Understaning Reliogn - Essay Example

Understanding Religion It would not be a mistake to suggest that religion plays an important role in the society. However,a careful definition of this significant notion is an essential part of gaining a better understanding of it. This paper will use the approach which was developed by Paul Tilich and examine if the Prince Philip Movement and Secular Humanism should be considered to be a religion. Speaking of the former, one might suggest that it should be seen as a religion, because of the following reasons.

To begin with, it became the ultimate concern of the tribes that believe that Prince Philip is a deity. They all want to be happy and can not think about anything else, but worshiping his planes and waiting for the destiny to be fulfilled. In addition to that, the movement urges people to surrender their activities to the needs of it. Thus, since the locals are not able to directly influence the coming of the planes, the best activity that they could think of was to build the copies of airplanes and airports.

Other than that they do not do anything. Finally, by following the rules of the movement, the locals know that they ultimately will have all their desires fulfilled. Indeed, there is no doubt that what this people want the most is material goods: they are in need of good clothes, food, tools and other things that would make their life better. The planes are known to carry all of that. That is why they wait for their paradise. As for the Secular Humanism, one also may say that it should be seen as a religion, according to the view of Paul Tilich.

First of all, it represents the ultimate concern of its follows which is to become a happy as well as fully developed human being. In other words, that is the only thing they want in terms of spirituality. No matter how surprising it may see, but Secular Humanism also requires people to surrender to its goals. Unlike the previously mentioned Prince Phillip Movement, it encourages people to carry on the quest of their inner development and try to become a better human being every day. So, surrendering to it does not mean being passive, but being quite active in terms of personal evolution.

Finally, Secular Humanism also promises that all the desires of its followers will be fulfilled. There is no doubt that those who position themselves as such want to achieve happiness, a stead moral code and harmony in the world. Secular Humanism is thought to bring all this to the people who follow the path and put genuine effort.Having examined the two examples, one is able to come to a logical conclusion that they both can be recognized as religions according to the framework which was developed by Paul Tillichs.

In spite of the fact that they are clearly different, they meet the major requirements for a religion. Therefore, the external view should not be used as a way to judge the content of them.