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Assignment # 1
Assignment topic: Introduction to
Religion
Submitted by:
Tasneem Akhtar MS (Edu) DDE
Submitted to:
Sir Naseer Ahmed

Introduction
Religion is a belief and faith on the existence of God, creation and function of the nature and
universe, rules and guidelines to worship a God or group of Gods, prayers, religious festivals
and ceremonies and guideline to daily life practices. Religion is a complete code of conduct
from born to death and afterlife of death.
Religion is basically a set of principles, beliefs, faith and rituals that serves to predicament
people to compose through shared worship, thus making a social group. Set of beliefs and
practices that concern to a holy or paranormal empire that monitors human behavior and
gives meaning to life among a community of believers.
Characteristics of Religion

Religion serves as a means of social control, exerts a great influence upon personality
development and dispels fear of unknown, Explains events or situations which are
beyond comprehension of man. Religion gives man comfort, strength and hope in
times of crisis and despair.
It preserves and transmits knowledge, skills, spiritual, and cultural values and
practices. It serves as an instrument of change.

Promotes closeness, love,

cooperation, friendliness and helpfulness. It provides hope for a blissful life after
death.
Religion help to close the gap between hope and reality (e.g., the final victory over
death, evil, etc., is in heaven). Make virtue out of social necessity (encouraging and
requiring the individual to sacrifice for others, ego surrender where the functioning of
society conflicts with the functioning of the individual). Support and console
individuals and groups.
Religion enhances social stability through projecting sacredness upon social norms,
and through the creation of authoritative sources of opinion regarding moral matters-the "priestly function" of religion.
Promote social change when religion is in conflict with the prevailing order of society,
through social criticism and prophecy--the "prophetic function" of religion.
Facilitate personal growth and maturation, as they are conceptualized by the religion.
Adjust individuals to the life cycle of changing social status.
Rationalize social, political, and economic inequality, reducing conflict in stratified
societies. Allaha-subhanhu- talla said in surah Baqarah verses 256:

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right

course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in
Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold
with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
Misunderstanding about Religion
Excessive guilt and repression causing individuals to suffer emotionally for failure to
live up to religious ideals.
Self-mortification inducing people to endure physical suffering unnecessarily or to
cause themselves to suffer deliberately for religious reasons. Ethnocentrism causing
people to have narrowed culturally centered perceptions of other groups, arming them
with absolute convictions that can justify repression and violence toward them.
Promotes intergroup conflict by causing individuals to feel urgent about exporting
their religion, and to feel offended by the religions of other peoples rationalizes social,

political, and economic inequality, preventing social change necessary to reduce

social conflict.
Need of religion
Religion is an essential part of life for many people. The reason is largely down to the belief that society needs
religion. As a society we benefit from our collective religious beliefs. In fact there are many people who would
argue that we could not function without religion. The biggest reason that society needs religion is to regulate
behavior. Most of the laws that we follow today have their basis in religious teachings. There is considerable
debate as to whether or not religion is required to make us good people but what is beyond dispute is that the
rules for what is acceptable for society are largely based on religion. Without religion we would almost
certainly live in a different type of society.
Religion provides mental peace:
Human life is uncertain. He struggles for his survival amidst the uncertainties, insecurities
and dangers, Some-times he feels helplessness. It is the religion which consoles and encourages him in all
such time of crisis. Religion gives right shelter to him. He gets mental peace and emotional
support. It encourages him to face his life and problems.
Religion explains individual suffering
Man does not live by knowledge alone. He is an emotional creature. Religion serves to thee motions of
man in times of his sufferings and disappointment. On God religion puts faith and entertains
the belief that some unseen power moves in mysterious ways to make even his loss
meaningful. In this way religion gives release from sorrow and release from fear. It helps man to bear his
frustration and integrate his personality.
It inculcates social virtues:
Religion promotes the major social virtues like truth, honesty, non-violence, service, love,
discipline etc. A follower of the religions internalizes these virtues and becomes disciplined citizen of the
society.
Religion promotes social solidarity:
Religion gives rise to the spirit of brotherhood. Durkheim viewed that religion strengthens social solidarity.
Religion has the supremely integration and verifying force in human society. It is true that

