Does Ethics Require Religion - Essay Example

Critical Reflection paper on Materials Religion can be defined as a collection of worldviews, cultural systems, and belief systems that relate humans to spirituality and, to some extend, moral values. Majority of religions have symbols, traditions, sacred histories, and narratives intended to explain the universe, meaning and origin of life. Religious beliefs tend to derive religious laws, ethics, morality or a certain preferred way of life based on their ideas about human nature and the cosmos. Rough estimates put a figure of approximately 4,200 religions across the globe. Religion or an inquiry to religion is a common thing virtually across all humans. In all periods of history and corners of the globe, people have always wondered about life’s meaning, how to live it best, what will happen after life, and if there exists a supernatural being (Webster, 1). I have studied various religions in this course including indigenous religion, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. This paper seeks to highlight on a personal experience in studying these religions, how it relates to my life, and how the knowledge impact my life. When I came to California two years ago, I had difficulties in adapting to the new environment and lifestyle. It took me quite some time to get acquainted to the dissimilar culture, way of life, and traditions. With time, I realized that the world is a small place as we interacted and affected each other every day. Although were different, we are all humans who are subjected to the universal human existence conditions like loss, change, uncertainty, and death. However, our backgrounds, histories, languages, and cultures determine how we approach those conditions (Donahue 1). Truth is, we do not worship the same gods, think the same, have the same cultural values, or share our specific histories. We interpret ourselves and the world truly differently. I have since come to comprehend that according to the mainstream religions all people were created by God. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism teach that humans are children of Adam and Eve. They consider Satan as the common enemy who causes enmity and division among people. The mentioned religions in the first paragraph have had messengers and prophets who were send by God to teach people about love, friendship, and co-existence. They teach about worship and submitting to God as the master and creator (oup.com 1). I believe that any individual who recognizes is able to live with any society in affection and peace. This course has brought to me to understand the positive, cooperative, and constructive interactions between people from different faiths. Dialogue has promoted the understanding between the different religions with the acceptance of other people as they are instead of synthesizing new beliefs (oup.com 1). Most religious texts endorse peace and compassion. In fact, majority of the religions have peace as their key principle. While some laws and traditions permit killing and waging war in certain cases, it requires that one seeks peace and just before waging any war. The nonviolence philosophy has roots in the majority of the mentioned religions. The religions sharply restrict any form of violence. I look forward to teaching and sharing this knowledge with my fellow countrymen when I graduate. Most of the religious beliefs have components of ethics. They are derived from the purported supernatural guidance and revelation. The ethics are tied up within religion and unconditionally settled therein. There is a code of instructions which directs followers on how to live Religion is sometimes viewed as the bedrock of ethical behavior. The relationship between ethics and religion is about reason and revelation. Religion has a basis on the idea that of God (or some deity) giving insights about the true meaning of life. The insights are based on collected texts (the Koran, the Torah, the Bible, etc.). Through these, people who can make decisions which maximize their well-being and respect other people’s well-being (Donahue 1). According to Aristotle, cultivating qualities (or “virtues” as he called them) like reason, prudence, compromise, accommodation, wisdom, moderation, trustfulness, and honesty, among others, enables us to enter a discussion between ethics and religion with a measure of agreement and moderation. When religion and ethics collide, there is no winner; when ethics and religion find a room for a robust agreement and discussion, the prospects for making constructive choices are maximized (oup.com 1). During my study, I unearthed some difficult questions concerning some religious beliefs and practices. Religions are themselves historical entities which grow and change with time and sometimes they have various ideas regarding peaceful coexistence. The adherents of Christianity and Islam, the world’s two largest religions, have both lived peacefully as well as non-peacefully with each other. According to my research, teachings of the two religions preach peaceful and coexistence with other people. However, the two religions have suffered many violent expressions from those who decide to twist or ignore the teachings about coexistence to justify terror and violence. Religious beliefs and traditions have been used as a ruse to perpetrate the worst violence ever towards fellow humans (Webster 1). It is saddening that some of these “religious wars” have been witnessed in the Middle East, where I come from. We have to face the facts with boldness and enlist our religious practices and traditions in the peaceful coexistence project. This should be taught to the young generation for it to gain roots within the society. Throughout this course, I have deepened my understanding of different religions in the world. I have looked back at the religion’s previous history as well as studying their worldviews, ritual practices and religious beliefs among the early homo-sapiens. I have gained an appreciation for the nature and impact of the modernization of the indigenous religious practices and traditions. Thanks to this course, I have sharpened my understanding of the religious essentials in the evolution of humanity and its destiny, and why humans have always been religious. Conclusion This course taught me that science, theology, and philosophy all speak of a cosmos which is harmonious, a universe endowed with integrity and internal dynamic balance. Respect for this order is necessary. The earth is an ultimate heritage, with fruits which benefit us of all. There can never be peace among nations when there is no peace among different religions. Peace among religions comes from respect and dialogue among the respective religions. Religion teaches about honesty and generosity (Webster 1). It is unjust to have some privileged few who continue to amass excess wealth, squander resources, while millions of people live and die in miserable conditions every day. It is also unjust for extremists to attack others in the name of religion, Today the ecological breakdown teaches us that the extent at which terror, selfishness, and greed, both collective and individual, are contrary to what the scriptures teach. References James A. Donahue. “Does Ethics Require Religion?” Summer, 2006. < http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_ethics_require_religion> Web. 4, December 2012. Peter, Webster. “Review of Religion in History: Conflict, Conversion, and Co-existence.” 2003. Web. 4 December, 2012 Oxford University Press. “Globalization: From New to New Age Religions” 2012. < http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195365634/student/chapter09/ ?view=usa> Web. 4, December 2012. Read More