World Religions. Scientology and Its Appeal - Essay Example

? Week 8 World Religions Scientology and Its Appeal The concept of Scientology can be viewed to be instigated in the year 1952 by L. Ronald Hubbard, an American author. The notion of Scientology can be termed as a belief and a practice which focuses upon rigorous works and the principles of this religion dealing pertinent scientific laws. Moreover, the term scientology can also be defined as a valuable study which tends to preserve spiritual relationship to the principles along with the universe and other creatures within the world (Wallis, n. d.). The principles and beliefs of the religion i.e. Scientology are further witnessed to increase human potentials in accordance with increasing knowledge and skills concerning true nature along with the facets of immortal beings. According to Hubbard, the founder of the religion, scientology has been defined as the science that enables each individual to know the answer of each question relating to the aforesaid aspects. Moreover, the aspect of scientology can also be viewed as an effective organized system of progression which enables every individual to efficiently address various types of problems. Additionally, the concept has also been identified as an organization which relies upon both religion and psychology. Owing to the stated concern, an appropriate utilization of ideas or knowledge considerably provides the benefit to each individual to empower innate superhuman nature. According to the philosophical principles of Scientology, major challenges of each individual that unfavorably affects in attaining desired goals encompass deficiency in confidence, physical or psychological disabilities as well as psychosomatic infirmities (Matthews, 2011). Thus, the aforesaid significant aspects eventually reveal the appeal of Scientology. 2. Contrast between Science and Religion Science and religion have long been witnessed to create unabated discussion within the era of globalization. In relation to the present globalized environment, science and religion have been witnessed as the foremost paradigms that reveal significant controversy. In this regard, the dissimilarities of these paradigms have been illustrated in the following discussion. Science can be identified as the concept of knowledge which can be generated through the illustration of practical implementations concerning any specific subject or topic. In contrast, the concept of religion is defined as the beliefs and moral that set by any individual to improve human life and gain fundamental source of satisfaction. Moreover, it has been viewed that religion is certainly unable to involve adequate evidence concerning different beliefs and norms. However, science can be observed to act in the form of encompassing experiential evidence concerning each act performed by any individual (Hohenberg, n.d.). In relation to the modern day context, it can be apparently observed that both the paradigms i.e. science and religion have significant dissimilarities. In this regard, the aspects within religion consist of certain beliefs that engage uncertain attributes or beliefs. However, due to the nature of practicability and realistic characteristics, science significantly weakened the religious beliefs resulting in excluding adequate practical attributes (Perlovsky, n.d.). 3. Brief Overview of Globalization and Role of Atheism With regard to the gaining momentum of internationalization in this present day context, it can be widely viewed that the increased level of knowledge along with the perception of individuals play a decisive part in enhancing the force of globalization by a greater level. Moreover, the fierce development of human knowledge along with the greater involvement of scientific and technological aspects had radically provided adequate support to different individuals to increase his/her potential to achieve their respective desired goals and objectives. However, it is obvious that the vital aspect of atheism or avoiding beliefs of the traditional and religious aspects have also influenced more insight to the human beings to obtain significant development. With this concern, the conception of globalization is principally described as the increasing process of interconnectedness of diverse countries and their populations across the globe through the conduct of effective trade, investment along with culture and other types of interaction procedures. Moreover, the rapid and incessant development of the technological development also demonstrates a clear image of globalization which has been further formed due to the avoidance of traditional beliefs or typical religious culture (U.S. Catholic China Bureau, 2007). In order to determine the role play by atheism, it can be often viewed that the religious attributes create significant barriers to the countries’ economic development. Moreover, the inclusion of religious aspects within the globalization era can significantly reduce the capability of the leaders to adopt adequate financial improvement related decisions. Contextually, the varying cultures along with the involvement of different individuals belonging to diverse backgrounds can also robust the pace of economic and trade development at large. In this regard, it can be firmly stated that the practice of atheism emphasizes adequate opportunity for the countries in terms of mitigating with the increasing pace of globalization (U.S. Catholic China Bureau, 2007). 4. Concept of Secularism and Identifying Its Significance against Religious The concept of secularism can be defined as the notion of separation of different religious or spiritual aspects to obtain significant growth of each individual within a particular country or state. It generally involves the principles of determining the practice of eradicating religious beliefs along with principles in terms of developing the economic position as well as improving the country’s steps towards achieving competitive position. The concept is mainly concerned with the capability of controlling various religious aspects. The primary objective of secularism is to effectively manage different religious beliefs and metaphysical-philosophical aspects along with fairly judging wider range of anti-religious sentiments. However, various regulations and measures linked with secularism significantly denote that religion is not the primary objective of the concept of secularism. Indeed, the term tends to fairly and democratically identify the diversified religious and metaphysical-philosophical viewpoints (New York University School of Law, n.d.). In accordance with the definition of secularism which tends to focus on equally and democratically, identifying and assessing different religion based opinions would be more effective for any country to strengthen its development. The notion of equality as well as justifiable measures of identifying non-religious viewpoints can enable a nation to efficiently balance religious faiths along with the striving pace of trade and economic development. Therefore, it can be viewed that the integration of effective secularism towards the promotion of economic empowerment would be more effective than following religious beliefs making the states secular. 