Question

1. Discuss both formal religion and religious practices generally in their role as a form of social memory.
2. Drawing on your knowledge of Buddhism, discuss the idea of an atheistic religion exploring both why and why not it might be appropriate to classify Buddhism as a religion rather than a philosophy or a practice.

 

Answer 1

Memory is defined as the mind's ability to keep and recall past events, knowledge, and thoughts. Memory is also elaborated as the concept of collective memory incorporating a collection of information kept in the memories of members of an institution or group of common believers. Religion is expounded as a social-cultural system where members exhibit certain traits based on morals, behaviors, practices, and ethics and incline their power source from supernatural and spiritual elements (Gamble & Lynn, 440). Formal religion affects how they conduct themselves, and their social memory is also affected since their thinking and interaction revolve around spiritual membership. The practices they engage in rhyme with their religious doctrines, influencing their social memory.

Religion is categorized as centralized belief systems based on gods or gods, though all do not adopt the definition; however, Buddhism has some religious aspects. Buddhism addresses the Thirty-One realms of existence; these doctrines are considered religious. They expound on the after death via the various sermons and as evidenced by references to supernatural beings (McGhee & Michael). Buddhism provides contradicting information that grants people an opportunity to prove whether religion or philosophy; however, religion should have tried to prove its origin and supreme aspect. The reliable and supernatural deeds create confidence rather than personal research and decision-making opportunities. Additionally, Buddhism addresses questions about society from religious perspectives in society; this covers why the world is unfair, and differences among people are evidenced. Despite shreds of evidence provided to prove Buddhism as a religion, varied ideas are still raised to dispute its religious aspect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory is defined as the mind's ability to keep and recall past events, knowledge, and thoughts.