On: What is a Religion?

 This was my final essay for a course I did with Oxford University (Philosophy of Religion) early last year.

What is a religion?

Since the dawn of time, Man and his ever inquisitive nature would continually wonder about his purpose and existence in this world. Always, just every so often, this question would fascinate him, and in time Man developed ways to seek an answer. Ancient civilizations started to worship nature; physical idols were later created; spirituality then took root, worshipping an unseen God.

Religion was born out of such a state. It comes packaged in many forms – to name a few: monotheism, polytheism and may I even dare say, atheism. Religion is a cultural belief in an organized order; where a higher being may not necessarily lie central to its faith. Monotheistic religions believe that everything is due to and revolves around the one God’s will. Polytheism believes the responsibility is shared by many Gods. Buddhism has a huge philosophical influence, focusing on the awakening of the self, to strive to release oneself from suffering in this world. Atheism on the other hand is unique, their sense of bewilderment is steered towards a less personified version of a higher order; in most instances, they believe in the laws of Science.

Religion is a practice. Karen Armstrong wrote quite satisfyingly in her book “The Case for God” that ‘religion is like art or music; that with much practice comes appreciable devotion and in due time, a revelation that life is not quite whole without it'. It is a matter of practice, and she quite rightly states that without delving deep into its rituals, one may never be given a chance to understand its benefits (or discover the lack of it). And even so, she adds,is there any harm if one subscribes to his religion in solitude, for his betterment and satisfaction, bearing in mind that the whole is the sum of its parts, and would not a society full of content individuals be beneficial indeed?

But Religion can also be a weapon of conquer and destruction, as some may argue. Atheists state that religions do not aim to unite, but persevere to divide. For years, war and conflict have been linked to the sword of religion – the Crusade for one, was a religiously sanctioned military campaign to restore ownership of the Holy Land to the Christians. Till today, the discussion of true ownership of Jerusalem leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth. Even now, the Middle-East conflict seems to be a problem impossible to solve. Polarisation and conflicts still arise from militant extremism. So much blood has been poured into the ruined wastelands of what were once peaceful empires.

Religion is also a sense of identity. Christianity and Catholicism were once predominantly nested within the boundaries of Europe. Islam and Judaism were born in the deserts of the Middle East. For a significant period of time, it stayed there, till the machinations of Globalisation and a keen desire to expand power distributed religions to all corners of the Earth. Europeans used to force Aboriginals to embrace Christianity (in addition to interbreeding programs), to make them appreciably more European. And now, when the world is integrating at a rapid rate, it creates a sense of familiarity when one is part of a small religious minority in a distant land.

And yet, religion is more than just a manifestation of culture, it is also a projection of self. Believers would say that they are products of their culture and their religion: their habits and social decorum, their morals and approach to life, all seeded and rooted in their social environment. I am a Muslim and Malay. My religion has been intertwined into my upbringing. I am trained to lower my head and gently kiss the hands of an elder, for this is my culture’s way of showing respect, but no, never to an individual of the opposite sex, for my religion prohibits it so, unless he is a close family member. I do it now with little thought, with machine like precision; to omit it would feel strongly odd indeed. Perhaps I still mind my Ps and Qs because growing up, I was constantly told that I was representing my culture and my religion.

Why do religions differ so much from the other? Quite ironically, it seems to be borne out of evolution – influenced by culture and the social situation of the time. When Islam was established during Muhammad’s time, some revelations compiled in the Quran would describe a certain political scene or an adjustment of a practice that was deemed prevalent at that time. For instance, the Quran, although it did not abolish slavery, certainly prescribed rules that made slaves more autonomous and more respected. Alcohol was initially allowed, but subsequently banned because it prevented individuals from performing prayers. It is a logical affair: religion exists to address the needs of the people at a certain time, to build some structure and order. For some reason, some scriptures are deliberately left vague; allowing open interpretation to cater to current needs.

Religion is not a Scientific Theory, and so it is appreciably difficult to measure its mass, its density in ‘evidence-based’ truth. God is our way of symbolizing the higher being, the greater hand that keeps our lives in order. For many years, we have attempted to personalize him – the Mayans used to worship the Sun; our attempts evolved further with religious scriptures that describes God’s revelation to the relevant prophets. Prominent scientists like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking have stated that if there was a God, then He would be the impenetrable laws of physics!

Ultimately, religion is a difficult term to define, for it is a subjective ideology that infers different meanings to different cultures. But what is it for? Religion is an answer. It was initially derived, and is still continually used, to make sense of the world we live in today. It proclaims a set of rules and laws to provide an ideal framework in life; it provides an avenue for one to weep in sorrow in times of distress; it sets a direction for one to pray for hope or give his thanks. It is a beacon of light for those who need it for strength in darkness.

As stated before, religion is akin to art. We may come out of an art gallery or musical concert feeling joyous and serene. We may fancy ourselves better individuals, enlightened by such a brief affair. Unbeknownst to others, this internal feeling is an ember that burns, that comfortably warms our souls. And quite rightly so, like Love, it is a difficult feeling to put into words. It is near impossible to describe it to another. But does it matter, should it be a matter to infinitely debate upon; for when a quiet smile creeps slowly onto one’s lips, shouldn’t the coming of such a tranquil state matter the most?