To most people
religion offers salvation, enlightenment and a place in heaven. Religion
identifies a way of life; it tells one a complete code of life. Religion
emphasizes the importance of being good and being right. It condemns those who
are bad and those who are wrong, those who practice a religion strive to be
perfect, if they fail they may be condemned, and if they succeed they may
become intolerant of others. Many religions have many gods while some believe in
the oneness of God.
It has been said
that thoughts of death led to the development of religion. It is however
difficult to imagine what need there would be for religion in a world in which
no one ever died or became ill. All religions attempt to give answers to basic
questions: From where did the world come from? Why do people die and what
happens afterwards? Why is there evil? How should people behave, etc.? In the
distant past, these questions were answered in terms of mythology. However,
nowadays much of literature deals with them and modern sciences try to
investigate them.
It is also
believed that religions were created to maintain peace over a large area of
rule. People need to be calmed and by giving them a reason for their existence,
it gives them something to grasp as a ‘’foundation’’ of knowledge. It also
creates unity and makes it easier for someone to lead not to mention rule.
Religion
attempts to search for a deeper meaning to life, to find facts about the
universe, about the laws of nature; Religion has been in our flesh and blood
since antiquity. Though science has flourished today, and science it should be
noted is directly OPPOSED to religion, even so religion has not lost its
significance, because science is beyond the comprehension of many, and
religious trends are easy to convince, to be comprehended.
Humans are
fundamentally religious even in the industrialized West, religion moulds human
nature. Religion has been institutionalized, constitutionalized and politicized
today. It has been channelled into violent conflict and barbaric cruelty. The
bloodshed history of religious conflict provides us a clue detests the
traditional religions that are morally bankrupt and corrupt. Religion has
hindered the philosophy of universal fraternity and camaraderie, religion has
caused many classes and races to engage in war against themselves. One group of
religion opposes another. Therefore, there is Catholicism and Protestanism; as
well as Sunni and Shia Muslims in the Islamic arena. Religion has lost its
drive today. It kills the decent behaviour of humans today.
The crux of the
next part shall dwell on the evolution of religion through the medieval ages
which today is known as the ‘’dark ages’’ while subsequent parts shall seek to
decipher the myriad of manipulations towards religions of the world.
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| Author Lanlokun Abass Graduate of History University of Ibadan @abbas_xvii |
