RELIGION 2: Essentials of Religion, Ethics, and Challenges Analysis

This essay delves into the core characteristics that define a religion, emphasizing the importance of supernatural beings, rituals, and prayer. It examines the role of religion in ethical decision-making, highlighting how religious beliefs and commandments guide individuals in moral choices. The essay provides examples of how different religions promote ethical standards, such as prohibitions against certain actions or practices. Furthermore, it addresses contemporary challenges faced by religions, including religious scandals, secularism, and religious violence, providing a comprehensive overview of the complexities within the religious landscape. The essay references several scholarly sources to support its claims and provide a well-rounded analysis of the subject.

Running head: RELIGION
Religion
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RELIGION 2
Essentials for a tradition to be called religion.
Herbert, (2017) argues that religion refers to the belief and practices that a certain
community agrees to follow. However, there are characteristics that every traditional need to
satisfies to be called a religion. The first primary characteristics is that it should have a
supernatural being in whom the members believe in whenever they are carrying out their
religious activities. The supernatural being is mostly gods. For instance, the Muslims believe in
Allah as the Christian believes in Jesus. The second one is the rituals. A religion must have
certain ceremonies that members celebrate as they mingle and understand their religion. Martin,
(2016) says that the other fundamental thing is the prayer. Prayer is the way members of a given
tradition communicate to their gods. However, every religion may have a different way of
praying. Another crucial factor that culture needs before transforming into religion has a
religious feeling. These feelings are always connected to their gods. For instance, when doing a
ritual, there must be a specific feeling among the members of the religious groups.
Places of religion have in making ethical decisions
Ethical decisions are the direction that promotes fairness and caters for every individual
in society. The question of the role of religion in making a moral judgment is a matter of concern
for a while now. However, it is evident that religion has a role to play in ethical decision making.
Vitell, King, Howie, Toti, Albert, Hidalgo & Yacout (2016) claims that the first thing that guides
religion is what the belief in while performing their functions. Every religion has rules and
guidance that assists the members on how to act and make ethical decisions. For instance,
Clemm, Jox, Borasio & Roser, (2015) claims that when it comes to matters of many live beliefs
condemn killing regardless of the circumstance. For example, Christian follow God’s
commandments to guide their members in what they should do and how they should make their

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decisions. Taking an example of Muslims, the religion prohibits their members from consuming
pork as a way to ensure that they maintain the ethical standards. Besides that, all female
members of Muslims religion cover all their body parts except their faces. In doing such action,
the religion has promoted the ethical standards that the Muslim society follow while promoting
ethics. However, there are Christian churches that ensure the members remove their shoes before
entering the place of worship. They see the location of worship as a holy place where the
members should not step in with dirt.
Contemporary challenges and issues related to religion apart from ethics
Apart from the above ethical problems, there are other difficulties that face religion such
as religious scandals. Religious scandals are evident when the religious leaders or members
engage in corrupt deals, for instance, leaders end up abusing funds set aside for religious
practices. Christiano, Swatos & Kivisto, (2015) says that the activities leave the religion divided
as their leaders are the once going against their ethical standards. The second challenge is
secularism. The scientists use technology to assure people that they are going to live well.
However, some ideas that scientists come up with are against the religious rules. The last
problem is the religious violence going around the world. Each religion is fighting for them to
dominate a particular religion according to Robinson & Rodrigues, (2014).

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References
Christiano, K. J., Swatos Jr, W. H., & Kivisto, P. (2015). Sociology of religion: Contemporary
developments. Rowman & Littlefield.
Clemm, S., Jox, R. J., Borasio, G. D., & Roser, T. (2015). The role of chaplains in end-of-life
decision making: Results of a pilot survey. Palliative & supportive care, 13(1), 45-51.
Herbert, D. (2017). Religion and civil society: Rethinking public religion in the contemporary
world. Routledge.
Martin, C. (2016). Religion as ideology: Recycled culture vs. world religions. In After World
Religions (pp. 81-92). Routledge.
Robinson, T. A., & Rodrigues, H. P. (2014). World religions: A guide to the essentials. Baker
Academic.
Vitell, S. J., King, R. A., Howie, K., Toti, J. F., Albert, L., Hidalgo, E. R., & Yacout, O. (2016).
Spirituality, moral identity, and consumer ethics: A multi-cultural study. Journal of
business ethics, 139(1), 147-160.