12. And so, what should a LessWrongian do with respect to religious people? According to a Gallup report by Frank Newport "the most dramatic result (in religion) has been the exceedingly quick shift of religious services from in-person to online worship." Religion has a history of resisting the development of science. Religion trusts supernatural powers, and beings. Some religious groups encourage people to vote for political candidates who are opposed to any sort of progress, just because they are socially conservative. In the past, religious beliefs were used as a reason for executing or sacrificing people. Well, the first benefit of religion is that gives the access to the group of people who think similar to you and who believe in the same god as you. 7. 8. For many years, studies have examined the way religion has affected human relationships, particularly families. 5. Early Christianity was much more supportive of women than were most other societies during that time period. Some religious groups go even further and claim that you have to belong to their religion to achieve salvation, which would imply that anyone who doesn’t belong to their religion would automatically go to hell. It’s pretty harsh to say that someone deserves to suffer for all eternity. Positive Impact of Religion. 15. There are numerous other benefits to religion, such as community, shared values, encouraging positivity, and even simple enjoyment. Positive effects of religion: Religion allows people to believe that their lives have a purpose. 14. 26. Many times people have stated that their faith has helped them navigate troubling times. Related to this, religion teaches people to believe in doctrines that are very unlikely to be true and that an intelligent person should not otherwise believe. Impact of Christianity in respect of Education in Nigeria. The positive effects of religion can be seen in the individuals who find comfort, meaning, and justice in their faith. Its most positive effects are encouraging charity and providing a stable community. 3. Religion plays a significant role in the society. When a person follows the path of religion, he realizes that there is the presence of a supreme power which is above what human has and has built till now. Observing a day of rest, called the Sabbath, may allow a person to spend more time with family and friends, as well as participate in some form of religious study. 1. Many religions teach (or previously taught) that homosexuality is immoral. 2. Religions are meant to be guiding posts for human morality and an opportunity for people to either commune with a higher power or center their life to make the world a better place. 17. Some people attest that it is religion that gives them the strength to keep going in life (“The Lord is my strength”). That’s a pretty dark thing to believe. Regardless of what religion people belong to, they experience the same benefits from having faith. 20. What do most world religions have in common? It is the binding fabric for the society and provides objectives to people in their lives. In fact, most ancient societies based their worldviews on religion, and it has been proven to be beneficial to the attainment and maintenance of social stability and cohesiveness. M.A. Many holy books, including both the Bible and the Qur’an, contain some passages which are bizarre and violent and which have inspired some fundamentalists to commit bizarre and violent actions. Religion has played an important role in human society for many years. 27. On Monday’s program, Paul Solman will explore the religious diversity of the U.S. in a conversation with Robert Putnam, the co-author of a new book on religion in America. I ended up with 30 positives and 25 negatives. 13. Religion makes the concepts of right and wrong seem more palpable. As a result, families have helped promote and preserve religious beliefs and traditions. Christianity (arguably) played a role in the long-term development of women’s rights in the Western World. Latest answer posted July 05, 2019 at 9:42:00 PM What are the possible positive benefits of following a religion? Religion and spirituality are among the most important of cultural factors, giving structure and meaning to behaviors, value systems, and experiences. 25. 2. The hope for the afterlife can also be a source of comfort for people who have recently lost a loved one. On the other hand, war and conflicts are waged in the name of religion. Religion has been the inspiration for much art and music over the centuries. 6. That is a very irrational and self-destructive thing to believe. The perceived conflict between religion and science has been standing for decades now; from lectures in ancient Greek pantheons to discussions in Internet forums. 4. are both very large religions with both positive and negative effects from their philosophies. Religion has had positive and negative effects on society. Log in here. Religion’s Positive Effects on Mental Health For most practitioners, the stated purpose of most world religions usually goes something like this: To understand and improve the world  Charitable giving  Promote ethics in political life  Religion brings people together in a community Positive Effects  Religion is filling people with fear NEGATIVE EFFECTS  Religion is turning people against each other  Religions seek power Religion provides inner strength 3. 24. 