant populace to their new homes in America. The new immigrants, together with their future generation and their Christian faith that holds them together, will undoubtedly continue to strive and also to survive, perhaps even beyond the boundaries of culture or religious transformations. One interesting aspect though in this thought is to ponder on whether indeed being Americanized is simply undergoing the process of being Christianized. If so, what then becomes of the other minority groups in America sans such religious experiences relating to those of the Asian Americans Is it an issue of mere belongingness, the fear of survival or the need for ethnic identity Does this necessitate the need for the minority groups to find the same commonality in their way of life or in their spirituality for that matter From this, it may be gleamed that religious orientation has basically been crucial in structuring a different way of life for the Asian immigrants to adapt themselves into the stream of American society. Religion has essentially become a part in understanding the disparity that lie between the Asian Americans and the minority groups. Ultimately, the influence of Christianity on the Asian Americans cannot be ignored. The freedom of religion is embodied both in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the United States of America. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by fifty of the member states of the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, with eight abstentions, at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France defines freedom of religion and belief (Art. 18) as follows: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance", the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America on the other hand provides that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". (www.auburn.edu/allenkc/rights.html) America has from time immemorial recognized the constitutionally guaranteed right to the freedom of religion. A corollary primordial issue to this that never fails to come out is: whether America can retain its democratic institutions while allowing unrestrained religious freedom. Needless to say, the answer to this is a reverberating YES, it can! Self-evident in the hearts of every individual is the universal acceptance that all men are created equal. Further to this is the accompanying faith in a Creator giving each person the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These lines are embodied in most laws of the land or what we normally refer to as the constitution. In the process of securing these basic rights of men, governments are institutionalized with a power that is evolved from its own citizens, thereby giving it the consent of those that are governed. Hence, government institutions are eventually formed to basically dwell in protecting such basic human rights. The freedom of religion and belief is considered not only as the most fundamental of human rights but likewise as one of the basic foundations of a democratic society. In the course of history, the concept of the freedom of religion is the very first recognized of all human rights. Religious liberty in this regard has been interpreted to generally refer to as the freedom to worship, to preach, to educate or organize or even to have no beliefs at all. It is an individual action that every individual and any state must respect. Promoting the freedom of religion cannot in any manner hamper the existence of the democratic institutions. In a democracy, the support for these institutions are important because proper governance is tantamount to achieving accountability, a much-needed transparency and access to the government by its entire constituents. Moreover, there is the well-recognized and much-respected principle of the separation between the church and the state, a known part of the American historical, legal, social and political heritage that very well protects and preserves religious freedom. Maintaining the freedom of religion has become a source of stability in the U.S. foreign policy. Its development of programs to promote religious freedom has likewise paved the way for it to assist not only the newly formed democracies but also certain religious and human rights Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Ultimately, unaffected by its position in allowing unrestrained religious freedom, the U.S. contrarily, continue to have its large impact on worldwide affairs, with its precious democratic institutions continuing to globally monitor religious persecution and major discriminations. Indeed, freedom in the celebration of faith must be an integral embodiment in the laws of every land, in the core of every human expression and in the heart of every man. Unrestrained religious freedom has become today's inevitable proof of the many liberties that American society now enjoys, an image of a conscience that has been at last freed from compulsion. Work Cited "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. www.auburn.edu/allenkc/rights.html Read More