Religion, according to the Merriam-Webster definition, is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules that serve to worship god(s).
In the world alone, there are billions of individuals who identify themselves as part of a religious group, be it Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism, or Hinduism, among others. Most religions, notably Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, have a similar belief structure, including: presence of an afterlife, a single God, a set of commandments, and the act of repentance, as a means to become sanctified.
One then can ask himself/herself, if religion is centered on a set belief system, why is it some religious individuals who follow these rules are more blessed than other religious people? Why is it that not all religious people's fates end up the same? Why is it that more miracles happen to some religious people and not others?
The answer all lies in faith.
Faith is an abstract concept that goes beyond the traditional systematic following of rules in a religion. And most importantly, it, unlike a system, cannot be measured.
When one has faith, his/her degree of faith can be the difference between his blessings and another individual's. Faith is believing the impossible is possible. Faith is putting trust in a supernatural being and relying on this alone. This is what faith is.
Although religion is based on the systematic organization of doctrines, traditions, and rules, which construct knowledge, faith is an aspect that is not systematic. One cannot calculate faith. Rather, one has to deliberately put his/her trust in a God, with no blatant indication of what the end result with be.
With this in mind, religion is more than the systematic organization of facts.
No comments:
Post a Comment