Introduction: “A course in religion is ideal as synthesis of liberal arts. It is no longer the Queen of Sciences, but it is still the Queen of Humanities” (Burton, “Study Theology even if You don’t Believe in God”). In 2006, 37 US states limit public funds spending on religion as a consequence of the separation of the church and the state. Another drawback is the withholding of a promised funding for a qualified student because he decides to take theology as his major subject at a local Bible College. Today, some people think that removing REL 103 in the list of undergraduate courses is the right thing to do. Are these actions fair and right? The writer of this paper thinks that they are not right. The aim of this paper is to explain to the readers about the importance of REL 103 course in the undergraduate level. Thesis: Should REL 103 remain a required course? Yes, REL 103 should remain a required course.
What is REL 103 all about?
This course provides the students with an analysis of religious experience about different groups of people, including East and West spiritual beliefs in traditional and modern settings. It gives knowledge about the tribal religions, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism. This subject addresses the need for students to understand the diversified cultural heritage, including the effects of philosophical or artistic influences. The aim of this course is to make the students understand about the central categories in religious studies. They would also learn about the Christian tradition through the application of these categories to the images of Jesus. Another aim is to familiarize the learners with the methods of interpretation and central biblical texts (“Religion 103 – Introduction to the Christian Tradition”). In essence, REL 103 teaches three important topics in Christian religion. They are – God as the Holy Trinity according to Christians, Jesus Christ as the Son of God in a human form, and Salvation for humanity through Jesus. Religion is the spiritual practice for every Christian and the heart of Christianity (Burton, “Study Theology even if You don’t Believe in God”).
Important knowledge that the students learn from REL 103:
After completing the course, the students could reason out about important values using the religious concepts as their basis. They would learn about the true meaning of life by evaluating the religious ideas. Moreover, they would have the skill of showing their critical and systematic analysis about various religious questions through the use of reasons, questioning, inference, and evidence. The students would also learn how to:
Identify and distinguish the differences between humanity’s religious attitudes, beliefs and practices.
Know the difference between the world religions taking their significant features and characteristics as basis.
Explain the important roles of religions and religious practices throughout the history of humanity in various cultural settings.
Finally, they could transform the religious concepts and ideas into the present context.
Why the advocates of REL 103 want it to stay:
Religion helps people to examine what they believe. It is worth investing on time because it is internally coherent and corresponds to reality. Since different groups of people have different beliefs about many things on earth, the people become completely disconnected and these things do not fit with other things that they believe. With many paradoxes that Christianity has that is difficult to solve logically, religion is the key to explore the story of Christianity and see how all these parts fit together. Religion provides understanding about the Christian story’s coherence. Another reason is that religion keeps human beings humble. Since it is one of the great gifts that God gives to the people, it humbles them. Religion also teaches the students how to read and understand the Bible clearly. Since some of the stories and verses in the Bible are complicated, the students might not interpret them correctly. Therefore, religion subject could help them realize the correct interpretation of the Bible. Lastly, religion makes the people know God better. In Psalm 105:4 of the Bible, it reads “Look to Him and his strength always.” This verse means that human beings should seek God’s face always to know the correct path and lead a blessed life (“The New American Bible”).
Why the oppositionists want to remove REL 103:
Even in the UK where the undergraduate programs in the universities typically include theology, many New Atheists want to abolish the religious studies course. In his letter published in “The Independent” in 2007, a popular New Atheist named Richard Dawkins argued about the importance of religious studies in academics. He pushed for the abolition of religious studies in academic subjects, saying that it has no significance and any real content to teach the students. He insisted that religious studies have no place in the contemporary university culture. According to Garner’s “Schools told to end religious instruction,” it is time for religious studies to move away from school life, and play unimportant or no role at all in the education system.” Many professionals argue that teaching of religion should not use the schools because the students have little or no time to question or criticize the teachings. Therefore, it distorts their minds and gives them no legitimacy (“Schools told to end religious instruction and teach morality instead”). Moreover, teaching religion is a waste of time, money and effort. It does not contribute something to the growth of the students after they leave the school and seek for work in companies. Religious studies course is just an additional burden for the students instead of focusing their time on academics (Garner, “Schools told to end religious instruction”).
The role of REL 103 in the life of students:
This course provides a wide knowledge to the students so that they can distinguish between a body and soul, and substance from essence. Religion plays an important role in the life of students because it informs them about the life, death and reincarnation of Christ. It sets the foundation of the entire history of Christianity as interpreted by Christians. Religion is crucial for shaping up Christianity, and ensuring unity among the Christians despite the diversity of their belief. It also informs the students about Islam, including the key episodes in Muhammad’s life. This knowledge is important to Muslims as the basis of history about their continuity. In the case of Judaism, religion plays an important role in teaching the Jewish history to the students so that they would know about their ancestors’ life and faith. It is interesting to know that Judaism does not calculate the time from the birth of Abraham or the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. It is not also from the time of revelation by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai, but from the beginning of the universe according to theories. The distinctive strength of the Jewish people emerges in the greatness of their cultural and spiritual belief, and not from their political or military power. Under the Protestant faith, religion introduces the students to the truth in worship, such as allowing the clergy to marry, encouraging the Christians to read and understand the Bible, and evaluating the authority of the traditional spiritual leaders. Religion also mentions about the key people who fostered the development of religion, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Saul, King David, Judah the Prince who edited the Misnah, and those who completed the Talmud named Rav Ashi and Ravina (Greenstein et al, “What Do our Neighbors Believe?”).
Conclusion: REL 103 should definitely remain a required course for undergraduate students. One of the reasons that this paper mentions is the awareness about the difference between a body and soul, and from substance to essence. This statement means that if the students do not know the difference between the body and soul, the tendency is that they would treat both as equal and just an object that dies. Likewise, if they cannot distinguish between substance and essence, they would just live on the basis of material things and spend their entire life craving for more in any way they can, whether for good or for worse. But if the students know that there is “life after death,” then, they would not focus on gaining more wealth, and prepare for the spiritual part of their lives by behaving well. In essence, they would have the true meaning of life instead of thinking that they should only live to die. Moreover, learning religion and understanding it by heart would not make them ignorant about the true beginning of life as per the Bible, and the major characters of the ancient times like Jacob and Moses who led the continuity of life for good. Moreover, the teachings of religion would provide a better understanding of God and the Bible. The writer of this paper thinks that without religious studies, it is difficult to explain to the students how the God of Christians represents the Holy Trinity. It is hard to understand how God acts in three persons – as God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In this case, they might even think that God is some sort of a monster that changes its appearance when it faces a threat. It is also confusing how Jesus Christ can save humanities through salvation. Additionally, the young ones would think why they should respect their parents, instructors, peers and other people when they are all flesh? Without religion, they would find the answer from cigarettes, games, gangs, alcohol and drugs.
Works Cited
Burton, Tara Isabela. “Study Theology even if You don’t Believe in God.” Oct. 2013. Web. 28
March 2016.
Greenstein, Howard R. et al, “What Do our Neighbors Believe?” 1962. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, London.
“The New American Bible.” 1970. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Washington, D.C.
“Religion 103 – Introduction to the Christian Tradition.” 1995. Web. 28 March 2016.
“Schools told to end religious instruction and teach morality instead.” June 2015. Web. 28
March 2016.
