Journal 6; Religion

Every culture has a religion that it endorses and follows as the best. It is quite important

for an anthropologist not to look down upon any religion as everyone in the various cultures

existing believe that there is a supreme being they are worshipping. The definition of religion

encompasses various characteristics as examined in the class videos. Thus, it is important to

examine some of these features.

First of all, it occupies a macro level in various societies, and therefore people use it to

explain the occurrence of the various phenomenon. For example, the existence of this earth and

everything in it. Nevertheless, science also tries to explain some of these phenomena but with the

use of theories that cannot be proven in any experimental environment. The relationship

concerning science and religion has been under debate in both theology and philosophy. Since

the 1960s, scholars have been studying the relationship between science and religion.

Nevertheless, it is possible to deduce that there is no much relationship between the two because

as science concerns the natural, religion seems to concern both natural and supernatural. Thus,

scientific explanations lack anything to do with gods or angels (De Cruz, 2017).

One thing worth noting is that although all cultures have religion, there is need to note

that the elements of these religions are varied from one culture to the other. Every religion has a

specific day of the week set aside for worship. Similarly, every religion has a supreme they

believe on, and most importantly there is a set of norms that govern each religion. These norms

have various aspects of the lives of people from the aspects of social, political, and even

personal. Some religions, for example, can motivate people to fast and hold feasts in the form of

rituals, and even abstain from sex. Some encourage their followers to travel miles to spread the
word. Thus, religion meets all the aspects that make it be termed as a social institution at its own

macro level.

To some extent, religions act as change catalysts. According to the video, it is showed

that religion has the capabilities of influencing the peoples practices, defining families, and

shaping the political policies. In fact, religion has provided the rationale for war and created

international peace movements. From another perspective involving personality, some prominent

people we know, the greatest works of art, and historical literature have all been motivated by

religion. Also, some of the most horrible things that have happened in the world have found

justification under religion. The effects that religions have are so extensive that some people

regard religion as the main foundation of culture.

Finally, religion is based on supernatural and people use it to communicate to the spirits.

Through such a communication, these people are capable of performing what seems to be called

miracles. Additionally, people believe in these spirits too much for almost everything. For

instance, in the case examined involving the use of snakes in churches, the people involved are

seen to be using the most venomous snakes. Upon being bitten accidently, they refuse to go the

hospital waiting for miracles to happen to them wherever they are. This to some extent is

following religion blindly. Miracles can happen yes, but it requires determining the source of the

miracle which in this case is seeking medical attention to facilitate the healing.

It is crucial to examine every aspect of religion as it is involved in numerous things than

just being a belief system or just as a mechanism of social control. Religions are informative as it

informs us about the present, the past and the future. Furthermore, it postulates the unseen

aspects that in many ways motivate our behavior.

 References

De Cruz, H. (2017). Religion and Science. Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 25 April 2017, from

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-science/

https://youtu.be/ac3uqhsovQw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9DTQyXSQpA&list=PLqRW4crRhLc4yhGcZ5DTjNmeH

B5wTc9ck&index=5

https://youtu.be/mNm6jLXJt2Y