Religion has many definitions. But the commonly accepted definition of religion is: ‘The belief in a god or group of gods’. Religion is a set of beliefs, rules, and accepted ideas that deal with idea of a supreme being, the reason for life and death, the creation of the universe and other such things. It governs human functioning through accepted norms and has had massive influence on human society and history.
No one knows how religion evolved, though it is believed to have evolved to deal with problems of human life. Religion provides a set of beliefs and practices to deal with problems and misfortunes. There is evidence of ancient man worshipping nature because he believed nature to be all powerful. Religion, as it has already been reiterated…show more content… 1 Understand what religion is. Religion is a system that establishes symbols, narratives, and traditions that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values. The word religion is often used interchangeably with faith or belief in God, but religion differs from personal belief in that it has a public aspect.
2 Don't open a discussion about religion without ensuring you have a good understanding of how organized religion works. At the very least you should have an understanding of the main Christian religious ideologies (Catholicism, Presbyterianism/Protestantism, Immersionism) and hold an understanding of Islam and Judaism as these are the most discussed religions. 3 Purchase books and reference material for research; Books like God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens, The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett, and others. Having an understanding of the history of various religions and counter arguments to points about morality is important. 4 Understand some of the basic arguments against organized religion.
5 Be aware that there are a number of positive contributions made to society by religion. Religion enhances local communities in which human relationships can flourish, religious communities make massive contributions through deeds of charity and social action, and religion can give people a sense of community and make people feel welcome. |