This is thought by some to be a very taboo and argumentative subject. I feel as though in our culture we are in most cases handed a religious ideology from our parents. Between school, life circumstances, having children and working not all of us have made time to really acknowledge that we had questions about the religion of our parents. We are shunned away from speaking openly about this in fear of rejection or people not wanting to deal with us because we have questions. Religion plays a major part in everyday decisions we make. It plays a major role in how we feel about ourselves, how we relate to other people and how we raise our children; still we ignore the question of how we came to be a part of a religious system. From a young age we are told not to question “God”. But who said that was correct and if “God” is the omnipotent and omnipresent then by studying various spiritual systems I should come right back to my original standpoint and religion correct? Should my studies not fortify my position if it is indeed the “correct and righteous” spiritual expression for me? Religion is a part of our personal, social, public, political and psychological lifestyle. In most cases the individual is not pushed to be a critical thinker or to be open minded. In general most young women are socialized to be a part of “group think” especially when it comes to religion. How can we be so arrogant as to say “my religion” is the only true religion and all the other ones are wrong if we have not done the research and found this truth for ourselves? How can I be steadfast in my purpose and my life mission if I am not secure in what I know, not what someone else told me but what I know… not believe. My foundation has to be secure for me to be “on my square” How can we be so quick to discredit another person’s right to their spiritual/religious points of view but expect them to respect ours at the same time?
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions. Religion can be defined as the human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous, spiritual and divine.
As we converse on spirituality there are some choice words that tend to find themselves in the dialogue. Those words are believe, belief, truth, know and faith. Let’s explore these words and their etymology so that we are clear on their meaning. Definition of belief:
1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
Definition of believe:
1 a : to have a firm religious faith b : to accept something as true, genuine, or real <ideals we believe in> <believes in ghosts>
2 : to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something <believe in exercise>
3 : to hold an opinion : think <I believe so>
transitive verb
1 a : to consider to be true or honest <believe the reports> <you wouldn't believe how long it took> b : to accept the word or evidence of <I believe you> <couldn't believe my ears>
2 : to hold as an opinion : suppose <I believe it
Definition of Know
1 a (1) : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of (2) : to have understanding of <importance of knowing oneself> (3) : to recognize the nature of : discern b (1) : to recognize as being the same as something previously known (2) : to be acquainted or familiar with (3) : to have experience of
2 a : to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of b : to have a practical understanding of <knows how to write>
3 archaic : to have sexual intercourse with (we will talk about this one later!!)
Define Faith
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith> — on faith : without question <took everything he said on faith>
Define Truth
1 a archaic : fidelity, constancy b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance
2 a (1) : the state of being the case : fact (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics> c : the body of true statements and propositions
3 a : the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality b chiefly British : true 2 c : fidelity to an original or to a standard
4 capitalized Christian Science : god — in truth : in accordance with fact : actually
Why do most religions require blind faith?
Blind faith – faith without evidence (evidence in totality not a portions but the total story the ways it’s reported). Do you have blind faith in the infallible word of “God” which comes in the form of a book? Did you experience the happenings as written in the book? Did you see it written with your own eyes by “God”? These things go right back to the issue of being told not to question “God”. This is what blind faith is about. Standing on faith and believing what is in the sacred text which was inspired by “God” but lacks evidence.
Let’s be honest blind faith is a control mechanism. It keeps people from asking important questions they would normally ask about anything someone wanted to give them if they had never heard of it and wasn’t familiar with it already.
Why do most religions have some form of evangelism?
Most of the mainstream religions have a core belief that people in other religions have to be saved from going to a hell or purgatory in order to make it to heaven or paradise which you can only get to in the afterlife. What about now? According to these same religions your life now is a sacrifice and suffering for what you will get in the afterlife. Now here is a good you a question would you go to work everyday for a check you would get after you die? Honestly, I do not know anyone that would answer this question yes.
This leads me right to the next topic. FEAR.
Why do most religions have a fear campaign?
If you don’t believe in Jesus, Yahweh or Mohammad you will not be saved from purgatory or hell. This very threat of going to hell is the fear tactic that is used to keep people from questioning their religious beliefs.
On the occasion that someone has a different religion surely something must be wrong with them. We are so judgmental because most mainstream religion teaches that their religion is the only true religion of their god this as the basic tenets of the doctrine. Due to this embedded fear factor many people never investigate or admit they have questions about religion. Whenever the fear is taken away most people would feel free to live their lives much differently that we currently do.
What is the historical impact of religion?
In most world civilization and history courses the topic of religion comes up. One day I was asked why? I responded you can’t study a civilization or it’s history with out touching religion. Religion tells you how a group people lived and what their cultural practices were and their relationship to the divine.
None of the religions systems directly refute or rebut the other yet wars are waged and lives are taken in the name of “God”. Religion has been used as a tool of war as propaganda to convince people to go to war against another group of people. It has the capacity to entice people to strap bombs to their bodies, convince women that they do not have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, burn women at the stake and justify the brutal enslavement of another human being in the name of blind faith. Religions have been used to invoke fear and to remove whatever culture was previously there before a war and or new religion takes root.
Comparative religion shows how different cultures relate to the divine and how over history new religions replaced older ones. The proof of this is that a new religion always uses parts of the older religion as a way to convert people to the new religion.
Upon study of comparative religion we would learn that most of the latter religions (i.e. Christianity Catholicism, Judaism and Islam) borrowed their creation stories and myths from previous religions that were around well before the founding of the mentioned religions.
Most religious teachings have more common than they contradict, so why not find what resonates with you and figure out how to relate to everyone no matter what religion they partake in. We are all truly ONE whether we want to admit it or not!
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