Compare And Contrast Definition Of Religion

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Comparing and contrasting definitions of religion
The four thinkers that we have learned about in class are Karl Marx, Rudolf Otto, Sigmund Freud, and Paul Tillich. Each thinker has different views. I agree with some thinkers while I disagree with others, however, each thinker has given me a new outlook on religion and each thinker has given me their definition of religion and what religion means to mankind.
Each thinker has his own definition of religion. Karl Marx believed that “Man makes religion, religion does not make man”, (H/R, p. 12). Karl Marx views on religion came during the time of an industrial revolution. There were two societies during that time, the rich and the poor. Marx believed that religion was created to make the poor …show more content…

Freud believed that religion would die out. “Religion is not permanent but it is a counterpart to the neurosis which individual civilized men have to go through in their passage from childhood to maturity.” (H/R, p. 26) I believe that Freud is wrong about religion dying out if anything religion has gotten bigger. Look at all the countries in the Middle East and the wars that are going on. Most of the battles have to do with different religions. Christianity is growing in the United States. Religion has such an impact in the U.S that politics can’t seem to avoid the subject of religion. Freud believed that religion is childish and that it is needed in order to comfort us basically like a father figure. While I do believe that religion is very comforting I believe that religion is more than that. Religion should be more of a connection with one’s god. Religion is needed to answer prayers. When someone is suffering they ask their god to help them and when they are helped it is considered an answered prayer.
In my opinion religion is necessary in order to live a better life. If religion isn’t there for us then what is? Without a life after death then what are we living for? The idea of no religion is depressing. Religion is there to pick us up and to give us purpose in

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