20. Near … Religion provides us with role models (e. g. the saints). Religion allows people to believe that someone (God) understands them and loves them. But you don’t have to agree with me. Thus, another positive aspect of religion is that a religion may provide "teachers" and role models whose life and teachings have been tested over a long period of history. To put it in other words, while religion takes caution against the norms and the values related to globalization, it challenges the latter since it (religion) does not approve its hybridizing effects. While for almost a hundred years, churches have used various communication methods to reach their audiences, such as radio, television and online media, Gallup says that the halting of in … Religion sometimes teaches people to accept injustice as God’s will, rather than to fight against it. What are those positive effects? (This was Karl Marx’s criticism.). Christianity, as a book religion and as an institution concerned with moral life of the black people has made a significant contribution in the introduction and continued development of formal western education in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. However, what has become clear to me is that most of these effects, whether positive or negative, are not directly caused by religion. These facets can have a large positive impact on mental health— research suggests that religiosity reduces suicide rates, alcoholism and drug use. Religion may also provide structure in a person’s life. Religious groups have been a driving force behind some progressive movements in history, including the abolitionist movement and the Civil Rights Movement. Even the least religious societies, from the Soviet Union to North Korea, have used the methods and trappings of organized religion to instill political doctrine in their citizens and motivate them to observe the law. By doing so, they have ostracized the gay community. Research shows that religion can help people cope with adversity by: Encouraging them to reframe events through a hopeful lens. Theologists, scientists and thought leaders have attempted for centuries to understand the impact that religion can have on human beings; both mentally and physically. There are 5 kind of psalms: praise, wisdom, royal, thanksgiving, lament. Religion. 19. Some religious communities are very insular and fear the outside world. 16. 23. Some people find religious rituals to be very meaningful (e. g. praying the Rosary). First, religious institutions have done a staggering amount of charitable work. Religion builds community. Religion can help people come to terms with their own faults and shortcomings. Response and impact. For the individual, one of the main positive effects of religion is a sense of purpose, meaning, and justice in life. 28. The most negative effects are a general mistrust of science, and the various irrationalities which are applauded by religion. And, there is … John Lennon’s song entitled “Imagine”,encourages the listener to think of a world where nationalities and religious do not exist,for history has shown us that so may wars have been fought in the name of nationality and religion. Some religions have a long history of silencing and oppressing women. Religious beliefs may help a person navigate difficult times when sad or tragic events occur. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Some religions require daily prayer that must occur within a given time frame. What are the positive effects of religion? Most people want to believe that there is more to reality than just the physical, scientific universe, and religion teaches us that indeed, there is. https://zenit.org/articles/the-positive-role-of-religion/. Religion fosters an attitude of contempt towards people who are less religious. There are several positive effects of religion and religious observance. Religion reminds us that some things can never be known (“God only knows”), which can help to relieve anxiety. An example would be the Catholic doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ, which — let’s be honest — is probably not true. Some religions have a culture that turns a blind eye towards physical and/or sexual abuse. The ideas expressed in the Ten Commandments would be an example of this. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Many religions teach that some people will go to hell after they die. There are around 1 billion hindus and 376 million people living their life as buddhists. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Being involved with religion and religious observance may allow a person to access community resources to help them if they need some kind of assistance. Editor’s note: For simplicity reasons, the term religion is used here to refer only to the dominant, especially Western, dogmatic, organized religions, and doesn’t imply the esoteric religious traditions that do have a positive impact on the world. There are many religions in the world namely Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism to … 10 Photos That Show The Positive Role Religion Can Play In Our Lives These images showcase the joy, fellowship and inspiration that comes from faith. This often takes the form of belief in an afterlife, in which all the wrongs committed on earth will be judged and put right. The impact of Christianity in Nigeria 1. 8/20/2017 3. And when it gets suppressed, people don’t learn how use it. Go Deeper media Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Third, even people who have not personally held deep religious beliefs, such as philosopher Thomas Hobbes, have seen the value of religion as a glue holding society together and a teacher of the positive moral and ethical values undergirding a stable culture. Some of its positive impact are as follows: Promotes Social Harmony . The second reason and perhaps the most important reason why religion will always play a role in crucial issues is the important role that religion plays in identity formation. 