Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. It is a particular system of faith and worship. It is an essential part of different cultures around the world. Religion has sacred histories which are preserved in the form of books, sculptures and many holy places. The practices of a religion may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of a deity, gods, or goddesses), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religion is said to provide a person with the meaning of life.
There are approximately 10,000 religions in existence today all around the world. Some of the biggest religions followed by people are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or forms of folk religion. It has been estimated that about 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with one out of these five religions.
However, the people who do not associate with any religion are called atheists and agnostics. About 16% of the world’s population is unassociated with any religion.
Religion is a global concept in which many people partake. It goes without saying, that religion builds the roots of the very existence of a certain group of people. Religion is a sense of deep-rooted belief ingrained in the individuals from their ancestors belonging to previous generations.
There are several differences in the origins and heritages of various religions. The entire world is divided in different groups on the basis of religion. There is a certain animosity and hatred towards the opposing religions. Everyone feels a need to defend and protect their faith and beliefs. This need for protection has resulted in numerous amounts of religious wars that have caused destruction and devastation.
Many huge personalities of past and present have claimed that religion is a reason for violence. They have claimed that religion and violence are compatible. However Anthropologist Jack David Eller asserts that religion is not inherently violent, arguing
"Religion and violence are clearly compatible, but they are not identical."
He asserts that
"Violence is neither essential to nor exclusive to religion"
Religion is often considered synonymous to violence and terrorism. There have been incidents in countries like USA, France, Germany, Russia etc where the suspicions of a person’s religion have resulted in their death.
The most recent example of cruelty because of religious identity is the events occurring in United States of America after Donald Trump won the election of 2016 and became POTUS. He engaged in an open hatred towards Islam and the Muslim population of not only US but the entire world. Even though, his presidency is being declared as a global failure, it cannot be denied that his blunt disregards of Muslims was immensely supported by many Americans and consequently other nationalities of the world such as Germans, Russians etc. He appealed to have a temporary ban placed on Muslims from entering into the country and for the Muslims that were already in America to be deported back to ‘where they came from’.
“Power is influence and Religion is the greatest influence that affects people”
Religion is knowledge and a set of guidelines. Many people perceive religion to be limited and to a certain extent that is true.