SSCI AS 304 Essay: The Positive Role and Impact of Religion

This essay argues that religion, despite criticisms and instances of misuse, is fundamentally a positive force in the world. It highlights how religion provides hope, promotes discipline, and encourages ethical behavior through beliefs in afterlife consequences. The essay acknowledges counterarguments, such as religion being used to instigate violence or as a tool for political gain, but rebuts these by asserting that such actions stem from individual misinterpretations and political manipulation rather than inherent flaws within religion itself. Examples of religious festivals promoting peace and harmony are provided, and the importance of separating religion from politics is emphasized. The essay concludes that religion's positive aspects should be recognized and promoted to foster a better understanding of its true nature.

Running head: THE POSITIVE SIDE OF RELIGION
THE POSITIVE SIDE OF RELIGION
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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THE POSITIVE SIDE OF RELIGION
The Positive Side Of Religion
Introduction
Many religions around the world are there that propagate different things however, the
fundamental message remains the same. Religion provides the ground from where people could
shape their lives and do well. Nonetheless, religion has been criticized for creating violence
around the world amongst other negative things. Religion has been targeted, most prominently in
the recent times for instigating violent activities including terrorism and hate crimes across the
world especially the Islam religion.
In this essay however, the main argument is to defend religion and prove that although it
has some bad points, it is generally positive.
Discussion
Religion does not propagate violence it propagates hope and peace. People with ardent
belief in religion believe that religion has the power to change the world for good. According to
these people, faith is what keeps human being alive and religion strengthens faith. The claims
made by them are true because many incidences have happened where faith in one’s religion has
protected the person from negative things. Michael Peligro in an article published in The
Conversation provides examples to prove that God exists and that religion is good. Isaac
Newton, the greatest physician, when asked to explain his theories could only state that it was all
God’s will (Theconversation.com, 2019). Many theorists, scientists and others have struggled to
find an explanation about numerous things that happen in the world. People with strong
affiliation with religion believe that all these are the work of God, which is a positive aspect.

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THE POSITIVE SIDE OF RELIGION
Having the belief, that God is behind every invention, discovery and theory in the world leads to
positivity; it gives people hope.
People with strong religious beliefs stay disciplined and conscious. Religion teaches
people to be disciplined and stay away from any bad habits and activities. Religious scriptures of
almost every religion mention that doing bad to others or to self is a sin and punishable. People
who are true followers of religion believe in the afterlife and the fact that any bad deed in this
life would affect their afterlife. Due to this belief, people restraint themselves from committing
crimes. As Woodward et al. (2014) argue, the different religious scriptures have different laws
and rules regarding the way of life that people are required to lead. The authors state that in
Islam too, the holy Quran has verses that clearly explain the need to defend the dignity of self
and others else face the repercussions. The author is correct in stating this because religion’s
positive aspects could be seen from the verses present in the various religious scriptures. Apart
from that, the various religious festivals that are celebrated across the world also demonstrate
positivity and happiness. Christian festivals of Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas, Hindu
festivals of Holi, Diwali and many others, Muslim festivals of Eid, Ramadan – all are celebrated
for spreading peace, harmony and happiness. These festivals also require people to maintain
some discipline. Hence, it could easily discerned that religion is a positive thing.
In contrast to the above view, many argue that religion is dangerous because it instigates
people to commit crime. On March 15, 2019, an armed gunman attacked two mosques in New
Zealand and live streamed the video on Facebook. The gunman was identified as a white man in
his late twenties and hailing from Australia (Nbcnews.com, 2019). Around 49 people lost their
lives in the shootings that has been addressed the one of the worst in New Zealand’s history
(Nbcnews.com, 2019).. The motive behind the killings was clear from the video; revenge against

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the Muslims who are responsible for worldwide killings. This incident brings forth the issue
whether religion is to be blamed for or the individuals who commit such heinous crimes. The
man who carried out the shootings did not target terrorists but innocent men, women and even
children who were offering prayers. This is no different from what the terrorists have done and
continue to do in the name of religion. When looked closely, one could clearly discern that the
person was at fault in the attack and not the religion. Christianity never teaches revenge, violence
or hatred nor does Islam. David and Issa (2014) however view that religion is like “opium” for
people that makes them do things that they would not have done had religion not asked them to
do. According to the authors, in the modern world, religion is largely used as a socio-
psychological tool used by people for their own benefit. This argument could be rebutted by
stating that the people use religion for their benefit, true, but it does not mean that religion is bad
in itself.
The positive aspects of religion need to be spread more and it must be separated from
politics. It is argued that political interference has marred religion as politicians use it for gaining
voters. Sampson (2014) gives evidences of religion being used by politicians to meet their ends.
The author provides instances from the Nigerian state where religion was responsible for the
killings of thousands of people. as per the author’s views, the struggle between the Muslim north
and the English or Christian south. The Muslim despised the Christian whefreas the Ebglish, who
were ruling the state during the 1960s created tensions amongst the people. Thus, religion should
be kept separate from politics.
Conclusion

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In the end, it could be stated again that religion with all its bad sides, it a positive thing
because it helps people realize their duties. In this essay, the argument that religion is a positive
thing has been proved that people misinterprets religion for their own benefit. Religion in itself
is positive and remains so although there needs to be increased awareness amongst people about
it.

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References:
David, F. O., & Issa, A. A. (2014). The role of religion in modern society: Masses opium or tool
for development: A Case Study of Saw-Mill Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 6(1), 8-17.
Nbcnews.com. (2019). New Zealand mosque shooting in Christchurch. Retrieved from
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-mosque-shootings
Sampson, I. T. (2014). Religion and the Nigerian State: Situating the de facto and de jure
Frontiers of State–Religion Relations and its Implications for National Security. Oxford
Journal of Law and Religion, 3(2), 311-339.
Theconversation.com. (2019). Arguments why God (very probably) exists. Retrieved from
https://theconversation.com/arguments-why-god-very-probably-exists-75451
Woodward, M., Yahya, M., Rohmaniyah, I., Coleman, D. M., Lundry, C., & Amin, A. (2014).
The Islamic defenders front: Demonization, violence and the state in
Indonesia. Contemporary Islam, 8(2), 153-171.