Question

Respond to the following: Joe is very faithful and forthright in his beliefs. He holds that all things come from the volcano he has named “Ed.” Every so often Ed erupts and changes things. Joe feels that these eruptions are normal and bring balance to the world. He believes that balance is lost when people expect Ed to erupt more often or less often than Ed desires. Joe believes that we can become one with Ed after our lives end by tossing our bodies into the lava. This will help keep things in balance. Joe is the only believer. In a serious discussion, decide whether or not Joe practices religion. What elements are present and what elements are missing? What are the elements needed for Joe’s beliefs to become a “World Religion?”

Answer 1

The thinking of Joe, about conditions is valid and enables personal views, he is believing in as it is condition rather than modify it.

As we mentioned, Joe is only believer, so we can say that it is not necessary in beliefs to combine with mass number of believers. Pragmatism and some Eastern philosophy described lone believer religion.

Joe expressed some elements of religions, and missed many according to the definition of world religion. Joe showed epistemology and metaphysics of thought process, he confirms the faith with logics. But religious rituals, traditional values cannot be characterized by single person so that they are missing.

Joe needs, ethological views, more believers and thinkers as well as traditional views and rituals to be a world religion. Every religion in this world tried to help human and make them happy with less grieves, they evolved many ideas to do so, and here we can see that Joe also tried these steps but he need open thinking perspective rather than individual.