Positive effects of religion Powerpoint Presentation, Slides of World Religions

Download Positive effects of religion Powerpoint Presentation and more Slides World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! | POSITIVE EFFECTS OF RELIGION There is no doubt that religion has an important role in society. In fact, it has become so closely interwined with other institutions such as political and economic systems that religious beliefs sometimes became the basis of political legitimacy. This is the very reason why the principle of Separation of state and regions was established in many countries. However religion has served purposes beneficial to society in general. In one way or another, it inspires values that cultivate peace, compassion and kindness. Religion upholds traditions of shaping human's spirituality and embracing the goodness in each individual. | | RELIGION PROMOTES SOCIAL HARMONY * Religion believes in Supernatural being and powers. = It also regards religious leaders such as priests, priestesses and shamans in high esteem. "This characteristics helps advance social harmony by assimilating and stabilizing cultures and nations. *Common participation in rituals together with basics uniformity of beliefs help promote social cohesiveness. "It helps lessen the feeling of helplessness among people who believe that they are not alone in this world, that they need rely on their capabilities alone, and that everybody else is on the Same boat to speak. = In Ancient Philippine Society for example, spiritual leaders are called babaylanes or catalones "People from ancient societies (to date) have a common belief in the need for intermediaries to communicate with the deities and the supernatural. "These intercessors can be considered as one source of social solidarity. "Another important characteristic of religion is the performance common rituals and practices on a regular basis. “Rituals participation often creates an atmosphere stimulated by emotions. "Take the case of Sufi Dervishes’practice of whirling or spanning where in the aim is to reach the source of all perfection by abandoning one’s ego or personal desires through listening musics, focusing on God and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles. "Perhaps one of the most significant functions of religion is that it encourages moral values. *|t provides a systematic model of the universe,which in effect determines organized human behavior. "By providing moral values, one is able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. *Since more people give more importance to the reward and punishment in the afterlife. "In ancient societies, notions of right and wrong were not yet as clear-cut as the morality imposed by organized religions. *During those times rituals were very important because it is through these that they invoke the pleasure or wrath of the deities. "For example, before planting farmers would perform a kind of ritual led by their spiritual leaders to ask for blessings from the deities so that their harvest would be bountiful. * When calamity destroyed their crops, they would interpret it as a sign that they must have done something which displeased the deities and would again perform a ritual to appease them | RELIGION REDUCES FEAR OF UNKNOWN "Religion was developed from man’s need to have a sense of origin and destination to discover where they come from and where they are bound to go when they die. "Religion provides answers for phenomena and questions that science or reason cannot explain. "Myths about the origin of people abound with stories of groups of people being created by gods and goddesses, perpetuating the nation that people come from supreme beings and will eventually go back to them in the afterlife. "More importantly, religion has provided assurance as to where Spirits will go when people die, reducing people’s fear of death as something undesirable. "The belief in the afterlife has become very important in most religions because it has become the basis for their daily conduct or how they live their lives. | RELIGION GIVES POSITIVE GOALS IN LIFE =People were inspired by the stories of different prophets from their own religious affiliations, like that of Moses, Sidhartta Gautama, and Muhammad. "These people showed how ordinary people like them were given important missions in life and they struggled to carry out their respective missions. "Moses was ordered to liberate the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and lead them back to the promised land; Mohammed was chosen to challenge the supremacy of the ruling class in the desert by preaching equality and founding the Islamic religion; while Sidhartta Gautama gave up his wealth and power to find the solution from sickness,poverty,old age and death. "Just as family, ethnicity or nationality gives people a sense of belonging so does religion. "For some, religion provides people with personal identity as part of a group with similar worldviews, beliefs, values, practices and lifestyles. "It provides communities with prospects to recognize and offer vital action and service to provides the needs of the larger community. "Belonging to a particular religion - whose members share the same beliefs, practice the same rituals and worship the same god - gives individuals a sense of being in the right place with the right people. "It also provides them with a sense of security because other people who belong to the same religious group will tend to support and help each other in times of crisis. "A religious group or community can provide counsel, help the sick and underprivileged and give other services on a more personal level than the government. "A good example of religion giving people a sense of belonging is the Sikh principle of Seva also known as Sewa from the word Karseva which means “selfless service”. "Sikhs are expected to perform work or service without expecting anything in return. "They are encouraged by their Guru (Guru Granth Saib)to perform selfless service with the belief that by so doing, they are not only promoting good community relations but also paving the way for the moral uplifting of a person, thus strengthening his or her sense of belonging to the community.