The Most Compelling Reason for Studying Religion Today is Politics

The Most Compelling Reason for Studying Religion Today

For me, the word ‘religion’ conjures up images of wailing fat ladies

dressed in their Sunday best singing at the top of their lungs about

the glory of God. Of course, this image comes from my childhood when I

attended the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica every Sunday, rain

or shine, with my grandmother. For her, Church, Christianity and God

was a way of life; a set of principles she believed in and lived by.

For others less convinced, the idea of religion or ‘being religious’

is as far fetched as aliens and UFO’s.

Throughout the centuries, religion has played an important part in

shaping the political landscape of most modern societies and one

reason for studying religion is to understand how and why certain

societies developed in the way they did. The church – used here in

generic terms – was often married to the way in which rulers

administered laws and punishments. Often some used the church to

swindle people out of their wealth and to gain their allegiance

through fear. While other rulers such as Henry viii manipulated the

religious order of the day by breaking away from the Catholic Church

and forming a new Church of England so he could marry his mistress.

For most, Islam is a way of life which is revered by its followers but

according to Laura Hayes, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996

until 2001, they controlled 90% of the country's territory and their

policies—including their treatment of women and support of

terrorists—ostracized them from the world community. The Taliban

considered themselves mujahideen or holy warriors of the Islamic

faith.

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...of the people’.

Religion and politics have come full circle as in today’s society

there are laws which govern the recognition of a new ‘religion’. For

example, a legitimate religion has the right to claim tax exemption

and must promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the community. It

is my opinion that although there are other reasons for studying

religion, the most compelling reason by far is to better understand

and cater for the diversity of modern society.

Bibliography

Atkins, Peter quoted in Poole, Michael. A Guide to Science and Belief.

Lion Publishing.1990

Boeer. M. M. Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History.

Mason, Claire. New Religious Movements: the impact on our lives. White

Thompson Publishing Limited.2003

Pfeffer, Leo. Quoted in New Religious Movements: the impact on our

lives.