The Importance of Religion Today

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the importance of religion, describing it as the one thing that creates equality for the rich and poor, young and old, and transcends race and sex. The paper goes on to state that intolerance of diversity is the reason that religion has a negative side and this has been apparent all through history. The paper concludes that, although religion plays a very important role in our lives, society would be much better off studying the reasons that make religions good and breaking down the barriers that make religions bad.

From the Paper:

"A question that has resonated for thousands of years is the importance of religion. The importance of religion is, and always has been, the ideal that separates humankind from the rest of the animal kingdom; social responsibility and morality. The social responsibility and aspect of morality is the foundation of laws and social structure that have evolved over time. It (morality) gives guidance for existence, acceptance, bonds of friendship, family, and the ability to respect; particularly the rights of others to co-exist. Rather than walking the world as drones with the only purpose in living being reproduction and survival, humankind has been given reason to love, share, and carry on intellectual free will. Regardless of what we see as a creator or creators and how our existence came to be, all religions share the ideal that we as humans have a reason to be here on earth and a reason to be happy to exist. Religious practice creates direction on how to treat our neighbors, how to carry on with our daily lives, and most importantly how to co-exist with all things. I can think of no religion that teaches that a single mortal person, you, is the most important thing in the entire world. Religion is the one thing that creates equality for the rich and poor, young and old, and transcends (in pure form) race and sex. Religion creates this equality among all by creating an existence higher than all and accountability to the creator(s); a reality greater than the human. In simplest form, religion gives the idea that we humans are not on top of the food chain."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dodge, Christine Huda. The Everything: Understanding Islam Book. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2003.
• Dye, Thomas R. Politics in America: Seventh Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2007.
• Garretson, Wm. Religious Denominations of the World. Philadelphia, PA: William Garretson and Co., 1871
• Googan, Michael D. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Hahn, Thich Naht. Living Buddha, Living Christ. New York, NY: Berkley Publishing Group, 1995.

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