This term you have studied the major religions of the world as well as some minor religions. Some of the ideas you had about what religious people believe or do may have been illustrated or clarified. Other ideas may have been disproved or cast aside. No doubt, you have discovered the difficulties of defining religion.
Out of your readings and studying offer and defend a definition of “Religion.” Include the following:
1. Develop a well-rounded definition of religion. The definition should be as comprehensive as possible and should evidence that you read and comprehended the assigned materials.
2. After you have written a definition, analyze it with specific examples from the breadth of world religions that we have studied. Include the following:
a. Explain why you included and/or excluded what you did?
b. What are the strengths of your definition?
c. What are the weaknesses of your definition? (What does it leave out?)
3. Now that you have analyzed your definition, how might you tweak it to make it stronger?
This essay requires specific examples for support of your definition gathered from across the religions of the world
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Defining Religion: Exploring Diversity, Commonalities, and Limitations
Introduction:
Throughout this term, we have delved into the study of major and minor religions, encountering diverse belief systems and practices. As we grapple with the complexities of defining religion, it is important to develop a well-rounded definition that takes into account the breadth of world religions. In this essay, I will provide a comprehensive definition of religion, analyze it using specific examples from the religions we have studied, highlight its strengths and weaknesses, and propose potential tweaks to strengthen its applicability.
Definition of Religion:
Religion can be defined as a complex and multifaceted system of beliefs, rituals, practices, and values that seeks to address fundamental questions about the nature of existence, human purpose, morality, and the relationship between the divine and human beings. It provides a framework for understanding the world and one’s place in it, often incorporating concepts of the divine or supernatural.
Analysis of Definition:
a. Inclusions and Exclusions:
In developing this definition, I aimed to encompass the diversity of religious beliefs and practices encountered across the world religions we studied. The definition includes key elements such as beliefs, rituals, practices, values, existential questions, and the relationship with the divine or supernatural. By incorporating these aspects, it acknowledges the broad range of religious expressions found in different cultural contexts.
However, it is important to note that not all religions may adhere to every aspect of this definition. Some belief systems may lack an explicit concept of the divine or supernatural, focusing more on philosophical or ethical principles. Therefore, while the definition seeks to be comprehensive, it acknowledges that there may be exceptions and variations within religious traditions.
b. Strengths of the Definition:
One strength of this definition is its recognition of religion as a holistic system that encompasses various dimensions of human experience, including beliefs, rituals, practices, values, and existential concerns. By acknowledging these diverse elements, it captures the complexity and richness of religious traditions across cultures.
Additionally, the definition allows for both organized religions with established institutions and informal belief systems practiced by individuals or small communities. It acknowledges that religious expressions can take various forms and can be deeply personal or communal.
c. Weaknesses of the Definition:
One weakness of this definition is its heavy reliance on belief in the divine or supernatural. While this aspect is present in many world religions, some belief systems may not center around a deity or supernatural beings. For example, certain forms of Buddhism focus more on ethical principles and personal transformation rather than a belief in a higher power. This limitation excludes non-theistic or atheistic religions from the scope of the definition.
Another weakness is the omission of indigenous or tribal religions that may not neatly fit into established categories or exhibit standardized practices but still possess deeply intertwined spiritual connections with nature and ancestors. These traditions often prioritize oral traditions and communal rituals over written texts or institutional structures.
Strengthening the Definition:
To enhance the definition’s applicability, it could be tweaked to acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices can vary significantly across cultures and time periods. This adjustment would allow for a more inclusive understanding of religion that encompasses indigenous and tribal belief systems that may not align with traditional definitions.
Furthermore, an expanded definition could recognize that religion plays a multifaceted role in society beyond individual spirituality. It could highlight how religion influences social structures, shapes cultural norms, fosters community cohesion, and provides a moral framework for adherents.
Conclusion:
Defining religion is a complex task due to the diversity found within world religions. The comprehensive definition presented here attempts to encompass the various dimensions of religious belief systems while acknowledging its strengths and weaknesses. By incorporating specific examples from our studies, we can better appreciate the diverse expressions of religion while striving for an inclusive understanding that embraces both commonalities and unique characteristics across cultures and traditions.
