Caitlin Arnold 11/13/2013 Humanities 1100

What is Religion?

In our class introduction to the theme PowerPoint, there was a picture that depicted someones interpretation of what religion is. The picture had five or six men all blindfolded and holding or feeling different parts of an elephant. They all have piece of the story and all claim to be the whole story, but truthfully no one has any idea what their piece belongs to. Religion consists of a belief and its following. Firstly, a religion must have a belief. Is there a God? Is there only a Spirit? What are the morals of the Religion? What is the religions ultimate goal? Is there a purpose to human life? Is there an afterlife? If the religion answers these questions; it begins to gain a following. A group of believers who put their faith in a set of beliefs perpetuates the religions ideals to the next generation. Some religions ask their followers to gain more followers through missionary work. The reason behind this is to bring others to salvation. All religions ask for people to live a righteous life. Righteousness is defined by the religions teachings. Some religions have leaders who orchestrate the religions beliefs and therefore its followers beliefs. Other religions do not have one leader of the group but everyone believes in the same principles and ideals that exist through sacred books or manifestos and practice every day. One of the most interesting religions to study is Islam. Many are confused as to what Muslims believe because of increased speculation and racist presumptions. The most surprising thing to find out about Islam was that they believe in the Bible (but dont read it) and in Jesus. They believe everyone has the right to believe whatever they want to believe and that they have the same right. Their main Holy text is the Quran. Islams origins stem from the prophet

Caitlin Arnold 11/13/2013 Humanities 1100

Muhammad. Muhammad was a man who received revelation from the Archangel Gabriel in a cave on a mountain. This revelation was the Holy Quran. Throughout Muhammads life, he continued to receive these revelations. Muslims believe in only one God, whom they call Allah. After study of what the religion is about, you find that it is a more peaceful religion that what others make it out to be. For example, the Quran constantly refers to Allah as most Gracious or Merciful. Muslims value these qualities and desire to be like Allah and therefore desire to have the same qualities. Religion has been a constant throughout the history of mankind. Those who believe the world would be a better place without religion, do not understand that religion is what perpetuates diversity, ideals, and belief that there is something greater than ourselves to know and love. Any religion begs questions that we must ask ourselves and think about. The more we question the things around us and our origins, the greater our understanding is of humankind. Religion promotes values and instills those values into our young. This is not to mean that those who have no faith in any religion, are evil or cruel; but everything we hold to be good stems from religion and therefore everyones ancestors in one way or another.