Question

Go to Religion Facts and review the religion charts. If the link does not open for you (or expires), you can go online and search “Religions Chart”. Summarize two religions from the chart. What similarities did you notice? In your opinion, is religion a form of social control? In what ways can this be positive? Reply substantively to at least two post.

Answer 1

Christianity and Judaism are the two branches of the same tree. While the former embraces both Old and New Testament, the later stopped with the Old Testament because they still wait for the Messiah. Christianity was founded in Judea which was a Roman province in the first Century AD whereas Judaism started with Abraham 2000 years before Christianity. Both Christianity and Judaism have different sub sects in them. Christianity believes in the Trinity while Judaism believes in one God who they believe is a living God thus they don’t accept a God who was born, lived and died as they do in Christianity. Christianity is the largest religion in the world with over a billion followers whereas Judaism is not that large but has people across the world (nearly 13-16 million). Christians have Bible whereas Jews have Torah and Christianity is based on love and Judaism is based on justice.

In my opinion religion is definitely a social control which determines how one would grow in terms of their values and beliefs. It would also affect the way they develop their identities. For example Christianity would say everything that it doesn’t believe as sin and it would also liberate people from their sins through confession. Religions will also impact the way people think and be creative because Christianity has killed scientists by throwing their inventions and discoveries as blasphemy.

Religions can play a positive role in one’s life by constantly reminding one of one’s moral values and respect for other people. Religions also motivate people to donate for charitable causes. They also inspire people with their concept of heaven thus making people to live a good life.