5. Wicca and Rationale of Its Significance in the Present Contemporary Society With reference to the various religious analysts, the religion Wicca can be defined as a resurgence of a traditional form of an old religion. The religion can be often recognized as ‘neopaganism’ which believes on sharing ritual principles and beliefs from their earliest time. The religion was founded by a British social servant named Gerald Gardner in the year 1954. Therefore, the principles and beliefs relating to Wicca are often known as Gardenerian Craft. According to various observations, most number of practitioners within Wicca religion seeks to acknowledge themselves as witches who worship moon and Roman goddess Diana (Matthews, 2011). In accordance with the principles and the beliefs linked with Wicca religion, several major aspects such as unification of theology, duotheism, natural cycle along with mortality and magic can be apparently observed. Moreover, the religion has also been witnessed to involve five major rudiments namely, air, earth, water, fire and spirit. In accordance with the Gardenerian context, these five elements are associated with the cardinal point of the compass wherein the spiritual aspects represent the center position, earth in north, fire in south, air in east and water with the southern position of the world. However, some wiccans tend to refer these five elements as the symbolic representation of the geographic position of the southern England (Church and School of Wicca, n.d.). Discussion of the Opinion Questions 1. Responsibility of Religion to the Environment Religion has major bearing upon the effectiveness of a particular environment. In relation to the role and significance of religion, it has been often recognized that the religious principles and beliefs are few of the essentials towards building as well as developing the effectiveness of environment. The major religious aspects can be significantly found to play an imperative part for an individual to strengthen self-belief and confidence. Moreover, the aspects also help to transform the innate potentials facilitating towards accomplishing the environmental goals by a greater level. Moreover, the increasing pace of globalization and striving environmental initiatives of each human being, the religious principles and beliefs have become a formidable ideology for each individual which eventually develops the effectiveness and the wellbeing of the entire environment at large. 2. The Concept of Mass Marriage and Religious Permission for Marriage The concept of mass marriage or mass wedding is often regarded as a blessing ceremony. It can be practiced as well as viewed at the time when a huge figure of couples is gathered to tie up a relationship with their beloved persons. The process can be regarded as a single ceremony wherein couples are married simultaneously by taking into concern certain effective religious principles. In accordance with the concept of mass marriage, the couples are likely to take permission and follow the prevailing ritual activities during the process of mass wedding. 3. Can a Person be Religious and not have a Formal Religious Affiliation? With reference to the different definitions of religion developed by various analysts, the concept of religious affiliation can often be viewed as a notion of self-identified association of belief. It is regarded as an organized assortment of cultural system and human beliefs which relates human being to supernatural and spiritual principles. The religious affiliation consists of numerous ritual or spiritual principles and regulations. However, the religious affiliation does not force any person to maintain all the principles and regulations of the religion. Therefore, it can be stated that a person can be considered as a religious without maintaining all formal principles and regulations. 4. Important things of the Overall Discussion According to the overall discussion, it can be affirmed that the study has provided adequate knowledge concerning different aspects, beliefs and principles of diverse religions. Moreover, the discussion of this study has revealed valuable information associated with the modern phenomenon and the spirituality of world religion. In addition, various concepts of religious beliefs and principles practiced in different modern religious groups can be learned from the study. The comparison of religious beliefs with science along with the determination of atheism role within the present globalized world can be picked up from this particular study. The other important aspects that can be picked up in this course or from the study are the concept of secularism and its usage in the modern society which tends to ensure the improvement of the individuals to empower their religious belief and also to increase their potential growth by a greater level. References Church and School of Wicca. (n.d). A brief history of Wicca. Retrieved from http://www.wicca.org/Church/WiccaOutline.html Hohenberg, P. C. (n.d.). Science, religion and the teaching of evolution. Retrieved from http://physics.nyu.edu/~pch2/Science_religion_and_evolution.pdf Matthews, W. (2011). World religions, 7th edition. United States of America: Cengage Learning. New York University School of Law. (n. d.). How to define secularism. Retrieved from http://www.law.nyu.edu/ecm_dlv2/groups/public/@nyu_law_website__academics__colloquia__legal_political_and_social_philosophy/documents/documents/ecm_pro_067143.pdf Perlovsky, L. I. (n.d.). Science and religion: scientific understanding of emotions of the religiously sublime. Retrieved from http://www.leonid-perlovsky.com/new materials/5,%20Sublime%20Emotions,%20preprint.pdf U.S. Catholic China Bureau. (2007). Globalization, modernity and atheism. Retrieved from http://www.usccb.net/church-updates/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20LETTER%20OF%20THE%20HOLY%20FATHER%20POPE%20BENEDICT%20XVI.pdf Wallis, R. (n. d.). The road to total freedom: A sociological analysis of scientology. Retrieved from http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wallis/wallis1.txt Read More