Introduction to World Religion and How to Study Religion

Table of Contents

Introduction
Defining Religion
Religions Eight Characteristics
Myth and Reality
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

Religions have always been shaped by their surroundings, but there is a specific way in which they have been shaped. The kind of human problems that religion addresses are problems that arise in part from local situations. Many people who live in areas where gods exist can benefit from having them in their homes. This essay is going to analyze the readings of the first week of the book Introduction to World Religion while drawing references from the book How to Study Religion.

Defining Religion

Taking a phenomenological approach to religion in this work, it is practically impossible to define religion clearly and exactly that encompasses all phenomena in all religions. Even if they do not provide a concise explanation of the religion, Winston King presents eight qualities of religion that are useful broad categories (Muck, 2005). Because believers continually find strength and guidance in the religions original creative action, religions are fundamentally conservative and traditional. In the modern world, believers frequently turn to the original scriptures or the founders actions and words for inspiration and direction. According to King, the sources for religious individuals are the religious traditions themselves.

Religions Eight Characteristics

Religions, according to Winston King, are defined by the following characteristics beginning with traditionalism which is the core characteristic that defines the value of the founders original creative act or words. Myths and symbols is the second characteristics where origin stories are told through signs. Salvation thoughts is the third feature of religion which entails rescuing individuals from or to something. Forth, Sanctified items and locations are things and locations that are distinct from regular objects and locations. In addition, sacred actions are rituals that converse with celestial or authenticity. Sacred texts are also characteristics of religion where the forefathers or initial disciples recorded statements. Furthermore, the seventh element is the sacred society which is a feeling of connection that gives structure and worship space. Finally, sacred experience entails varieties of perceptions of transcendence or depth.

Myth and Reality

Myths are stories that explain the origins of life, such as the creation of the cosmos, the emergence of human beings, and the causes of disease and death. A cross represents the cost of redemption to a Christian, not just two intersecting lines. Myths are densely symbolic, necessitating the use of symbolic language. Myth defines the way reality originated into being as an outcome of the activities of Mystical Existences, whether it is the entire reality, the Cosmos, or only a part of it. The myth tells a sacred story about an occurrence that happened in Primordial Time, the fabled beginnings period. In other arguments, allegory is always a story on creation; it designates how something emanated into existence. Winston King writes that all faiths profess to save people from and to something (Farhadian, 2015). According to him, the hope of deliverance inspires individuals to follow the custom. Each tradition has its own set of ways to be saved into paradise or at the very least to be spared from the pains of living. King Amid personal or organizational adversity, religions can provide a source of strength.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that traditionalism according to many people is the one that marks religion. Due to the religious diversity of traditions and the impossibility of providing a precise way to define religion, Winston King defined and wrote eight characteristics in the Encyclopedia of Religion which partially solves the issue. Despite the characteristics not defining religion itself, many people embrace them as they are related to the New Testament model which contains knowledge relevant to the modern world.