Religion
...ace. Also in the Christian religion, questions may arise about the beginning of life and how we got to Earth. The myth of Adam and Eve and the story of the Creation answers that for Christian believers. As for my purpose on Earth, my question was answered by the Christian doctrine. I am here to spread the word of God in actions and words so that all humans may know His love. However, these answers do not make sense to all humans because each religion has a different story. It is imperative to keep an open mind when defining and understanding religion. Every religion holds truth to the believers, and gives them a sense of identity. There is no right or wrong answer to the question of which religion to follow, only interpretations and behaviors according to what makes sense to the individual. People will behave as they believe (Beliefs and Believers, Class 1). Another equally important remark I came across in my studies was one by the Methodist pastor Rev. Cecil Williams. Williams' main topic of discussion was that of toxic religion and inspiring social action. Williams begin the interview by saying, "Be careful of religion because religion is toxic" (Williams Interview, Class 2). He means that believers are not focusing on the actions, but the outcomes instead. You cannot genuinely identify with a religion or call yourself a religious person unless you relate to other human beings or form relationships that work to ease human suffering (Simmons Study Guide, 15). Again, I was reminded of my own beliefs and the history of my religion when I explored the meaning of this statement. Contrary to popular belief, this nation was not founded on the basis of religion. America was founded by men in search of power and money who used their religious beliefs, predominantly Protestant Christian, as an excuse for their brutality. Not all believers act on their beliefs, creating a fine line between which are factious and which are not. The first attempts at colonization proved to be unsuccessful in the late 1500's and early 1600's. They came professing religious freedom and tolerance, yet brutally murdered Indians who would not comply with the European interpretation of Christianity. Even the Puritans, who were extremely devoted to their religion, failed to honor some of the most important ethical views of Christianity when they arrived in New England in 1630. The Puritans were very vocal about their quest for an ideal life. They believed in pre-destination yet still worked very hard to save the “heathens” from eternal darkness. They believed in the Ten Commandments, yet still judged those who were not Christian. Perhaps the most widely known example is that of the Salem Witch Trials. An epidemic of accusation was started because of contradicting beliefs ( Tindall, 36). Instead of focusing on how to nurture their current world, the Puritans caused mass mayhem and interrupted a peaceful environment. “You can’t have a new heaven until you have a new earth” (Williams Interview, Class 2). Furthermore, the topic of religion cannot be discussed without mentioning its pervasiveness. Religion is an aspect of human existence compromising elements such as experience, ethics, beliefs, ritual, and institutions. Like political behavior, religion is not everything in life, but is an aspect of life. Religion is structured into our government. Not only does our Pledge of Allegiance and motto use God as a foundation, but also the separation of church and state show how each American is aware and ultimately affected by religion. It encompasses various disciplines, and although we are all not equally so, everyone is religious to an extent (Smart, 4). It is important to cherish the integrity of our own religion, likewise i...