common belief, common sentiment, common worship, participation in common rituals etc.
are the significant cementing factors which strengthen unity and solidarity.
Religion converts the animal qualities to human qualities:
Religion inculcates the spirit of self-service. It demands that people should be charitable
and benevolent. Through various religious experiences he forgets the worldly life and
problems. This experience suppresses the animal desires and converts the animal qualities of
man to human qualities.
Religion is an agent of socialization and social control:
Religion provides a model for living. It upholds certain ideals and values. The believer
imbibes these ideals and values in his life. Religion can help youth generation to
become moral, disciplined and socialized citizens of society. Organization like temples,
mosques, church, Gurudwaras etc. also control the behavior of the individuals at different
level.
Religion promotes welfare:
Religion teaches to the people to serve the masses and promote their welfare. It gives message that "the
service to humanity is service to God". For this reason, people spend money to feed poor and
needy. Great religions like Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity etc. put emphasis on aim-giving
to the poor and beggars. With the influence of religious belief different religious
organizations engage themselves in various welfare activities. Like spreading of education
and opening up many charitable institutions like hospitals, rest houses, temples and to help
the poor.
Religion gives recreation:
Religion plays a charming role in providing recreation to the people. Religious rites and festivals are more or
less performed in every religion which gives relief to the people from mental exertion. Similarly religious
lectures, bhajans, kirtans, musical concerts followed by the utterance of hymn etc. gives much
more pleasure to the people and provides eternal recreation.
Religion comes as a source of social cohesion

Religion is the ultimate source of social cohesion. The primary requirement of society is the
possession of social values by which individuals control the action of self and others and
through which

society

is perpetuated.

Science

and

technology

cannot

create this

value. Religion is the foundation upon which these values rest. Children should obey their
parents, should not tell lie, women should be faithful to men, people should be honest and
Virtuous, are some of the social values which maintain social cohesion.
Religious influences political system:
Religion has played a significant role in political system in the ancient and medieval society.
Even in modern times in many countries of the world the religion directly and indirectly also influences
political activities. During ancient and medieval period, the monarchs were treating
themselves as the representatives of the God or ruling the society in the name of God. Even today, Political
leaders take oath in the name of God. The political system of the countries of the world
like Bhutan, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, England etc. are influenced by religion.
Religion Strengthens Self-confidence:
Religion is an effective means to strengthen self-confidence. There are certain beliefs like 'work is worship',
'duty is divine', 'result in predestined' etc. which is found in various religions give strength to
the individual and promotes self-confidence. One last reason that we need religion is that it gives us
something to believe in. People need to believe that there is a reason for what they are doing and that there is a
reason for life. Religion provides this for them. This is what gives people the desire to go out and work every
day and to try to make the world a better place. They do it because they believe there is a meaning behind it all.
This is largely down to religion.
Types of religion
As of 2014, there are an estimated 4,200 different religions in the world, and these can be
categorized into several main religions. These include Christianity, Roman Catholicism,
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism, although Roman Catholicism is often categorized
under Christianity. There are many smaller yet still prevalent religions, such as the Baha'i
faith. When including Roman Catholicism, Christianity is the world's largest religion.
Christianity also includes Protestantism and its many denominations, such as Lutherans,
United Methodists, Southern Baptists and the Assemblies of God. There are also
nondenominational Christians.

Islam is prevalent in the Middle East and is broken into the Sunni, Shia and Sufi groups.
Hinduism is dominant in India. Buddhism is prevalent in Asia, such as Cambodia, Laos and
Thailand, although it originated in India. One variant of Buddhism is Zen Buddhism. Judaism
originated in Israel.
Christianity and its beliefs
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus
Christ. It is the world's largest religion, with over 2.4 billion followers or 32% of the global
population, known as Christians.
Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can be known in a personal
way, in this life. With Jesus Christ, the person's focus is not on religious rituals or performing
good works, but on enjoying a relationship with God and growing to know him better.
Christians regard the Bible as God's written message to humankind. In addition to being an
historical record of Jesus' life and miracles, the Bible reveals God's personality, his love and
truth, and how one can have a relationship with him. Whatever circumstances a Christian is
dealing with in their life, the Bible teaches that they can confidently turn to a wise and
powerful God who genuinely loves them. They believe that God answers prayer and that life
takes on meaning as they live to honor him.
Islam and its beliefs
Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad. Those who
follow Islam are called Muslims. Muslims believe that there is only one God. The Arabic
word for God is Allah. Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah, who is
infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind. Allah is viewed as the creator of the
universe and the source of all good and all evil. Everything that happens is Allah's will. He is
a powerful and strict judge, who will be merciful toward followers depending on the
sufficiency of their life's good works and religious devotion. A follower's relationship with
Allah is as a servant to Allah.
Though a Muslim honors several prophets, Muhammad is considered the last prophet and his
words and lifestyle are that person's authority. To be a Muslim, one has to follow five
religious duties: 1. Repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad; 2. Recite certain prayers in

Arabic five times a day; 3. Give to the needy; 4. One month each year, fast from food, drink,
sex and smoking from sunrise to sunset; 5. Pilgrimage once in one's lifetime to worship at a
shrine in Mecca. At death -- based on one's faithfulness to these duties -- a Muslim hopes to
enter Paradise. If not, they will be eternally punished in hell.
For many people, Islam matches their expectations about religion and deity. Islam teaches
that there is one supreme God, who is worshiped through good deeds and disciplined
religious rituals. After death a person is rewarded or punished according to their religious
devotion. Muslims believe that giving up ones life for Allah is a sure way of entering
Paradise.

