The Rise Of Organized Religion

Tomoko Masuzawa’s literary work, The Invention of World Religions, provides a meticulous analysis of how the term “world religions” is categorized and used in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Masuzawa addresses how the categorization of world religions has changed throughout history and how different elements of each religion, such as texts, origin, and ability to expand have shaped the classification of that religion by scholars. By using the works of well-established scholars, she is able to provide an accurate account of how the perception and analysis of these religious occurred in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Institutions within the public domain, such as universities and hospitals, can then shape interaction with their specific audiences to abide by the practices of these world religions in order to connect with the public in a culturally competent manner.

Asoka’s son, Mahinda converted many leaders such as the king of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) which is said to be the longest and oldest tradition of practicing the religion

A group of people using religion to manipulate the masses to oppose another grouping of people based on their own interpretation of faith; the conspiracy of organized religions is controlled, it is an easy way to take a group of people with like-minded beliefs group them together and manipulate them for an ulterior goal; our only goal should be to exist as good people and essentially that is what the core of all these faiths tell you but organized religion has taken that goal and twisted it for human made selfish ambitions of greed and power.

Religious behaviors developed to what they are today beginning in the pre-historic times of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and the Neolithic. There is evidence of these behaviors in the archaeological artifacts as well as mythological evidence. Religious behaviors evolved as humans evolved.

Religion has been a major factor for the growth and development of societies since the establishment of even the very first ancient civilizations. Though each of the ancient societies—the Chinese, the Egyptians, the Indians, and the Mesopotamians—had different spiritual beliefs, they each shared the common belief that the presence of religion within a civilization would have positive results upon the entire civilization.

Altemeyer, Bob. "The Decline of Organized Religion in Western Civilization." International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, vol. 14, no. 2, Apr. 2004, pp. 77-89. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com

Through our examination of Hislop (2013) and other supporting material during this class, we have discovered the characteristics and nature of knowledge management strategy. Using my organization as a back drop it has become clear the one does not merely undertake a knowledge management program and expect success. Instead, it requires a thorough examination of the organization, essential knowledge, key roles, policies, politics, available technology

Religion which has been around since the earliest of settlements served not only as a sense of hope and reason during gruesome events throughout history, but as a way of adding meaning and significance to the lives of people and civilizations, thus shaping them not only as individuals but as a society. Although, a great desire to generate wealth was a main aspect in the development of civilizations (considering that they were told that "financial support for their efforts would end"), without religion there would've been nothing to fall back on when all hope was lost, proving that religious devotion had the strongest impact in shaping most of the early settlements.

The widely accepted definition of a sect is a religious group with characteristics, which distinguishes it from either a Church or a denomination. Many groups which fit this definition now prefer the less contentious title of "new religious movements", because over the last fifty years, sects have become linked with brainwashing, mass suicide, and even a murder. One of the examples is the suicide of 900 members of the People's temple.

The discovery of the new world was a huge impact towards a massive majority of individuals in need, an impact in which many of them viewed the new land as a place of hope and prosperity. The main objective for why an individual migrated towards the so-called “Utopia” was because of religion. Many seek refuge from prosecution back home, but many also arrive to practice their own religion, the individual's desired freedom of religion. Throughout the establishments of the colonies, the strive for independence, and the construction of government laws; religion has always been a tremendous influence towards the people and the nation during these eras and much more. The individuals and the nation were either influence positively or negatively in three specific categories; politics, society, and economics. The effect of these three categories would subsequently have a huge impact towards everything in the whole nation causing a tremendous modification on any influences.

Religion is a social institution composed of a unified system of beliefs, symbols, and rituals that guides human life, including behaviors and values. I agree with the claim that the sociological study of religion makes one’s religious faith stronger in societies and communities because the more knowledgeable you are of your religion, the more you follow and practice its beliefs. Reading the books of the religion of your choice allows you to choose the lifestyle you live and control your beliefs. Sociologically studying one’s religion cannot damage religious faith unless you are sociologically studying a religion other than yours. Your devotion to your religion has been given to you at birth, and normally children follow their parents before anyone else.

It is true what Mr.Prothero says about Americans knowing very little about other religions and sometimes even their own religion. The most well-known and practiced religion in America is Christianity, most Americans report that they are Christian, yet have never read the bible. Personally, I think most people identify themselves as Christians because they are afraid they would be judged if they weren’t or want others to think they have a good moral code. The reason American Christians know the bare minimum of their own religion is because they are not interested enough to read the entire bible (its pretty long) or they feel that they know a sufficient amount and don’t need to learn any further. Now, if we already cannot seem to understand

The modern day controversies that have challenged the integrity of God’s Word have necessitated the question of whether fundamentalism was ever sanctioned and orchestrated by God. The Holy Bible and historical reflection, and even, present day scientific data reveal that the origin of fundamentalism and its ongoing transformation is in fact God’s healthy apparatus to preserve the integrity of the factual claims of Scripture. Thus, the rise of fundamentalism is God’s manifestation to combat such spiritual apparitions as higher criticism and the contamination of the world’s social gospel.

Religion has been a powerful force in human history. Mankind has longed and searched for the answers to its purpose, the reason for being and the possibility of life after physical death. They reasoned that an afterlife would be a place of accounting and reckoning for the life they lived on earth. Religious belief systems seemed to give the answers as to how to prepare for the afterlife. Religion became the means of giving answers to those basic yet deep-seated questions of both life and death. Religion provided a format of rules and laws for conduct and treatment toward others based on the desires and wishes of a god or gods that people envisioned, imagined or invented. Religious belief systems have been a powerful force for good and bad...good in the sense that it provided a measure of individual behavior and order in society for the wellbeing of the whole, but bad in the sense that men of ambition who craved power and control over others would often use religion as a tool of manipulation and fear. A casual glance of history tells us that complete civilizations have been built, grown and maintained around elaborate religious systems, ancient Egypt being a prime example.

As long as humans have walked the Earth, we have sought out answers. Answers for questions like: "Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? Where did we come from? and What's that?" How different people answered these questions is important to study because it shows us the spiritual side of human nature. Especially now, a time of conflict between Islam and Western Civilization, it is important to look back and trace the evolution of religion. To see where we started and perhaps, gain some perspective into what is happening now and what may happen in the future.