Essay On Characteristics Of Religion

Religion has been one of the important unifying and uplifting forces of human history. The word itself derives from an ancient Latin term which means to bind together. In this way religion has strengthened the bonds of community and provided many of the moral principles on which societies have been built. It has been said that religion is the sense of the sacred, the allegiance to the Gods , the loyalty to the Good, and the love of Man. It is what we do to maintain society , and It is what we do in our solitude. It is about limit-situations ,but also about everyday life. It has been described as resignation, but also hope, It is the release from this world, but also a way of living in this world. Some claim it is an encounter with

Religion includes ritual, social, and ethical elements combined with belief in an unseen world and often a deity. Beliefs may be expressed through myths or doctrines. Religion based on the belief that humans are capable of creating a system of religious thought by the use of reason and without the need for divine revelation. Religion based on the view that humans are not capable of coming to a knowledge of God by their own reason but are in need of divine revelation"

2.3.1 Characteristics of Religion

According to Ninian Smart, one of the leading scholars of religion, religion has the following characteristics :

1. A ritual and practical dimension, including prayers and worships

2. An emotional and experiential dimension: an emotive content behind prayers and ritual

3. A mythic or narrative dimension, for example, stories that pertain to a particular tradition such as Judaism’s use of the Flood story or the Christian Garden of Eden story, or a Dreaming story

4. A philosophical and doctrinal dimension: a system of beliefs, values or

For instance , Judaism presupposes a Jewish monarchy, the Islamic system suggests that the law and some form of community leadership from the religiously learned is required for good government. So that religions do not shape just the religious aspect of life, but the entire worldviews of a society

(Ibid 11)

2.3.3 The Contribution of Religion to Society

Religion help us to understand ourselves as human beings, and to make our views of the world we live in. It also has a contribute in culture, the Arts, and discuss the questions of life and address the issue of cause and reason for life. Religious beliefs can help us answer questions as, ‘Who am I?’, ‘Why do evil and suffering exist?’ and ‘Is there life after death? The answers to these questions can offer a sense of belonging, meaning and community, comfort, and can contribute to the mental health of a society. Religion can also challenge and stimulate change in a society, especially in the face of a social or political injustice. It can also encourage extreme violence when their believers become convinced that their world view is being challenged. (Ibid