| Religious Belief |
Article Index for Religious |
Shopping Belief |
Website Links For Religious |
Information AboutReligious Belief |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT RELIGIOUS BELIEF | |
| religious philosophy and doctrine | |
|
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGIOUS AND OTHER BELIEF SYSTEMS While religion invariably involves a belief system, not all belief systems are religion. Theism is often confused with religion. However theism isn't always a belief system. Spirituality , which deals in matters of the Spirit , usually considered a part of religion, can also be distinguished from religion. Spirituallity may encompass both religious and non-religious practice. Religious adherants often distinguish religious belief from Superstition . Both superstition and traditional religions are non-materialistic, do not see the world as being subject to laws of cause and effect and presume that there are immaterial forces influencing our lives. Both religion and superstition seek meaning in otherwise random and chaotic events. There is, thus, a continuum between what is termed “superstition” and the ideas in animistic religions. RELIGIOUS BELIEF VS PHILOSOPHY Philosophy is sometimes confused with religion since the two topics cover many of the same issues. Both religion and philosophy address questions such as: Why are we here? What is the nature of reality? What is good? How should we treat each other? What is most important in life? However, philosophy focuses on reason and critical thinking whereas in religion, faith is paramount. Religion has rituals marking important life events and times of the year. Unlike philosophy, religion makes a distinction between the sacred and the profane. Religions also have a belief in the “miraculous.” Philosophy has none of these qualities. NEUROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS ON RELIGIOUS BELIEF There have been recent findings on the physiological effects of religious experience in the human body. Neurobiological research coupled with modern Medical Imaging , especially Tomography , suggests that Serotonin is generated in some areas of the brain of people having religious experiences, and may have specific effects. These include the ability of believers to better cope with stressful situations. Viewed from the perspective of evolutionary psychology, this would suggest that in an uncontrolled environment, religious faith would objectively increase fitness for individuals. FORMS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF Pluralism See Also: Religious pluralism People with Pluralist beliefs make no distinction between faith systems, viewing each one as valid within a particular culture. Examples include: |
|
|