Religion
Religion-wiki — for all religions and none
|
Religion Wiki General Information · Getting started · Editing Start your own article here 2,368 articles in our database. | ||
Religion is any established method or organization that endeavors to understand the universe in which we live and what purposes this life and the universe in which we live fulfill. Conversely, religion also involves something that needs no establishment — that of an individual's personal relationship with the universe and life.
Although there is no set definition of what a religion must consist of, there are some common characteristics shared by many religions, most of which originate from relation and historical beginnings.
At its core, Religion offers the means for a person to experience the whole spectrum of human consciousness. It is not just mental beliefs, but also emotional reactions, physical acts of service, intuitive knowings, and a wholistic sense of connectedness to the whole universe, whatever its form.
Contents |
Deity
Frequently, religion is based on a belief in some greater entity or entities, often deity, that has established the universe and brought life to the Earth. Commonly these beings are reffered to as Gods.
Form
Among religions that believe in deity, beliefs are varied as to what forms such a being takes. Some religions suggest that such a being exists solely as an energy, often permeating the whole of the universe, others as a spirit, and some that of a body of flesh and bone, like our own.
The ontological argument of Saint Anselm attempted to bring together the idea of the divine with the new scholastic philosophy of his age in the statement of the divine as aliquid quod maius non cogitari potest, 'that of which no greater can be conceived'.
Relation
Religions differ in belief as to what relation we have with deity. One common belief is that God is the spiritual Father of humanity.
Religious Identity
Religion can also be seen as giving a religious identity to a belief system whether the religion believe in deities or not. It provides a short phrase to put on a form when you are asked, "What religion are you?"
Humanity
For the most part religion strives to define who and what a human is, as well as why - seemingly the defining question of religion.
Creation
Why humans exist most commonly is the starting point of religions and therefore, creation is often discussed as it helps to define whether there is purpose in life. In this regard, religion is commonly suggested to conflict with science, but it may be seen that science and religion are but twins — both striving to understand existence.
A majority of established religions believe that all things are and were created by deity, and that therefore, there is purpose in the existence of man. This commonly accepted belief has it's alternative - that of a creation by chance. This controversy has continued to be a strongly debated issue since before Darwin published his The Origin of Species in 1859, introducing a plausible mechanism for human evolution, though he felt that his theory was not in direct opposition.
