Religions__Meaning_and_Purpose_for_Individuals,_Social_Transformation_and_Cohesion

Meaning and purpose for the individual Example One: Judaism In considering the meaning and purpose of religion for an individual who practises Judaism this religion’s most important feature is the worshiping of a single, omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent, transcendent God, who created the universe and governs it. Because for the individual who believes in Judaism, God established a covenant with the Jewish people, at Mount Sinai, revealing his laws and commandments in the Torah. In Rabbinic Judaism, the Torah comprises the written Pentateuch (Torah) and the oral law tradition (later transcribed as sacred writing). From this, the meaning and purpose of their life is to serve the one true God and to prepare for the world to come. The "Olam Haba" thought is about elevating oneself spiritually, connecting to God in preparing for "Olam Haba"; Jewish thought is to use "Olam Hazeh" (which is this world that they live in now) to elevate themselves for the life to come or after life. "Al shlosha devarim," a well-known Mishnah from Pirkei Avot, relates to one of the first scholars of the Oral Law, Simeon the Righteous, and as part of this religions belief the saying that "the world stands on three things: on torah, on worship, and on acts of loving kindness." This concept further explains the Jewish mentality towards the meaning of it all. The Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, which Judaism follows as an explanation of meaning and purpose for the individual who follows this religion. Through the Kabbalah, its teachings help Jews to gain understanding of these concepts and progress their way to spiritual realization. The Kabbalah was originally developed entirely for Jewish thought and it mainly uses classical Jewish sources to explain and demonstrate its teachings which only followers of Judaism would understand. For the Jew or follower of Judaism as their religion, Kabbalah explains the significance of their religious observances, and that the meaning of life is to connect with the One God. The basic principle of Kaballah is that only God exists, though "Klipot" (shells) separate the holiness of God, therefore, the meaning of life is to remove those shells and connect to God. Through practising the laws and commandments of the Torah, worship and on good deeds will provide meaning and purpose for the individual who follows Judaism as a religion. Social Transformation Example Two: Catholicism Religion’s significance or "religious tradition" meaning the beliefs, ethics and values of a religious group such as Catholicism, can contribute to social transformations by pushing a society to conform more closely to the values that are a part of the religion's ethics and beliefs.  This can be seen clearly in the role that religious groups have played in such things as the Civil Rights Movement in America. The Civil Rights Movement used the ideals of Christian religion to achieve social transformation.  It appealed to white Christians to live up to Christian beliefs and values by treating black Americans as their sisters and brothers.  By appealing to the values that were a core value of Christian teaching, the movement was able to achieve a major change in American society. When a society's practices are (or may be heading towards becoming) in conflict with the belief system of a major religious tradition in that society, the religious tradition can help to push the society towards acting in a way that is more in line with those beliefs.  In this way, a religious tradition such as Catholicism through its values and beliefs can contribute to social transformation. Social Cohesion Example Three: African Traditional Religion Over the centuries religion has been playing important part in maintaining social cohesion. Social cohesion is a term used in social policy, sociology and political science to describe the bonds or "glue" that bring people together in society, particularly in the context of cultural diversity. (Source: Wikipedia). Even in traditional African societies the belief in the Supreme Being instilled fear in the people for there is a Supreme Judge watching over human activities. In African traditional religion cosmology is viewed as having three domains-the living, the dead, and the unborn. They believe that the dead, the living and the unborn exist together during the same time period. Because of their belief in the Supreme Being watching over their activities, this society is as a result organised along this way and they believe in maintaining good social behaviour. The religion is providing the “glue” for the behaviour and the social cohesion for their society. Their beliefs and values of this society are preserved through practising what they believe in and cherish as their religion. Their belief system is the foundation that helps in keeping their social cohesion and integration together and helps create peace and harmony in their society. Even in Western civilization foundational values that unite society and define social behaviour are all anchored in the Bible. The Bible exercises the greatest influence in Western civilization similar to the Torah mentioned previously as it speaks of the laws and commandments to follow as part of the religion. Each of these religions has different cultural patterns but all these cultures are brought together following the moral values taught by the Bible. All these values which are learnt by followers of these religions then help add to the social cohesion of that society. Without religion, human life will lack direction and meaning.