Religion is the Key to Success Essay

worship should have an impact on every atomic number 53s life. consort to K atomic number 18n Armstrong, without pietism, quite a little would not be able to disc everyplace their get own(prenominal) reason of life with a pure reason or solve set by any guidelines. As a result of obtaining a good foundation of faith in your morality, it will not barely positively affect your life on a personal level, barely the community as a whole. If we look back at humans antiquity, we commonly realise that people of numerous varied religions, traditions, and cultures had one important goal of relegateing the meaning of peace and purity in their own selves.In the s flushteenth century BCE, the Hindus created a adjudge of philosophical texts called the Upanishads, property the main idea of finding ones sacred self-importance, or atman. This sacred book led tranquility and serenity into the everyday lives of many Hindus. According to Armstrong, the mean of religion has been and alw ays should be to help us live peacefully, creatively, and even joyously. Armstrong also areas that by engaging in apparitional practices and forms of life, people stop live their lives on a higher divine plane and thusly discover their own authorized selves. Karen Armstrong believes that religion does help people to find beneficial meanings in their lives and does allow people discover their inner selves. end-to-end the qualifying Homo Religiosus written by Karen Armstrong, there are many historical events coming from various cultural and phantasmal backgrounds that support her look in which religion does and should play a crucial part in everyones lives. However, not only does religion bring harmony and article of faith in peoples lives, however religion also back up people in finding a legitimate meaning in their life and in the world. It helps to positively strengthen the relationship between the people leading to the elimination of greed, hatred, and pride in communi ties.Like Confucius beliefs, the Buddhists had a state of peace of their own. Nirvana was the natural result of a life lived jibe to the doctrine of Buddhas anatta. Anatta required Buddhists to live as if though the self did not exist, which led to corruption fading away. It is stated, His (a monks) greed fades away, and once his cravings disappear, he experiences the release of the mind (Miller and Spellmeyer 37). This text states that when the people heard nigh annata, their hearts were occupied with joy and they immediately experienced Nirvana. As a result, people were living between each other with love, care, and ease towards one another which led to a better life style overall.The famous Confucius practice Golden linguistic rule is also another example of religion brining peaceful meanings in ones life. Confucius, the most famous religious icon in Chinese history, clarifies the meaning behind the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule states that an respective(prenominal) should t reat another the same way he/she would kindred to be treated by others. Confucius would later explain that the practice of the Golden Rule would bring people into a state of ren, which is a state of kindness and love. Although ren did bring peace and love between the people of Confucius, it is stated that it was so hard to completedly be in this state. It was stated that people had a hard time achieving a full state of ren. Nonetheless, people want being in this pure state.Yan Hui, Confuciuss greatest student, said with a deep sigh, Yan Hui stated, The more I strain my gaze towards it, the higher it soars. The deeper I bore down into it, the harder it becomes. I see it in front, but utterly it is behind. Step by step, the Master skillfully lures one on. He has broadened me with culture, restrain me with ritual. Even if I wanted to stop, I could not. Just when I mat up that I have exhausted every resource, something seems to rise up, standing over me sharp and clear. Yet thoug h I long to pursue it, I can find no way of getting it all (Miller and Spellmeyer 38). This passage explains how hard people were trying to obtain this state.Religion as define by the mentors of great countries like India, China, and the Middle East was not something impossible, so far it was a realistic one. It was not about believing in a matinee idol or believing in a divine being. Religion was based on physical activities, disciplined work, and robust undertakings on a daily basis. Back then, religion had its real meaning of organizing ones life and basing ones life on religion. Sadly, religion has its own different inappropriate meaning nowadays.Which leads to my repoint of Karen Armstrong talking about how many people find the concept of God and religion so troublesome only when because they have lost wad of this important understanding. She also explains how for each separate religion, there is an ontological flack to understanding it. Many people have simply just pro ne up on God because of self-corruption like greed, stubbornness, and impatience.In Greek mythology, it is stated, No god can survive unless he or she is actualized by the mulish activity of ritual, and people often whirl against gods who fail to deliver. The rites and practices that that once make him a persuasive symbol of the sacred are no bimestrial effective, and people have stopped participating in them. He has whence become otiosus, an etiolated reality who for all intents and purposes has indeed died or bypast away (Miller and Spellmeyer 31). If God does not comply the peoples needs, then they will turn against this god and he/she will no longer be effective.In the passage, it is also explains how religion requires a disciplined cultivation of a different mode of consciousness. This basically means that before you perform any religious task, you must pursue ekstasis, which literally means stepping out the norm you are accustomed to. Unfortunately, nowadays people are e ither to lazy or lost desire to seek any religious salvation simply because many things have taking over our world like media, entertainment, sports, euphony etc. They pursue other means to stand outside the norm. It is like they almost feel free when they are listening to the type of melody they desire, or play the type of sport they seek, or are entertain by media that they desire.Karen Armstrong proves her point Today people who no longer find it in a religious setting resort to other outlets music, dance, art, sex, drugs, or sport. We make a point of seeking out these experiences that touch us deep within and lift us momentarily beyond ourselves. At such times, we feel that we inhabit our humanity more fully than familiar and experience an enhancement of being (Miller and Spellmeyer 27)In conclusion, Armstrong strongly anchors her belief of religion having a positive influential affect on peoples lives, helping them find a purpose in their life, and aiding them in discoveri ng their true selves. She has her belief backed up by many famous religious icons from different backgroundslike Buddha, Confucius, and even Greek mythology. She explained how it helps organize peoples lives, better the relationship between two people and last but not least, it helps purify a persons whole entire life. Reassuringly, religion, does quite in fact, impacts the lives of many.Works Cited1)Miller, Richard E., and Kurt Spellmeyer. Homo Religiosus. The saucily humanities reader. fourth ed. Boston, milliampere Lyn Uhl, 2009. 38. Print.2) Vinaya textbooks, Part I (SBE 13) Mahvagga First Khandaka. Internet Sacred Text Archive Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013.3) Miller, Richard E., and Kurt Spellmeyer. Homo Religiosus. The New humanities reader. 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts Lyn Uhl, 2009. 37. Print.4) Miller, Richard E., and Kurt Spellmeyer. Homo Religiosus. The New humanities reader. 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts Lyn Uhl, 2009. 27. Print.5) Miller, Richard E., and Ku rt Spellmeyer. Homo Religiosus. The New humanities reader. 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts Lyn Uhl, 2009. 31. Print.View as multi-pages