Importance of Religion

There are many possible ways to understand human complexity. We can conceive the world from a perspective economic, since the prosperity of the towns depends on a series of economic parameters. Also, we can understand the world that surrounds us with a historical vision, since what happens in the present is the logical consequence of a series of events in the past. Another way of understanding the diversity is by analyzing religious phenomena, since we must not forget that humans are divided into two large categories: those who practice some religious doctrine and believe in some superior being or force or those who reject the transcendent dimension of the human being.

The different religious phenomena are governed by universal ethical principles

Most of the followers of Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism follow a series of principles that are perfectly acceptable, since these doctrines prohibit violence and theft and a series of positive actions are proposed, such as helping the weakest or avoiding selfish behavior.

We could say that all religions as a whole force us to be better people.

On the other hand, religion is a source of culture and is present in architecture, painting, folklore, literature or the music.

In most cases it is a matter of family heritage, while there may be the possibility that the individual after reaching a certain age and the knowledge inherent to it adopt a religion, being generally performed a specific ritual where it starts in it.

The dark side

Any creed in its fanatical and fundamentalist version becomes a potentially dangerous phenomenon.

Throughout history many of the wars that have taken place and take place have some religious aspect as their origin. At various times in history, Catholics have faced Protestants, but both are inspired by the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

In Islam, Sunnism and Shiism are two branches that remain at odds despite the fact that both share the same sacred book, the Koran.

religion and science

In every religious belief there are a series of affirmations that are unprovable, but that are kept alive because the faithful have faith, either in a holy book or in the words of a prophet.

For 2000 years, human beings have been building an alternative path to faith, science. Scientific statements are demonstrable and, therefore, until the contrary is proven, they are totally valid (for example, It never occurs to any sensible person to say that the law of gravity is false or that the principles of mathematics are wrong. questionable).

Despite the fact that religion and science are two ways of understanding reality that do not always coincide, they are not two antagonistic and irreconcilable paths. A man of science can believe in a superior being and a deeply religious person can accept the validity of scientific contributions.