Islam, Buddhism and Confucianism as Religion - Essay Example

The paper “Islam, Buddhism and Confucianism as Religion" is a thoughtful example of a term paper on religion and theology. There are difficulties in defining religion that result in definitions that are either too narrow and exclude other belief systems or too broad to cover all the elements that encompass religion. Thus, it is difficult and problematic to develop a definition that is straight to the point, and that can distinguish religion from cults and sects. However, there are characteristics that make something a religion.

There are traditions, beliefs, and practices that make something a religion. Most of these characteristics may be shared together with other forms of belief systems and together they form religion. Something may be considered a religion it follows some of the elements that characterize most religions (Hopfe and Woodward 11). Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism are religions because they possess most of the characteristic elements of religions. The belief in supernatural and supreme beings is one of the characteristics that makes something a religion.

Theism can also occur outside religion, and some religion is atheistic. The presence of supernatural beliefs is a crucial aspect of most religions. On the other hand, supernatural beings may be absent in non-religious beliefs. Islam believes in the worshipping of in supreme God, Allah. There is no worshipping of God. Like Buddhism, Confucianism is more of teachings than worshipping of a god or deity however Confucianism believers believe in one God. Sacred vs. profane objects, places, and times are some of the cultic practice that the religion uses to confer meaning on acts.

Such practices and rituals are means through which believers publicly embody religion. The distinction between the sacred and unsacred is a common characteristic that defines religion. Understand the distinction helps believers focus on transcendental values and other supernatural aspects of the world. Scared places, times, and objects remind believers that life is more than what. The end of time is an important aspect of religions. Religious myths provide imaginary timescales for important events such as origins and endings.

The end of a time of an important era for most religions. Islam teaches about the end of time when everyone will receive individual judgment according to their deeds. There is life after death in Islam. The theories and visions of creation and the nature of the universe are the other important components of religion. Religion portrays the existence of human beings on a meaningful universe. In Islam, God created the universe and all the living and nonliving components of the universe including the sun, moon, and stars.

Most religions include some aspects of moral codes in their teachings. Religions have teachings on how people should behave and treat each other. The justification for following these more codes are based on the codes’ supernatural origins. Most religions define forms of conduct among people that is considered appropriate. In Confucianism, there teachings that all humans are good, and this must be practiced towards other humans. Confucianism teaches moral values such as politeness, virtue, and moral wisdom.

The Buddhist philosophy also teaches moral behavior and the importance of doing well. Similarly, Islam teaches morality in the form of kindness, peace, doing good to other people especially helping the less privileged (Hopfe and Woodward 152). Seeking some form of salvation is common among religions. Most religions are concerned with achieving blessedness or fulfillment that transcends evil present in this world or future. In this regard, Buddhism may be considered a religion because it has some element of salvation.

In Buddhism, suffering is part of the human psyche and nature. This belief facilitates salvation through intellectual growth. Epistemology from a religious context relates to how believers believe they are communicating to their deities and how the deities make their will to humans. Such a problem of knowledge relates to knowing what the religions consider as the truth. Religious knowledge comes to adherents in the form of revelations, prayer, visions, scared literature and communicating with other believers.

Islam follows the teachings of the Holy Quran (Hopfe and Woodward 354). Confucianism follows the writings on the analects of Confucius and Mencius. Buddhism follows the Tripitaka doctrine. Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism all have the important elements that define religions. Something is considered religion if it follows certain beliefs, traditions, and practices. As evident in these discussions Islam, Buddhism, and Confucius are considered religions because they possess five or more of the components that define religion.

Therefore, this paper concludes that Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all religions.