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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay/research paper that explores the question of "What is religion?" The writer discusses why religion is hard to define, how it is typically defined, and what differentiates the study of religion from the practice of faith. The paper closes with personal observations and conclusions. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khwhtrel.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
diversity of world religious belief, this answer can, therefore, be tremendously varied. Therefore, the "what" of religion is determined to a certain extent by the "where." Corollary questions include why
is religion? In other words, why do people seek out and formulate religious belief systems, which suggests yet another question, which is what it means to be religious, its function
and purpose. Is it a corporate exercise performed by groups or is it located in individual expression? While certainly religion is expressed within a society in a corporate manner, its
impetus is within each individual believer, as corporate expression of religion depends on individual belief. Therefore, the following examination of religion, what it is, where and why will focus on
individual expression of religion and how this relates to defining religion. Thomas A. Idinopulos, professor of religion at Miami University of Ohio and author of numerous religious texts, points
out that the rationally based academic study of religion necessarily addresses those elements of religion that can be observed, that is, "historical knowledge of rituals, mythologies, religious communities, ideas, teachings,
institutions, arts (and) architecture" (Idinopulos). In other words, academic religious study looks on religion as a corporate exercise. However, there is more to religion than what is observable, which goes
to the heart of "religions purpose and meaning" (Idinopulos). In other words, the "study of religion is not the same thing as the practice of faith" and what religious belief
means in the life of the individual (Idinopulos). Idinopulos also discusses the difficulty inherent in defining religion by conceptions such as "the supernatural" and the "dichotomy of sacred and
profane," which ultimately refer to religious expression and not to religion itself as it is practiced. Buddhism does not easily accommodate definitions of religion that depend on belief in the
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