Year 11 Studies of Religion - Nature of Religion

Essay by GilbyKeeperHigh School, 11th gradeB, August 2008

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Explain and analyse how religion is a distinctive answer to the human search for meaning and purpose in life. Do this by contrasting two religions and their worldviews and include your personal world view. Your answer should be approx. 2000 words in length.

To answer the question "Explain and analyse how religion is a distinctive answer to the human search for meaning and purpose in life", we can start off by asking ourselves what we believe religion to be. Collins English Dictionary defines religion as "belief in, worship of, or obedience to a supernatural power or powers considered to be divine or to have control of human destiny." Many different religions have different views as to how humans and the earth were created. This is called their worldview. They can be defined by the questions in a philosophical perspective: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I now? Where am I going? What is wrong? What is the answer?There are many different ways a religion can be used as a distinctive answer to the human search for meaning and purpose in life.

Many religions find meaning in their religion by the use of sacred symbols, supernatural beings, icons and texts. Each religion has its own beginnings and stories or beliefs.

Buddhism is one answer. It is the result of Hinduism in north India and has existed since the 6th Century B.C. Buddhists believe or have been impacted on by the teachings of the Buddhas. Buddha does not refer to just one person. A Buddha is basically a prophet like Moses in the Christian Bible. The 4th Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, a.k.a Gautama Buddha or better known as Buddha was one of the main influences on the Buddhist religion. Before spreading to the majority of the Asian continent...