Elements Of Religion
Elements of Religion Essay
Christopher Abish
REL-134
March 6, 2012
Elements of Religion Essay
Modern Western religions are greatly varied, and inherently riddled with fallacies. Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic all have something in common, monotheism. Monotheism is a belief, or doctrine, that there is only one God (Unabridged, 2012). Monotheism also views sacred space as “Heaven”, or arguably other mythical locations; such as the Garden of Eden or “Hell”. Additionally, nearly any area, place or, thing that occupies or is occupied by “spirits” can also be construed as a sacred space. Monotheism views sacred time as linear; meaning there is a beginning and an end. Also, certain sects within monotheism view sacred time as circular …show more content…
Heaven is a “place” reserved for those who are righteous and live by the doctrine of Christianity. While another sacred place “exists” within the same religion, Hell. Hell is a “place” where those who do not follow the doctrine of Christianity, or live an unrighteous life are condemned to. Alternatively, Christianity has several more sacred spaces. These spaces include the Garden of Eden, where man and woman were created. In addition to the Garden of Eden and other various sacred spaces in Christianity, the planet could very well be considered a sacred space. Earth, being created by God, is indeed a sacred space. Each religion has a sacred space, be it of this life or the next. Monotheism, however, tends to view sacred space strictly as a place reserved for God and its …show more content…
Western religions view the divine as “God”. That is not to say a conglomerate of Gods as with Egyptian’s, but a singular God; one being who commands all the forces of the universe with omnipotence. The relationship between humanity and the divine could best be described as a vice, or possibly an escape. Throughout history, religion has been used to enslave all ethnicities of humans. Early as the Egyptian days in 6000 B.C. religion was exploited to cull the mass and serve those at the top of the hierarchy. At present, powerful people within Christianity abuse their positions in the same way (Anonymous, 2012). However, on an individual basis a relationship with the divine proves to be beneficial by virtue. A reltionship with the divine can spawn adverse or positive reactions, based on the individuals interpretation of the divine’s will. A person understanding that killing is acceptable or encouraged, will have a dramatically different relationship with the divine than a person who understands that killing is not accepted or
Christopher Abish
REL-134
March 6, 2012
Elements of Religion Essay
Modern Western religions are greatly varied, and inherently riddled with fallacies. Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic all have something in common, monotheism. Monotheism is a belief, or doctrine, that there is only one God (Unabridged, 2012). Monotheism also views sacred space as “Heaven”, or arguably other mythical locations; such as the Garden of Eden or “Hell”. Additionally, nearly any area, place or, thing that occupies or is occupied by “spirits” can also be construed as a sacred space. Monotheism views sacred time as linear; meaning there is a beginning and an end. Also, certain sects within monotheism view sacred time as circular …show more content…
Heaven is a “place” reserved for those who are righteous and live by the doctrine of Christianity. While another sacred place “exists” within the same religion, Hell. Hell is a “place” where those who do not follow the doctrine of Christianity, or live an unrighteous life are condemned to. Alternatively, Christianity has several more sacred spaces. These spaces include the Garden of Eden, where man and woman were created. In addition to the Garden of Eden and other various sacred spaces in Christianity, the planet could very well be considered a sacred space. Earth, being created by God, is indeed a sacred space. Each religion has a sacred space, be it of this life or the next. Monotheism, however, tends to view sacred space strictly as a place reserved for God and its …show more content…
Western religions view the divine as “God”. That is not to say a conglomerate of Gods as with Egyptian’s, but a singular God; one being who commands all the forces of the universe with omnipotence. The relationship between humanity and the divine could best be described as a vice, or possibly an escape. Throughout history, religion has been used to enslave all ethnicities of humans. Early as the Egyptian days in 6000 B.C. religion was exploited to cull the mass and serve those at the top of the hierarchy. At present, powerful people within Christianity abuse their positions in the same way (Anonymous, 2012). However, on an individual basis a relationship with the divine proves to be beneficial by virtue. A reltionship with the divine can spawn adverse or positive reactions, based on the individuals interpretation of the divine’s will. A person understanding that killing is acceptable or encouraged, will have a dramatically different relationship with the divine than a person who understands that killing is not accepted or