Religion to Be or Not to Be

Religion is a topic of controversy, that is open to many opinions. I for one argue that religion is a necessity and a part of humans, will power for survival. Some key voices within the subject are, Karen Armstrong, Percy Walker, and Abraham Joshua Heschel. These writers portray strong views that are beneficial yet controversial to the subject of religion. Heschel believed that religion has become an institution, a dogma, and a ritual while also no longer being an event. While Armstrong believes that people have domesticated the meaning of god to fit their cause. As for Walker he believes that the existence of God gives people the hope and meaning to live their days forward in life.

But we come back to the question of what is religion? Even with these writer’s definition of what god is and their view of religion, I think to understand religion you have to first know who you are. Religion; at least by my definition is; is a force that exists within the universe and is considered a “higher spirit or authority in this world which you cannot perceive”. Religion even still is a much bigger cause altogether, it is the daily driver in which billions of people believe and follow. The ideology of Islam or Judaism or even Hinduism (which isn’t a religion but more of a lifestyle) They all portray lifestyles that focus emphasis on a central being, written by people (or gods) who were reincarnated to carry the original message of God on how to live.

But let’s focus in on one of those writer’s beliefs for a second. They all give very convincing sides to religion and God as a whole. One writer that stuck out to me was Walker Percy. His view of religion, in his book titled Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self Help Book he describes how god and religion, though are man-made, they bring hope and something to look forward to in the future. Also he further implies through pages 77-78 that if God never existed then maybe our world be a much different and less populated place. Let me explain, Percy implies (throughout his book) that with the faith and hope of God and religion, what if instead you took a walk down the road or took in the sunshine, and became “free” of this depression. Yes, you’re satisfied by the many materialistic things, but have you ever taken the time out for yourself and ever just not cared? The releasement of this depression, begins with one’s inner self release from the prison of the materialistic world of all these facts and studies and society as a whole. This is what leads to betterment of one’s self, not this science that this world seems to portray will give all the answers to in life. Sometimes you just have to look within yourself and say, “I can do it and I will do it because I have the faith and power of God behind me, and nothing will stop me from not being depressed or happy to the fullest extent”. Because if you don’t have that base to support yourself, how can others build upon that and help you reach even higher heights?

Continuing