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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper takes a look at this compelling book. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RG13_SA01135one.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
it in mixed company. For some authors, religion is something that should be protected, but for others, it is fair game for argument. In The Meaning and End of Religion,
Smith (1991) argues that religion should be abandoned and instead, individual religion should be discussed. He does not literally mean that religion should be done away with, but rather, the
concept of religion needs to change. The problem as the author sees it, is that the world is divided by religion. Rather, the world should be more aligned, more focused
and more in tune with one another as far as this concept is concerned. After all, many of the religious worship the same God. The book starts out with
a chapter title "Religion in the West" and then goes on to address other cultures. In this way, the author introduces the material specifically in terms of how it is
embraced by the west, and also, how religion fares in other cultures, covering a good amount of material in a short span. The third chapter goes into Islam as a
special case. The author therefore writes about general aspects as well as specifics of the topic. In the chapter called "Is the Concept Adequate," the author delves into the issue
in historical perspective. The author remarks: "No man has seen the point of his own religious tradition for whom the concept religion is an adequate indication of what it is
all about" (Smith, 1991, 129). Before the author concludes the book, he addresses the cumulative tradition and faith. It is argued that people are the ones that shape their
religions (Smith, 1991). For this author, it seems as if it would be better to just explore the nature of being religious, in a number of religions, than see a
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