Common Practices in Religion
Common Practices in ReligionREL/133 September 25, 2017Common Practices in ReligionIntroductionReligion started a long time ago, longer than anyone can ever imagine. Notwithstanding, there has never been a common religion worldwide.  People practice religion in different ways, guided by specific beliefs and connotations. The focus of this paper is on common practices in religion today.Academic study of religion vs. devotional practice and advocacyThe academic study of religion purposes to research into religious behaviors, principles, and institutions to enable a group of people to describe, compare, interpret, and explain religion, accentuating systematic, historically-based, and cross-cultural viewpoint (Molloy 2013). Devotional practice and advocacy, on the other hand, purposes to teach a group of people, while dynamically encouraging them to have confidence that a particular type or sector of religion is better than the other. Devotional practice concentrates squarely on activities that people perform or are expected to perform or emulate, based on religious beliefs and interpretation of religious readings.Definition of religionIn Molloy (2013), religion is defined as the credence in and reverence of a prodigious controlling power, specifically, a special God or god. Brennan (2005), however, contend that religion is a system of devotional beliefs in which one pursue, interest in or ascribes to some special supreme importance. Given these two perspectives, religion can be defined as a system of faith and worship in a particular society. For instance, one can ascribe to Christianity, religion in which people honor God as the Supreme Being, or Muslim religion in which Allah is the Supreme Being that everyone honors.
Common religious questions, concerns, practices, and experiences across the world.Regardless of acceptance and practice of religion across the world, there are certain religion-related issues, questions, practices, and experiences common today.Religious QuestionsA number of people still ask such questions as Is God real? Were humans and other living things born out of creation or just evolution? Which religion is right in their beliefs and Worship? Is Jesus the only true way to heaven? I am a Muslim, why should I consider changing to Christianity? The questions are many and probably endless.Religious concernsMany issues surround religion today. First is the religious conflict which has been there since time immemorial. The fight between Christians and Muslims is a common characteristic in the world today. Each sect champions for the superiority of their specific religions. Second, there is the issue of rules and policies of each religion. For instance, Muslims prefer a specific type of dressing code for each gender when praying. The same applies to other indigenous religions around the world.