RELIGION
By Eva Lawrence, Just Focus Coordinator
Religion and spirituality are a huge part of our world, and help form the culture and values of many millions of people within it. Religion is a really contentious issue… probably because it is so essential to so many people. The discussion board on the Just Focus website, which I regularly visit, has a thread on religion that has been going now for almost a year with heaps of comments and heated debate. I felt a bit ignorant about religion, so I thought I would do some exploring.
Religion is a way for people to connect to a power greater than themselves, to try to make sense of the things that are difficult, or impossible to explain purely with logical reason. It offers solace in hard times, and an avenue to give thanks for the good stuff. It provides teachings on how to go about that difficult task of living ‘right’, and gives comfort when we think about our own death, and that of our loved ones.
But despite all the peaceful behaviour taught, religion can be, and has been, used as an excuse for war and all sorts of human rights abuses. Religion is incredibly powerful because followers often believe that their own religion is the only “truth” and therefore they are sanctioned by their god to act in a particular way, even if this hurts other people.
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: “Religion is like a knife. When you use a knife for cutting up bread to prepare sandwiches, a knife is good. If you use the same knife to stick into somebody’s guts, a knife is bad. Religion in and of itself is not good or bad.”
Therefore, religion can be a power for good but also has the potential for evil – depending on how it is interpreted by humans at particular times and in particular circumstances. Perhaps one way to maximise the positive side to religion, and minimise the negative is to increase understanding of what different religions exist and what they are all about.
World Snap Shot
So what does the world look like?
If the world contained 1000 people, it would include 315 Christians, 195 Muslims, 165 “non religious” people, 56 Buddhists, 135 Hindus, 59 Chinese Traditionalists (or folk religion), 2 Jews, and 49 other religious/spiritual believers.
Potato Religion
“Religion is like a potato restaurant – it’s the same food served different ways”.
This epiphany came from my wise friend Heather one day while we were eating fish and chips. I tend to agree. I don’t mean to discount the importance of each belief system, or to say they are all the same. What I mean is that basically the teaching intrinsic in all world religions is “be a good person”.
The ‘rules’ of various religions usually include: don’t steal, don’t commit adultery and don’t murder anyone.
Religion in Aotearoa
In ‘God-zone’/Aotearoa, the diversity in religious beliefs is increasing according to the 2001 census.
Over half the population affiliate with a Christian religion. While this is a lot, it is much less than even 50 years ago.
From 1996 to 2001 there was about a 50% increase in the number of Buddhists and Hindus in NZ. The number of Muslims increased by around 75% and the number of people who identified with a form of ‘spiritualism’ increased by around 60%. However as of 2001, each of these groups still made up less than 1% of the population. In this same census, almost 4 out of 10 people did not specify a religious affiliation. Do you?
Find out more!
When I started writing this piece I wanted to write an idiot’s guide to religion – a basic snapshot of what the major religions are about and what beliefs each have. But after doing a whole lot of reading, I realise I would have to simplify stuff so much it would be meaningless. So…you will have to do your own homework to become an expert!
Find out about other religions – the more understanding, the less confusion and fear.
Adherents.com is a website with info on many different religions
Beliefnet is the largest spiritual web site. They are independent and not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement. They say their only agenda is to help you meet your spiritual needs.
People of Faith - Here you can begin to explore the rich diversity of the world’s main faiths and religions from the viewpoint of individuals from each faith and religion. They’ve included details of some of the main features of each religion together with a ‘personal’ view of what is ‘believed’, what it means to ‘belong’, and how a person’s belief affects what they do and say
Global Issues magazine on religion
Just Change Magazine on religion
This article was originally published in Jet magazine in the Focus column.