Hinduism and its beliefs

Hindu traditionalists prefer to call it Santana Dharma (the eternal or ancient dharma). The
study of India and its cultures and religions, and the definition of "Hinduism", has been
shaped by the interests of colonialism and by Western notions of religion. Most Hindus
worship one Being of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through infinite representations of gods
and goddesses. These various manifestations of gods and goddesses become incarnate within
idols, temples, gurus, rivers, animals, etc. Hindus believe their position in this present life
was determined by their actions in a previous life. Hinduism therefore provides a possible
explanation for suffering and evil in this life. If a persons behavior before was evil, they
might justifiably experience tremendous hardships in this life. Pain, disease, poverty or a
disaster like a flood is deserved by that person because of their own evil actions, usually from
a previous lifetime.
Only the soul matters which will one day be free of the cycle of rebirths and be at rest.
Hinduism gives a person freedom to choose how to work toward spiritual perfection. There
are three possible ways to end this cycle of karma: 1. Be lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu
gods or goddesses; 2. Grow in knowledge through meditation of Brahman (oneness)...to
realize that circumstances in life are not real, that selfhood is an illusion and only Brahman is
real; 3. Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies and rites.
Judaism and its beliefs
Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions and was founded over 3500 years ago in
the Middle East. Jews believe that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to

set an example of holiness and ethical behaviour to the world. Abraham, a Hebrew man, is
considered the father of the Jewish faith because he promoted the central idea of the Jewish
faith: that there is one God
Today nearly fourteen million Jewish people live all over the world. Approximately half of
them live in the United States, one quarter live in Israel, and a quarter are still scattered
around the world in countries in Europe, Russia, South America, Africa, Asia and other North
American and Middle Eastern countries. Anyone born to a Jewish mother is considered a
Jew. Jewish people believe in the Torah, which was the whole of the laws given to the
Israelites at Sinai. They believe they must follow God's laws which govern daily life. Later
legal books, written by rabbis, determine the law as it applies to life in each new place and
time.
There are three basic groups of Jewish people who have a different understanding of the
interpretation of the Torah.
Orthodox Jews believe that all of the practices in the Torah which it is practical to obey must
be obeyed without question.
Conservative and Reform Jews believe that the ancient laws and practices have to be
interpreted for modern life with inclusion of contemporary sources and with more concern
with community practices than with ritual practices.
Reform Jews also allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both Hebrew and the
local language are spoken in services.
Buddhism and its beliefs
Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People outside of Buddhism often think that
Buddhists worship the Buddha. However, the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) never claimed to
be divine, but rather he is viewed by Buddhists as having attained what they are also striving
to attain, which is spiritual enlightenment and, with it, freedom from the continuous cycle of
life and death. Most Buddhists believe a person has countless rebirths, which inevitably
include suffering. A Buddhist seeks to end these rebirths. Buddhists believe it is a person's
cravings, aversion and delusion that cause these rebirths. Therefore, the goal of a Buddhist is
to purify one's heart and to let go of all yearnings toward sensual desires and the attachment
to oneself.

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Buddhists follow a list of religious principles and very dedicated meditation. When a
Buddhist meditates it is not the same as praying or focusing on a god, it is more of a selfdiscipline. Through practiced meditation a person may reach Nirvana -- "the blowing out" of
the flame of desire.
Difference between these major religions
These are major belief systems and their views of God; we find marvelous difference
between these religions:

Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses.

Buddhists say there is no deity.

Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.

Christians believe in a God who is loving and approachable.

Islam to give up their one God, Hinduism to give up their numerous gods, and Buddhism to
establish that there is a God. The world's major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam,
following Jesus Christ) are each quite unique. And of these one affirms that there is a
personal, loving God who can be known, now in this life. Jesus Christ spoke of a God who
welcomes us into a relationship with him and comes along side us as a comforter, counselor
and powerful God who loves us.
In Hinduism a person is on their own trying to gain release from karma. In Buddhism it is an
individual pursuit at being free from desire. And in Islam, the individual follows religious
laws for the sake of paradise after death. In Jesus' teaching, you see a personal relationship
with a personal God -- a relationship that carries over into the next life.
Conclusion
Thus, from the discussion we know that religion is the central element in the life
of civilization. Throughout the ages it is a proof of its values. It has been the propagator of
basic values and ethical code which provide cohesion to society and integration to
personality.

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Retrieved from these sites:

https://www.al-islam.org/need-religion-allamah-sayyid-saeed-akhtar-rizvi/need-religion
http://www.everystudent.com/features/connecting.html
http://www.uri.org/kids/world_juda_basi.htm
Atiyeh George Nicholas (1995) The Islamic World Suny Press, 1995
Bloom, Jonathan and Sheila Blair. Islam (2002) A Thousand Years of Faith and Power. New Haven,
CT: Yale University Press.