Roots of Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the common roots of the world's major religions, in terms of myths surrounding them. The paper discusses the four functions of myths - to inspire awe, to explain the world, to provide people with rituals and ethics, which help teach the young and to provide people with guidance through the various stages of life, from birth to death. The paper discusses how all religions are based on these myths and compares some of the their practices to illustrate its points.

From the Paper:

"Furthermore, the fact that modern American society has abandoned so many of its religious aspects, has also led to a widespread abandonment of traditional maturity rituals in the United States. However, there is something about the maturity ritual that keeps it from being suppressed and different groups, primarily of adolescent aged males, from street gangs to Ivy League fraternities, have developed their own initiations. From fraternity hazing to gang initiation rituals, these groups ask their members to engage in symbolic activities that demonstrate the transformation from adult to full-fledged group member. In addition, many of the groups that have developed in the wake of scientific knowledge, while lacking some of the other elements of religious groups, do contain certain elements of ritual that help bond and define a group."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press,1968.
• Campbell, Joseph. Masks of God: Oriental Mythology. New York: Penguin, 1962.
• Campbell, Joseph. Masks of God: Primitive Mythology. New York: Penguin, 1987.
• Center for Learning. "Lesson 5: Introduction to the Monomyth, an Initiation Theme."
• CenterforLearning.org. 2006. Center for Learning. 13 Apr. 2006 <http://www.centerforlearning.org/lessonplans/Arch.pdf#search='joseph%20campbell%20maturity%20rituals%20religion'>.

More papers on Roots of Religion:

• Argumentative Essay # 54667 : "Early Christian Roots of the Holocaust"
• Analytical Essay # 142453 : "Freedom of Religion"
• Analytical Essay # 130632 : "Philosophy of Religion"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: