MAJOR RELIGIONS // LESSON – 1 // INTRODUCTION //

 

MAJOR RELIGIONS

 

LESSON – 1 - INTRODUCTION

 

I. Introduction

According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world. The practice of a religion


may also include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration of a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology. Religion is also the main differentiating characteristic of human. Religion provides an individual what one cannot obtain from any other source. It provides confidence in the outcome of life’s struggle through a personal connection with the superior powers that control the world. The institutions of social life grow and develop in a community in their own way. As time passes, the ways in which the community does things become fixed. So the rules, which govern social behavior, become the laws of the community or of the nation, and the way in which a country is governed becomes a fixed political system. In a similar way every community forms its own religion.

II. The Definition of Religion

There are differing views and definitions on the term ‘religion’ among the scholars. In simple words, religion is the way humans experience and relate to some sacred deities. It is an experience transmitted as a community tradition with sacred symbols, places, times, people and (sometimes) scriptures; it is expressed in rituals, myths, doctrines, and ethical-cultural values; by participating in this constantly adapting tradition perceived human limitations and threats to existence are experienced as overcome or transcended.

Etymologically, the word “Religion” comes from the Latin word ‘religio’. It consists of two words: ‘re’ and ‘ligra’ (re means back and ligra means ‘to bring’). This usage makes it clear that “that which binds the soul back to God is religion”. Religion shows the way for the attainment of God realization. Religion satisfies the deep inward craving in human, as he/she is not always content with leading merely an animal existence but longs for spiritual consolation and peace.

Some scholars’ views on Religion:

1. Max Muller

“Religion is a mental faculty or disposition which enables human to apprehend the infinite under different names and under varying guises”.

2. E. B. Taylor

“Religion is belief in a spiritual being”.

3. S. Sivananda

“Religion is the practical aspect of philosophy”.

4. Emmanuel Kant

“Religion is the recognition of all duties as divine command”.

III. The Origin of Religion

1. Nature Worship

Religion is started from the worship of nature. Anthropologists and sociologists have brought out this view. The fear of darkness forced them to worship moon, likewise fear of heat forced them to worship sun and fear of rain forced them to worship trees. This is how people started looking at nature like fire, rain, sun and moon as gods.

2. Spirit worship

People thought that those who are dying they have supernatural power. Thus they started dead spirit worship. Dead spirits were considered as gods.

3. Worship of Idols

People needed some form to worship, thus idol worship came into existing. They made idols by clay, stone, wood, and materials.

4. Worship of Scripture

This means they started to write about God, worship. In other words, scriptures made them to worship.

5. Temple Worship

They do not want to keep their idols under the sunlight and thus temple worship started. It started especially in the time of kings. Kings built many temples on the basis of Agamas.

IV. Importance of Religion

Religion is a very center of human life. Atheists say that there is no God but in one way or another way they are also centered on religions. They also read religious books to find fault in religious books. Hence, they are also God centered.

1. Religion and Society

Society means something related to religions. Society cannot be separated from religion. Human beings are social animal and social animal always need center and that is religion. Religious activities and practices determine society is bad or good.

2. Religion and Politics

In Indian perspective religion is closely connected with politics. Sangh Parivar is important religious wing in India. Sangh Parivar is called R.S.S, V.H.P. and B.D.

3. Religion and Ethics

Ethics cannot explain and determine without religion. Religion is core aspect of ethics. Ethics means the way of life. The way of life is determine with religion, because moral lessons are found in religious scriptures. Religious scriptures mould moral life. Ethics always related to religion.

4. Religion and Spirituality

Religion is useless without spirituality. Spirituality is a growing process. Mysticism is the highest form of spirituality.

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