Community Values

Community Values

There are not many people out there who have their own religion; just themselves in one religion made up on their own. People like to have a sense of belonging. Therefore most, if not all, religions have a huge communal aspect to them. While a person does gain some personal experience in any one religion in some form or another, religion is not solely personal. It is widely social. Someone who is brought up in a certain community that has a particular religion typically does not change his or her religion later on in life. The person grows adapted to the religion that he or she was forced upon. Typically the person does not change religion because he or she wants the acquiescence of their community. Therefore religion is not for person gain, but for acceptance in the community in which he or she lives. More generally, an individual is likely to take up the same religion that is predominant in the area in which he or she lives. Religion is an issue of community values, not personal experience. This can be seen by taking a look at all the component parts of religion. One of which is belief.

To even begin a religion a people have to set a certain belief. Whether it be monotheism, polytheism or no theism at all, a certain faith structure is crucial in order to have and maintain religion. This belief or faith is chosen, yet again, by the people of the area. They are the ones that decide what to believe and how to believe it. Then the people come who, more by convenience than be choice, partake in these certain beliefs. It is almost considered necessary for people to believe the same ideas who are in the same community in order for more peaceful living. For example, a person would not find a Christian practicing their faith in India’s predominantly Hindu villages. If a person was born in India he/she would more than likely practice the Hindu religion just as if a person that was born in South China’s Taoist areas would practice Taoism. This is not a personal choice. It is a community effort in the way that the community forces their ways upon an individual. In order for these beliefs to occur, though, people must engage in conversation with one another to be knowledgeable about the correct belief of their particular religion.