Is Religion Being Forced Or Is Religion One's Choice?

For many people, religion is a very touchy subject. For most, it is a personal decision; people choose a faith that aligns with their beliefs, ideas, and faiths. Although people would like to think that religion is a personal decision, and they can adapt it to how they feel and what they believe, in practice, that is not the case. Religion represents a commitment to a set of principles that are not moldable, adaptable, or flexible. Religion, although it may be a personal belief, it is extremely defined, with little to no room for flexibility. If people try to modify their religion to their own beliefs or ideas, the pushback can be severe. The lines in religion and faith as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable are clear, and

Studies have shown that people who are the most religious believe more in magic and superstitious. “If we are so focused on a powerful “God” who controls our destiny, why do we not wonder who created?” questions like this come from those who have the strongest; belief in God himself (Carter 4). 70 percent of church goers do not fully believe in the back of their religion, or believe or what is supposed to happen after their death (Carter 5). With religious belief, there is no true religion. The more known religions is how an individual is born and raised into maturity. There are big differences in religion based on the theme of the nation. Most people who are born into a certain religion, there really is no changing it (Carter 6). In various parts of the world, mankind in based on superstition is the high advent of technology will slowly but surely distinigrate. Religion as it is, very few people will try and hold onto what they

The practice of organized religion has been declining greatly since the mid 20th century, but the pace in which religion is dying is not constant in every western country. Ireland is the only country where most people attend a religious event weekly, on the other hand, less than ten percent of Scandinavians attend religious events. Organized religion is dying where it once was common in everyday life, which is bad news for church leaders who want to fill their seats. From 1945 to 1985 the percent of regular church attendees in Canada dropped in half, from 70% to 35%. Although people have stopped associating themselves with a religion, many of them still believe in a creator. Around 32 percent of America’s population attends church weekly, but 66 percent of Americans have no doubt that there is a God, and another 16 percent believe in a God but have doubts (Altemeyer 79). There is evidence that the recent rise of religious apostasy occurred because of backlash against the “Religious Right”, the christian fundamentalists that are known to be anti-homosexual. Many people are turned off by these beliefs and severed their already weak relationships with the church. Children are also not being taught religious beliefs because of parents who have left the faith. Parents have stopped

In many countries, you are told what religion to follow or you get in trouble for practicing a different

Religion in all aspects is based on faith and commitment. It starts with a faith that people have in something that they have not seen. I have always wondered about the faith people show for their religion. No matter what is happening they stay strong in whatever it is that they believe in. Humans have come a long way from the beginning of time when it comes to forming religions. There are so many different kinds of religions out there in this world right now. And all those religions come from some kind of faith and are based on a faith that emerged through something or someone. There are people out there in this time that are dying and killing for their faith. There are some religions that are based on the same roots but are called known

Individuals are not always given the opportunity to choose their religion. Communities strive for freedom of religion, their right to support their own faith and build relationships with a religious figure they trust. Other nations grant the right to practice religion; however, religion is not supported. Through education standards and political debates, the advertisement of religion spreads throughout the nation. Individuals not only desire to practice their own religion, but the right to proclaim and share religion with others.

societies usually desire the perfect reflection of them .As time passes and life changes so do religions ,however the bases of the religion remain. Each religion has different dominations, each to fit certain societies . some of the reasons why one may be religious could include social and psychological aspects. Religion could help cope with stress, give hope and peace of mind .It could give a sense of community , along with a support group , It also gives a worldview , purpose , and a system of ethics . Because religion fulfills human needs it has not extinct

“And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger and with death, and with beast of the earth.” [Rev. 6:8]

There has been much debate lately about freedom of religion in the United States. Numerous people tend to believe that it is their freedom to force their religious beliefs upon anyone and everyone. Now, do not get me wrong, I love religion and have studied most of this worlds religious beliefs. However, I do not believe that freedom of religion means what some are so prone to believe it means.

Without Christ we are condemned to be punished by the wrath of God. (Vs. 3)

What defines religion? What defines politics? Where is the line that separates the two? Google defines religion as “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.”, while politics is defined as “the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” When Martin Luther led the Reformation, he was not making any personal attacks against Pope Leo X, but simply telling of the errors of Catholic ways through his work, titled “Of The Matters To Be Considered In The Councils”, Luther was only being informative ; not forcing anyone to shun the Catholic Church. While the Catholic Church was losing its following, Pope Leo X wrote a document titled, “Exsurge Domine”, which began what was known as the Counterreformation. He wrote, “Let all this holy Church of God, I say, arise … to banish all heresies from the lands of the faithful and be pleased to maintain the peace and Unity of His holy Church”. Although the disputes and disagreements between Martin Luther and Pope Leo were over religion, the way they were handled added a completely political aspect to the Reformation and Counterreformation. Pope Leo essentially stated that he wanted his religion to rise above other religions and that he wanted to be able to execute anyone who went against the orthodox religion.

Satan again reverses roles, portraying himself as good and God as evil. Many people fall for this lie. For example, many see Satan as noble liberator in the garden of Eden but judge God as a stingy jailer – instead of seeing God as providing an idyllic environment, while selfish man just had to have one more tree despite the abundant orchards! Man, imitating Satan, said "I will be like God" and rebelled against his benevolent Creator – a Creator Who in turn humbly took the form of a man to be crucified for the willful sins of His own creation so that a way of redemption could be open to all by simply trusting the Rescuer. To regard someone as 'evil' that dies on your behalf is the height of deception.

God throws Satan and his followers into hell for their defiance. Satan shows rebellion towards God, this is the first rebellion there ever was. According to Webster’s dictionary rebellion is organized opposition to authority, a conflict in which one faction tries to take control from another. I think rebellion also includes disobedience. John Carrey says that in the epic “Satan concedes his own criminality, and his own responsibility for his fall. He facilitates between remorse and defiance. He confesses that his rebellion was completely unjustifiable, that he had the same freewill and power to stand as all God’s creatures, and that he therefore has nothing to accuse but heavens free love dealt equally to all”(134). Basically Satan did this to himself. We do not really understand why Satan defied God and we probably would not understand.

It’s the twenty first century. Scientists have found evidence of water on Mars, they have successfully cloned human embryos, and everyday, they are getting closer to finding a cure for cancer. Still, in a world of groundbreaking facts and evidences, where the newest discovery leaves older ones out of commission, we fool ourselves into blindly putting faith on a series of chronicles conceived during the primitive age. Religion probably started out as a result of mankind trying to explain the physical world, but then became a tool to control and oppress, a reason for bloodshed and hate. While religion may have been of great help in

Throughout history, religion has proved to be the main source of social stability in different communities and cultural groups. Everything that is part of a societal system, including law, is influenced by religious beliefs and practices of that society. This being said, most religions are based on the theory that there is a single more powerful entity, that has control over aspects of which humans do not. For the longest time in history, sociologists have argued that peer group, political movements, schools and most importantly, the family to be agents of socialization. Because of this reason, they have ignored the role played by religion in the perpetuation of cultural as well as social