Religion: What Does It Mean to Me? What is religion? According to the definition, religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. However, religion from my personal standpoint, can mean or be anything, but the center of it is certainly based on faith. Faith is a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. I believe that faith is the strongest characteristic of someone, and religion, as its basis, makes us who we are today. If I were to ask, what does religion really mean to me? Questions often pop out of my mind such as, why do different religions exist? Why is religion a basis of what we are as human beings? What does religion aim to do in this world? Does having a religion mean you are religious? Does having a religion mean you believe in God? Does having religion mean you have faith in Him? Does having a religion mean you are living your life? These questions I often think I cannot understand. Different people may have answered it. The bible may have answered it. Me, myself, may have answered it. However, the satisfaction of understanding religion left untold. I was born Catholic because my parents are Catholic. As a child, I was taught by my parents, grandparents, titos and titas, about religion. I was taught to attend church every Sunday for the mass. I was taught at home, in church, in school the importance of believing God, and understanding religion. I was taught by my religion the sins I should not commit, the things I should do as a human, the things I should do to repent my sins, and how to survive. Basically, religion taught me how to survive. It provides a code of life to people, a limitation, and a purpose. For instance, Catholic has ten commandments that we should obey to live good lives that are peaceful, happy, and productive. These ten commandments made a way to unite people. As per se, God made us, and He wants the best for us. Religion instills us with the teachings, belief, and practices that human beings should remember. I have found that the teachings of Catholic Church includes God's objective existence, God's interest in individual human beings, who can enter into relations with God—through prayer, the divinity of Jesus, the immortality of the soul of each human being, each one being accountable at death for his or her actions in life, with the award of heaven or hell, the resurrection of the dead, the historicity of the Gospels, and the divine commission of the church. In my perspective as a student, religion became the basis of what’s good, what’s right and wrong; a guide to become a good man. In my whole existence, I've experienced things that test my faith, my patience, my character-my whole self. I agree that it is hard to solidify our faith to 100%. I will always ask the whys and what ifs in my life until I feel I’m losing Him. I, sometimes, think that I should give up or lose my faith because of the things that are happening to me. But then, the things instilled inside me, the love of God, made me try and try. It became my safest place. I still don’t understand its definite meaning. I still find answers for my questions above. I may believe in Him but I still have a lot to learn in life. But If you ask me about religion, this would be my answer: It is the purpose and it is the path to happiness, and the path that leads me to Him.
