Religion and Theology

The paper contains several questions that pertain to the concept of religion throughout the world. It also deals with the concept of a deity or multiple deities and the importance of this world in various religions of the world. It also goes to show the importance that various religions attach to living as a community.

Religion and Religious Beliefs

How have the critics of religion explained religious belief
Religious belief is viewed by critics as a state of the soul wherein everything physical and spiritual that revolves around the Universe is made by one single deity or multiple deities. It is a belief that there is always a divine intervention in the daily life of a person and his subsequent fate. It is also taken to be the following of values and practices of a spiritual and divine leader often taken as a prophet. Some critics view religion and its practices to be needlessly arcane and refuse to follow it.

What role does human experience play in the development of religious belief
Human experience has a lot to play in the development of any religious values. Religious beliefs are developed by the refinement of emotional values as opposed to intellectual values. These values are developed as human experience increases. By persistent belief in a deity or deities and its continuous intervention in daily life as numerous incidents (both fortunate and unfortunate) take place during the course of a persons life, these values get free from obscurity and therefore the religious belief strengthens.

What are the reported benefits of religious belief
Strong Religious beliefs are usually a motivation factor towards success for any man in his life. By strong belief in a positive intervention of a spiritual deity or deities, a person finds a ray of hope in all forms of adversity and misfortune. Even by associating all worldly success with a deity or deities, a man finds solace and humility which proves to be a driving force to further his success. Religious beliefs shape a social culture in any society based on human principles and in this way it also provides for the social upheaval of any region and it cultivates a habit in the society to conform to laws which benefit all in any community.

How has the divine been understood in the history of human culture
The divine is taken be something holy something which far above anything a man can perceive and is excellent in the highest degree. Anything divine is supremely admirable and has the nature of a god.

What does it mean to be a holy person
A holy person is considered to be the best example for others to follow in any religion. He is a person who is good to others and has attained the perfect enlightenment required for the specific religion. He is also, at times, considered to be the apotheosis of glorification.

How does religious belief reinforce the importance of community Are there times when it does not
Almost all religions promote the sense of community amongst its followers and people with the same values, both moral and spiritual, find it very attractive and pleasurable to follow those very values. There are times when the religion does not reinforce the importance of staying in a community, often due to reasons of getting spiritual exaltation by spending long hours in meditation and remaining in seclusion. This practice is often perceived to be spiritually rejuvenating.

How do different religions view the world
Most religions have a fatalistic view of this Universe. Many perceive this life to be temporary and a hunting ground for the life after death. To find exaltation of rank in the life after death, religions emphasize salvation by prayer and following its very teachings with zeal and devotion. The world is taken by many religions as an opportunity for a better reincarnation or a better eternal life in the form of Heaven or Hell. This world is also perceived by some as an opportunity to free oneself from the cycle of rebirth (Lash, 1996).

What is the notion of time in different religious traditions
Many religions have different ideas about the philosophies on the nature of time. For example, the Abraham religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc) see time as linear as in it a time cannot return back once passed. Dharma religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism etc) see time as circular through the concept of reincarnation (Lash, 1996).

What are the difficulties in trying to define religion and religious belief
Religious beliefs are often dual in nature as they pertain to the belief in a deity or multiple deities as well as the ethical and moral behavior that is exhibited to others. Religion has multi-faceted nature as it needs to be specifically defined for any particular religious cult or belief. Religion is seen as a philosophical and theological phenomenon of the human kind which varies from one religion to the other. So it can be rightly said that no single definition can suffice for all the varied forms of religion.

What are the basic characteristics or elements of religion
The basic characteristic of all religions is the belief in a superior deity or multiple deities who are far greater and excellent than any human and the rituals attached to it. Elements of religion comprise of things which pertain to the common goodness of the society for the love and peace of all involved and for followers any particular religious faith.

Are these characteristics found in culture or daily life where they are not usually identified as religious

Yes, the aforementioned characteristics can often be found in our daily life as ethical or moral values. The adherence to authority and obedience and respect for the same is always present in all societies which are normally not identified as religious. Also, the human values for the good of the whole society and for the benefit of others are present in all religions but normally not identified as religious is our daily life.