Aileen Montoya

World Religions

20 January 2016

Essay 1 on Religion

Religious Perspectives

Religion is a complex topic and has been the foundation of life for

many years so why not study it and try to understand it. For example Mary

Fisher in Living Religions said, This difficult-to-grasp subject is central to

many peoples lives and has assumed great political significance in todays

world, so it is important to try sincerely to understand it. In this essay I am

going to talk about the three type of major theories that have evolved from

people saying why religion exists and what it is. The three major groups are

materialist, functional perspective, and faith perspective.

First what is a materialist? A materialist is someone whos view on

religion is that humans came up with that idea. That there is no supernatural

power and only the world itself. While others materialist believe that some

people came up with religion to manipulate others. Another point of view

from a materialist is that people imagine religion to meet their needs and

desires in life.

Mary P. Fisher Living Religion, New Jersey; Pearson 2016 pg. 1.1
 Next one is functional perspective and their point of view is based on

sociology they believe that religion is good for the people. They believe it

gives hope, meaning to life and makes you do things that otherwise you

wouldnt do. On that note they believe religion is very useful for helping

people stay healthy, having a sense of purpose and deeper meaning unlike

materialist. They feel that material goals even after they are meat you feel

unfilled but for functionalist people have religious goals that are everlasting.

Last one, what does it mean to be a faith perspective person? These

are people with a point of view that accept what is told to them or what is

writing in their religion books even if they cant perceive it with theyre

normal senses. Faith perspective also believe that there is a mode that your

mind can open to where you become enlightened or awakened. This is a

form of meditation where they rational form, Meditation plays a part in all

aspects of their spiritual life no matter what religion.

In conclusion all three of theirs point of view on religion which are

materialist, functional perspective, and faith perspective are very different

and complex. Yet they are all trying to bring some kind of order and can be

difficult to study them at all because they is always something you may miss

or not fully understand it as they do. As Mary Fisher in Living Religion said,

Religion is such a complex and elusive topic that some contemporary

scholars of religion are seriously questioning, whether religion or religions

can be studies at all, or whether the concept of religion itself is useful.

Mary P. Fisher Living Religion, New Jersey; Pearson 2016 pg. 1.1
However trying to understand the traditions that are in the world around us

today are significant.

Work Cited

Fisher, Mary P. Living Religion, New Jersey; Pearson 2016

Mary P. Fisher Living Religion, New Jersey; Pearson 2016 pg. 1.1