22. Religious societies may also provide a sense of shared values providing social cohesion. Religion encourages people to believe in superstitions (e. g. the idea that if you pray for something, God will make it happen). I’ll start with the negatives: 1. 25. All political issues that are important eventually affect individual and collective identity and in the process trigger religious … Religious institutions are responsible for establishing hospitals, schools, orphanages, prison visitation, and soup kitchens. Even today, it is religious groups who often spearhead and are at the front lines of programs to help those in need, opening homeless shelters and food banks to fill gaps in the social welfare state. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Does religion do more good or more harm for the world? Professor Jack and other collaborators conducted a study at the University of L’Aquila. What is more, congruent findings were determined by a 2015 review examining over 3000 scholarly articles for the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, which found a “positive effect” of religion/spirituality on a variety of health outcomes, including: “minor depression, faster recovery from depressive episodes, lower rates of suicide, less use, abuse and … 7. Religion teaches us to focus on what really matters, rather than worldly success. Religion sometimes displays a patronizing attitude towards poor people in the third world. One effect is that religious beliefs may serve as a moral compass for a person. So which is greater, the positive effects or the negative effects? Rather, they are caused by how people choose to use religion. There are 4 kinds of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving,... What's the difference between Presbyterian and Baptist? Observing a day of rest may also help a person recharge for the upcoming week. In it, they concluded that the origin of this collision actually begins as a conflict between two brain networks. What matters is not how religious or nonreligious you are; what matters is how you choose to make use of your religious views, whatever they may be. Positive religious reframing can help people transcend stressful times by enabling them to see a tragedy as an opportunity to grow closer to a higher power or to improve their lives, as is the case with Bajwa. It can add vitally important meaning and purpose beyond simply fulfilling one's own physical needs and cravings. Some religions, especially the Catholic Church, have a long history of trying to suppress human sexuality, even when it’s completely normal and healthy sexuality. 11. Religious worship also leads to a reduction in the incidence of domestic abuse, crime, substance abuse, and addiction. These effects are intergenerational, as grandparents and parents pass on the benefits to the next generations. Religion’s first intention is typically to give a purpose to humans. 5. 29. 8. the postive effects of religion is that it brings people together in a community, allows people to share a common goal of the relifion, makes them feel united, gives them something to believe in, provides meaning to life, explain any questions they may have, allows people to believe in something greater than themselves and lets people come together to worship one God Religious people therefore have a source of comfort which is of a different kind that others find. 15. The positive effects of Religion have been mentioned as follows. from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University, Top subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics. 18. Faith in divinity, regardless of a religion, is able to cause surprising positive effects on its bearers. 30. (In some parts of the world, that still happens.). 22. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Business. This has been the subject of intense debate for centuries. Minimizes violence and malpractices Most religions impart the teaching of peace and harmony. The religious view that “everything happens for a reason” can be comforting during difficult times. I have compiled a list of some of the positive and negative effects of religion on people and on society. 13. And what are the positive effects of religion in our society? While much evil has been done in the name of religion, religion has made many positive contributions to society. Religion teaches people not to question things. Peace of Mind: We have often heard that a religious person is a peaceful one. 23. Fourth, on an individual level, where much of religion has been pushed in the modern age, religious belief can have positive transformative effects on a person, leading to a richer, fuller, and more giving life. Another value of religion … Some religious people, inspired by their beliefs, refuse to accept sound medical advice. For the individual, one of the main positive effects of religion is a sense of purpose, meaning, and justice in life. 17. 16. Religion can be controversial, for sure, and there have been quite a few negative events done in the name of religion. 10. There is evidence that religious people are less likely to commit suicide than nonreligious people. Community, shared values, encouraging positivity, and analyses are written by experts, and every answer submit. Countries, religion is a peaceful one Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes editorial on December 4,.! In life, in the third world early Christianity was much more supportive of women were! 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