Discuss the criteria you will employ to determine if people on earth are religious in other words, what does religion look like?
I embarked on a journey to the planet known as earth to establish whether the people there are religious and their religious practices in relation to religion. In my view, religion is a way of life in addition to the traditions, relics and practices of a belief that an individual worships a divinity. Individuals, in addition to believing, they should contribute, involve themselves, surrender and dedicate their lives in existing and having trust in their divine being. I researched and observed what divine beings human beings worship, how they worship these beings, how committed they are to worshiping these beings and practices they engage in while practicing their worship to these beings.
Determining how religious planet earth is was a very important task for our planet. Having a clear understanding of this, I embarked on finding out the status of religion on earth. Different methods were used to gather information and established what religion is like on earth. These methods include primary and secondary methods. The primary methods used included interviews and observation. Secondary methods used included books, journals and website sources that have information on religion on earth. This report will give findings on the status of religion on earth.
In my research I discovered that people on earth are very religious. However they believe in different Gods and there are several religions on earth. Over three hundred humans were interviewed on their religious stands. Observations were also carried out to determine the religious activities that people engage in and how committed they are to these religious activities. It was discovered that humans are very religious. This is because there are over fifteen religions on earth. However there are three major religions on earth. They include Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.
Secondary sources were also used to determine the state of religion on planet earth. It was established that religion has been in existence since the existence on human beings on earth and it is a very important part of their lives. On planet earth, the religion known as Christianity has the most followers. The number of Christian followers is estimated to be two billion. This religion is divided into different denominations which mostly focus on their belief in Jesus Christ. Christians believe that he is the son of the one and only almighty god. They believe that this god created every thing in the universe including human beings. Christians believe that their purpose in life is to serve and love their god all their lives and they will be rewarded according to how they lived their lives when they die.
Another religion identified in my research on earth is Muslim. Muslims believe in a god they know as Allah and they observe certain pillars in this religion. They believe in confessing on daily basis that Allah is the only god and Mohamed is his prophet. They also believe in conducting a ritual prayer five times in the course of the day. They have to wash their hands, feet and faces before conducting these prayers. They also believe in religious tax paying where the tax is collected from the fortunate and given to the less fortunate. This is supposed to indicate that in the sight of their god all followers are equal. They also believe that in the ninth month of the Islamic year all the adults must abstain from food, drinks and sex during the day. They also believe that every believer must pay pilgrimage to Mecca. This is a journey that involves visiting a city known as Mecca found on planet earth at least once in a life time.
Hinduism is another religion I discovered when I was doing my research on earth. Hindus believe that their next life is highly influenced by their current life. This makes them observe a strict moral conduct. They believe that they have to live a good life now so as to reach nirvana also known as paradise. They believe in being reborn after death and the quality of life after death is determined by the quality of life before death.
Based on your observations, explain what the function of religion appears to be on Earth. If you find that religion can be better discussed in terms of something other than its function, explain how else religion could be understood?
On earth religion appears to have different functions. In my research I discovered that the different religions on earth seem to give humans peace. This is because they believe there is a supreme being watching over them. Religions also give humans a purpose for life. Christians believe that they live to serve their god as well as Muslims while Hindus believe in rebirth and continuation of life.
Religion seems to bring humans together as they gather in different religious facilities to worship their respective gods. Muslims gather in mosques, Christians in churches and Hindus in temples. This make the humans more united. Religion also guides humans on how to live morally up right lives with respect for human existence and life in general. All religions give strict guidelines on how its followers should conduct themselves. Religion is also used by humans as a place of solace when they are in trouble. Humans have a way of communicating to their respective gods whom they believe will help them solve their problems.
In conclusion, in my research I discovered that in all religions on earth humans use religion as a guide in how to care for themselves and those close to them so as to appease the god they believe in. In my findings I discovered the over ninety percent of humans meet my criteria of the definition of religion. It is therefore my report that even if there are numerous religions on earth, humans are generally religious species.
References
Fisher, M. P. (1997). Living Religions: An Encyclopedia of the World's Faiths. New Jersey: I.B.Tauris.
Knitter, P. F. (1995). One earth, many religions: multifaith dialogue and global responsibility. Michigan: Orbis Books.
Neusner, J. (2003). World Religions in America: An Introduction. London: Westminster John Knox Press.
