Religion a Standard in Public Education Research Paper

Religion a Standard in Public Education - Research Paper Example Since almost every individual of society contains direct or indirect linkage with the religion, basic knowledge about this social phenomenon is extremely necessary for all members of a social establishment; the same is applied on the multicultural and multi-religious US society, where the people belonging to divergent beliefs reside and adopt the teachings of their spiritual system both openly and secretly. Since sociology is the scientific study of different human institutions, the information about the cult and system of different religions is a matter of grave concern for the student of sociology. However, it is really startling to note that an overwhelming majority of the US population keeps very little knowledge about the faith prevailing in their culture. Not only this that they do not know about the religious belief of the fellow humans, but also it is a great tragedy to learn that the US citizens have given up taking interest in the religious values they follow. It has not on ly invited the concern of the philosophers and thinkers, but also alienation with the spiritual activities have alarmed them that aloofness and disinterest from religious fabrics may pave the way towards the serious decline of moral values from the very face of the US society. Consequently, the intellectuals and theorists have urged the authorities to include the subject of religion in different social sciences disciplines in order to get the students introduced with this primary institution of society. The present study aims to explore the need and significance of religion and importance of its study in the contemporary life. The study has also been supported with the theory of religion articulated by Max Weber. Essay By critically analyzing the history of the world at large, it becomes crystal clear that humans have always been the followers of one or more religions since their very arrival on the earth. The belief in supernatural powers is actually the outcome of their helplessne ss and inability to get their wishes and dreams fulfilled on the one hand, and the absence of their power to overcome certain problems and difficulties on the other. Although, humans have made tremendous developments in every field of life; yet such moments come in life when they undergo sentimental and emotional collapse and feel entirely helpless in the face of hardships; they are bound to seek the support of someone supernatural for their rescue as well as for the solution of their difficulties. Thus, religion provides spiritual guidance and emotional relief to the humans. In other words, humans have discovered the very reality that their survival in this world in a respectable and comfortable manner is directly dependent of seeking help from the unseen regulatory authorities of the universe. â€Å"Humans have formed their own beliefs (called probability belief in mathematics and science) about the set of unknowable elements of the universe.   They have branded their beliefs a bout the unknowable as religion.† (Acharya, 2006) Hence, they have found the very truth that there is present some metaphysical powers which are regulating the system of the universe. Consequently, having affiliations with these supernatural powers and begging before them for the elimination of hardships as well as removal of misfortunes is inevitable for their survival. The universality of religion is not based upon the forms of belief and practice, but upon the social functions which religion universally fulfills. Sociologically defined, a religion is a system of beliefs and symbolic practices and objects, governed by faith rather than

A Comparative Analysis on the Course to Self-realization of the Essay

A Comparative Analysis on the Course to Self-realization of the Protagonists in Emma, Huckleberry Finn, and My Name is Asher Lev - Essay Example ive description on the role of a protagonist in novels is achievable by using three coming-of-age novels such as â€Å"Emma† by Jane Austen, â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain, and â€Å"My Name is Asher Lev† by Chaim Potok as examples. These novels and their main characters each possess distinct storylines and traits. For instance, Emma Woodhouse in Austen’s novel is a wealthy woman from the Victorian era while Huckleberry Finn is a young man belonging to the lower echelons of the society. Asher Lev, on the other hand, traces his ancestry to conservative Jews. The novels exhibit different types of protagonists from the underprivileged boy depicted in the main character of Mark Twain’s novel to the affluent but immature woman in Austen’s â€Å"Emma†. To be more specific, Austen (1882) described Emma Woodhouse as a woman who has, â€Å"†¦power of having rather too much of her own way, and a disposition to thin k a little too well of herself:† (p. 1-2). Whereas Huck Finn’s character can be deciphered in Twain’s (2001) account stating, â€Å"The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [sic] me;†¦and so when I couldnt stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied.† (p. 1-2) Conversely, Potok’s (2003) indicates Asher Lev’s nature: â€Å"I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions. As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all—in the way that I am painting.† (p. 3) Readers immediately perceive the differences on the growth of each protagonist in the three novels, which are affected by the literary elements of each novel.