Summary Of ' Homo Religiosus ' By Karen Armstrong

The question often arrived what is religion? There are more than one answer to this depending on one’s culture, identity, ethics and beliefs. Religion can be found in different cultures and throughout the whole period of human history. There is evidence that shows signs of religion such as animal spirits in art and human burials that suggest the belief in life after death. There have been many different answers and definition to what religion is (Van Voorst, 2013). According to Robert E. Van Voorst (2013), religion is

Karen Armstrong, author of “Homo Religiosus,” claimed that without the physical rituals and traditions, religion morphed into a belief. Simply put, Armstrong argued that religion requires not only blind faith but also customs and practices that affect one’s physical and mental behaviors. It is through these rituals and taboos that the religions grows and forms, and yet also changes when deemed necessary. Additionally, Armstrong constantly compares religion to different art forms. She does this to convey the message that much like art, one must focus and study religion for lengthy periods of time to be properly understood. However, this connection also suggests that art and religion can perform an analogous role to humankind when required, as they both evolve and change when a society 's infrastructure does. Throughout her essay “Homo Religiosus,” Armstrong focuses on the similar role that both art and religion play in society to discuss her claim that religion is not just a belief, but rather has to do with changes in physical and mental behaviors that in return create change in society and the religion one needs.

In the study of religion, one can quickly discern that there are two major differentiations between the anthropological definition of religion, and that of religion in the context of belief systems. Religion, in the context of anthropology, can often be related to social institutions. On the other hand, religion in the context of belief systems indicate faith in something or someone...such as oneself, a god, or object. As identified by scholar Clifford Geertz, the anthropological definition of religion is “a system of symbols which acts to (1) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by (2) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (3) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality

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

Nathan Hatch wrote this book to help understand American Christianity and the courses of action that have brought us to the present. The books states that Hatch is a professor at the University of Notre Dame where he teaches history and also works with graduate studies. However, a recent inquiry finds that he is president of Wake Forest University, a position he has held since 2005. A well renowned scholar, Hatch has been very influential in studying religion and history.

“Religious belief evolved by group-selection, tribe competing against tribe, and the illogic of religions is not a weakness, but their essential strength” these words spoken by Edward Osborne Wilson an American Biologist speaks volume not just in our daily lives, but it can be seen in science fiction films like Star Wars Episode 1V: A New Hope released in 1977 written and directed by George Lucas. Religion means to have faith in something. It explains the thinks we are unable to see. To find true religion one must have The Force and believe.

“Religious belief evolved by group-selection, tribe competing against tribe, and the illogic of religions is not a weakness, but their essential strength” these words spoken by Edward Osborne Wilson an American Biologist speaks volume in our daily lives, George Lucas in his science fiction film Star Wars Episode 1V: A New Hope, explores the theme of religion. Religion means to have faith in something. It explains the things we are unable to see. To find true religion, we must have “ Force” and believe.

I was asked to read “A Christian Manifesto” by Francis A. Schaeffer and what follows is my take on the book. I will share a summary of what I have taken from the book, as well as explain the applications from the knowledge attained from reading the book.

Religion is as old as mankind. Evidence for religion playing role in human life dates back 500000 years ago when ritual treatment of skulls took place (p2). Why has religion endured over this enormous span of human history and found in all known human societies? Because religion remains exclusively potent forces affects many different cultural parameters, moral concepts, and ideals, and influencing human thinking and behavior by offering answers on the meaning of human existence.

Adherents of all the world’s major faiths believe that their respective religions had a starring role in the very creation of mankind. Luckily, it is unnecessary to verify any such claims to realize that those very religions have played a major role in shaping mankind throughout history. Be it as a tool through which to consolidate and administer power in the case of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, a call to arms to conquer the Iberian Peninsula and the storied Eastern Roman Empire in the case of the Caliphs of Islam, and as a force that brought together people from different classes, languages, and countries in the case of the Holy Crusades launched by the Roman Catholic Popes.

Religion has a potent message. It provokes us to recall that message everyday life. The message is not complex, all it is to be religious by including it in our everyday life. People need to have some religious practices in their everyday life. Although people have accepted religion they have formed many different ideas on how to follow it, and most of the time they have even stopped following the religion. People have not taken the message seriously, which has changed their belief, and so they start to believe in themselves. A religion that is unique in nowadays, was once common in the ancient times described by Karen Armstrong’s text “Homo Religious”. This text describes different ancient religions and how people, in premodern world have defined being religious. Ancient religions had gods, but one does not necessarily need to follow a “deity” to have a religion. They can be religious with their own “rites” and “rituals”. People hope to the ability to follow their own rules, and dreams to live a perfect life without being forced by the society. Cathy Davidson wrote “Project Classroom Makeover” which gives students the opportunity to evolve with technology. As technology has benefitted society greatly, Davidson suggests allowing technology to be present in schools can do much more than it already has. People can acknowledge that even though institutions are constantly evolving, one thing that remains the same across time and culture is that they are always are willing

Faith based on belief in the supernatural has been prevalent for the duration of mankind’s recorded history. Every culture around the world, past and present, has developed or adopted a dominant belief system. These belief systems could include the ancient traditions like Greek polytheism, Mayan ritual worship, or Hinduism as well as modern religions such as Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. By preaching goodwill and the golden rule religion has played a significant role in promoting ethics in society. Religion stimulates inner strength, confidence, and fosters a sense of purpose for many people. It is also hard to imagine a world without the incredible religious art and music. The teachings and culture can help lift up people to live a better, more fulfilling and more selfless life. Billions of people, around the world, practice a religion with the hope that they will reap the benefits of their devotion. There are many other reasons why people believe but truly the main reasons people are religious is due to the default way that they were raised, social reasons, fear, and to have an explanation of the world. Beliefs are passed down to children who are intrinsically disposed to trust their parents. This indoctrination, though, makes them vulnerable to misinformation and as a result there is a manifestation of belief systems into religion. Once religion has a hold on someone, its attribute of being against reason helps its own survival. Unfortunately, religious faith is a

The systematic testing of observations, and the belief of something larger than ourselves, have been part of the human experience since time began. Both science and religion have influenced human thought and civilization. When a question could not be answered by time and observation, people fell back on spiritual explanations. The need to resolve important everyday questions, such as; what controlled their environment, or, what system of morality is needed to best promote the stability of the tribe, meant that for early peoples, some response was required, so some people within started to come up with answers simply based on guesses, thus developing the first religious belief system.  Having religion, for the majority of people, offered a sense of order and purpose.

Every human has their own belief system; these range from simple ethics and morals to organized religions to the more extreme end of the scale. Religion and Gods appeal to such a wide audience for several reasons. This essay aims to theorize what I believe draws people to believe in God and religion, specifically western faiths. Firstly, it allows people to overcome basic existential fears, such as mortality and uncertainty. Secondly, there are learned factors. People are most comfortable sticking to the same belief system they were raised in, or that is most accepted to their community. Thirdly is the idea that some people have fallen so far off the wagon, so to speak, that they turn to religion for motivation and guidance to get them back on track.

For centuries, human culture has been influenced in a multitude of ways by many means but none have had such an impact as religion. It has had countless wars waged in its name, even to this day. Billions believe in some divine being(s) that transcends the ugliness of humanity that 's omnipotent and omniscient. Religion became a guide and a representation of how our lives should be led. However, history has brought evidence that made it possible for this notion to be criticized and rather, flipped. The majority of the human race believes that religion shaped our culture but it is rather the other way round, in that the culture of our ancestors, the Mesopotamians and the Hebrews shaped religion to explain the natural world and as a reflection of their lives and tribulations.