Religion in the Modern World: Applying Faith at Work and Home Report

This report addresses the application of religious teachings in the workplace and at home, focusing on five major religions: Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. It provides an overview of each religion's core beliefs and ethical guidelines, offering practical suggestions for believers to cope with problems. The report highlights key principles such as the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism, the virtues of Daoism, the concept of karma in Hinduism, the principles of Islam, and the Ten Commandments in Christianity. It emphasizes the importance of religious dialogue, tolerance, and the common ground of promoting harmony and forgiveness. The report suggests how believers can integrate their faith into their daily lives to improve relationships and navigate challenges at work and home, ultimately promoting understanding and respect in a religiously diverse environment. The report concludes that all the five religions promote living in harmony with others and that religious diversity promotes tolerance.

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RELIGION IN THE MODERN WORLD
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Question 1
At your work place, you have been asked to prepare a concise report to address colleagues of
various religious backgrounds (namely Buddhists, Daoists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians).
You are required, in your report, to give suggestions to believers of each religious group to apply
religious teaching and practice in coping with problems at work and at home.
Answer
Introduction
Religion is an aspect of human beings that is found in communities across the world.
Singapore is rich in religious diversity due to ethnic mixtures of people who originated from
various countries. Various aspects such as religious dialogue are of important concern. Religious
dialogue helps in promoting understanding among different religions through increasing
acceptance to others. One interesting thing about religious diversity is that sometimes, at the
level of concepts, people holding different religious believes do not always agree. Understanding
fundamental teachings in all religions is a vital tool in enhancing tolerance.
Discussion
Buddhism.
The core beliefs that make the principles of Buddhist philosophy are basically guides to
human way of life. This religion teachings are based on what is known as the “four noble truth”.
The nobble truth teaches that lack of satisfactoriness exists and experienced universally. Desires
are the causes of lack of satisfactoriness and sufferings. However there is an end of these
sufferings which can be obtained by following certain specified principles. The principles
include right understanding, right thinking, right speech, right conduct, right acquisition of
livelihood, right balance between spiritual path and usual life, right mindfulness and right

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concentration (Chia, 2009). Furthermore, there are ethical guidelines to followers of Buddhism.
The common ones known as five precepts asks the believers to refrain from destroying of living
creation, stealing, sexual misconduct, incorrect speech and intoxicants.
As believers of Buddhism, we should integrate teachings of nobble truth which are reflective to
our living codes, and the ethical codes at our places of work and at home.
Daoism
Daoism combines traditions, beliefs and social practices into a religion. The believers of
this religion are guided by three core principles or virtues which are translated to compassion,
moderation and humility (Maki, 2016). Human life and the way of dealing with others and with
God are guided by these main values.
The teachings from Taoism requires us to be like a bamboo; simple, straight and with a vacant
center that can be filled. We need to simplify our lives by helping others, being ready to be filled
where we are empty and maintain important values.
Hinduism
The major guiding belief in Hinduism is that sin, also known as bad karma, leads to
suffering in the present and after life. The believers of this religion believe in reincarnation. Soul
which is known as Atman, is immortal and that human body should not limit good intentions by
giving in to the selfish desires of the body. It teaches that parents, teachers and food are of
utmost importance. Parents and teachers are the leaders that guide people about everyday life
dealings with others. Food is what we consume in our thoughts and body (Rambachan, 2017).
The guiding principles are Dharma, which is the righteous way of living and Vedas, which is the
sacred scriptures.

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Hinduism, from its teaching perspective, is a way of life. As Hindus, we should live upon the
earth like the principles of Hindu Dharma teaches. We should use the freedom of life given to us
to add value to life of others. This will help us cope up with colleagues at work and our families
at home
Islam
The guiding principles of Islam is a set rules known as sharia. Core elementary virtues of
Islam are Supremacy of God (Allah), Love for one another, Prayer, Charity (zakah) and fasting.
Muslims believe that you can only claim to love God if you adhere to his teachings in the book
of Quran. Loving others is shown by extending a hand in charity to assist those in need. Prayers
and fasting will guide Muslims on how to live with others through forgiveness (Elbih, 2015).
With regard to the Islamic teachings that actions are judged by motives behind them and that a
person is not a believer not unless he has good intentions for his brother, as Muslims we should
take control of our lives. Being conscious about other people’s welfare will help us improve
relationships at home and at work.
Christianity
Christians have principles or values summarized in a set of ten laws known as Ten
Commandments. Christians believe that the Commandments are ultimate laws that were given
by God to control humanity and their behavior in dealings with each other and with God
Himself. The teachings from the Bible show how human being can please God by loving fellow
human beings. The laws command them to show their love for God by acknowledging that there
is only one God whom should be worshipped and respected. Respect for father and mother
(authority), respect for human life, respect for other peoples and their properties among other
teachings are emphasized in the Christian law. Forgiveness is of great importance and according

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to the bible if you do not forgive fellow human beings, then you also do not deserve forgiveness
(McKim, 2016).
As Christians, we need to embrace the teachings such as respect to authority and respect to other
people and their properties. This will help us improve our social life and that of others at home
and at work.
Conclusion
The major lessons from all the five religions promote living in harmony with others.
Forgiveness is a key aspect in all the religions. It is important to embrace religious biodiversity
since it promotes tolerance. Religious dialogue should be encouraged since such dialogues help
various religious group to interact and discover various aspects that could cause conflict. After
all, all these religions acknowledge God as Supreme Being and respect for human life. All
religions agree that evil deeds will lead to suffering in the present life and that to come.

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References
Chia, JT 2009, 'Teaching Dharma, Grooming Sangha: The Buddhist College of Singapore',
SOJOURN: Journal Of Social Issues In Southeast Asia, 24, 1, pp. 122-138, Business
Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 October 2017.
Elbih, R 2015, 'Teaching about Islam and Muslims While Countering Cultural
Misrepresentations', Social Studies, 106, 3, pp. 112-116, Professional Development
Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 October 2017.
Maki, WJ 2016, 'Dewey’s Link with Daoism: Ideals of nature, cultivation practices, and
applications in lessons', Educational Philosophy & Theory, 48, 2, pp. 150-164,
Professional Development Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 2 October 2017.
McKim, DK 2016, 'John Calvin's 'Institutes of the Christian Religion': A Biography', Church
History, no. 4, p. 845.
Rambachan, A 2017, 'The Coexistence of Violence and Nonviolence in Hinduism', Journal Of
Ecumenical Studies, 52, 1, pp. 96-104, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 2
October 2017.