The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
The Contribution of Religion
Contribution to individuals
Religion offers an individual answers to life’s profound questions. It explains the creation of
the universe, human nature and life’s purpose. It also gives the individual an identity as a
believer within a religious tradition. This identity gives the individual a keen sense of
belonging. This helps the person understand what it is to be human and what are the
rightful relationships expected of him or her with others and with nature.
Religion also offers an individual a
system of ethics that will guide the person in
behaving appropriately. It advises individuals
on how they are to treat themselves, others
and the environment. It helps individuals
address current and challenging ethical issues
that may be too complex and difficult for
them to decide.
Religion also gives to individuals ways
by which they can celebrate significant events
and times in their lives. These rituals proclaim
to the community of believers that a person has grown and developed in his or her faith and
can now accept greater duties and responsibilities within the community. Most
importantly, religion offers individuals a way of perfection, that is, it instructs them on what
is required to become more true to themselves as people of faith and to move closer to
achieving the goal of their religious tradition.
Religious traditions present role models, guidance and direction for individuals to
develop their understanding of their faith and how to become better people. Religion also
presents to individuals ways of achieving
inner peace through prayer, reflection and
meditation. Religion also places individuals
in a long tradition of belief and practice.
This heritage gives reassurance to them of
the validity of the tradition since it has been
an appropriate means of living for
thousands of years. It also places
individuals within a specific cultural context
of that religious tradition, which defines the
particular customs and practices that they
will observe throughout their lives.
Religion may also help individuals define their attitudes and ideas. It may reinforce
stereotypes of race, gender and sexuality. It may determine a person’s response to other
religious traditions or different sects and churches within a religious tradition. It may make
individuals resistant towards modern developments of science and technology.
Activity
 Create two columns headed ‘Contribution to individual’ and ‘Examples’. In the first
column list in dot point form the contribution made by religions to the individual,
and in the second column give examples.
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
Contribution to society and culture
Humans have survived and developed because of their capacity to make sense of the world
around them and to use various materials to improve their life. They have used their reason
to create meaning and order. Religion has been one such system by which humans have
made sense of their place within the universe and what it is they need to do in order to
survive both here and after death. Though there are aspects of religion that have not been
an accurate understanding of the workings of the material world, it is undeniable that
religion has contributed greatly to the survival and development of humankind.
Human society rests on the
essential basis of maintaining order and
well-being for most members of that
society. It also depends on the safety
and security of its members, the ability
to feed and house people, and the ability
to hand on the knowledge and skills of
one generation to the next. In other
words, society needs peace in order to
survive. Religion has played a significant
role in maintaining this peace. Through
its principal teachings that acknowledge
the ultimate responsibility of individuals towards a divine being and their minimal
obligations and duties towards their neighbour, religion has instructed generations on the
means of preserving peace and harmony. Without doubt, religions have at times created
hostilities and wars, but the underlying motivation of authentic religions is to recognise the
fundamental goodness of a common humanity and a common destiny.
In many cases a society’s laws are based on the ethical systems of a religious
tradition (for example, the Westminster system of law and government, or the laws and
government of Islamic nations). Furthermore, social welfare (helping those less fortunate
than others) is a basic yet constant practice within religious traditions. Throughout most of
history it has been religious institutes that have developed hospitals, orphanages and care
for the stranger.
Religions have seen the importance of
education for their young and the need to
develop higher forms of learning for the
educated (for example, the great universities
throughout Europe, the Islamic world, India
and in Buddhist Asia). It is through these
institutes that the sciences and medical
knowledge have been either preserved or
developed. They have encouraged the higher
skills of philosophy, cosmology and theology,
and developed the precision of logical argument and clarity of thought. The roles and
positions of people within a society have also been largely the result of religious teaching.
The place of women, the definitions of childhood and the separation of officials and laity
have all been determined by religious traditions.
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
Humans, however, have not simply created sustainable societies. They have created
cultures that display the creative and artistic dimensions of the human Religious traditions
have been great patrons of the arts. They have been responsible for most of the world’s
wonders of architecture and grandeur such as Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal, Chartres
Cathedral and Borobudur.
Religions have also dictated the
appropriate diet and dress for people. They
have defined the weekly and yearly
calendar. Religious institutes have also
sponsored artists to decorate their sacred
spaces, to compose music of the highest
quality, and to decorate the interiors of
churches, mosques, synagogues and
temples with graceful design and ornament.
These have been recognised as
masterpieces by both religious and nonreligious peoples.
Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Since religious traditions wish to
preserve what they believe to be the truth, religions have on occasion prevented the
advancement of knowledge and understanding, particularly in science and medicine (for
example, the rejection of the Copernican revolution by some within the Christian tradition
and more recently the rejection of the theory of evolution). The past misunderstandings
and errors of religions came about through a lack of access to modern technology and
science. They cannot be condemned on this basis, for they were only using what was
available to them at that time. Rather, religions have been an essential part of society and
culture.
What cannot be dismissed is the fact that religions have given comfort, hope and joy to
humans throughout history. They have taught that humans are more than what is
understood and explained by science. They have insisted that humans are beings capable of
great acts of goodness and creativity. They have consistently taught that humans are
created by the divine as beings with free will and reason who are destined for happiness.
Activities
1. Give examples of how religion has played an important role in:
o Architecture
o law
o art
o meaning and order in human life.
2. Divide into two groups. Debate the following statement: ‘Human society is possible
only with the contribution from religion.’
Oxford Studies of Religion