IS RELIGION DIVISIVE?

Is Religion Divisive?

Is Religion Divisive?

Introduction

The main purpose of this study is to know that whether religion aims towards divisive behavior and opinions among individuals or not. Religions are the reflections of human beliefs which are based upon their thoughts and perceptions, defining their foundation of existence, their thought process, their living standards, behavior with people and living in their society, etc.

These perceptions reflects the actions and the approaches which direct an individual towards the holy beliefs that people are concerned about their beliefs and consider that there is someone who is always present for them to fulfill their needs and wants. Due to these religions many people are linked but because of various factorial differences in the opinions, due to sectoral demarcation and distinction serve as a key factor for the religious divisiveness in the society.

In the European culture, there are various religions which are greatly responsible as playing the key part in society divisiveness. This phenomenon occurring on an iterative pattern in the European culture can be based on various factors such as difference in thoughts, beliefs and perceptions which take place due to the differences in the religions. Furthermore, people with the same religion can also be divisive due to the reason of difference of opinion within the same religion; such differences as mentioned above due to difference in belief or belonging to different sects and even amount of knowledge. Moreover, the results of this divisiveness are very hazardous as it knives the society into different segments and demarcation.

Discussion

Divisiveness in the Religion

In various past studies, it is found that the differences in the society take place due to the religions. However, the idea or the concepts of the religions are correct but it is the followers who make the religions divisive. In the opinion of some researchers and scholars it is not religion which is divisive. It is those who claim to be religious who are divisive people in their spirits and use their religion as a justification for their divisiveness.

On the basis of this divisiveness they often spread wrong perception about the religion which ultimately affects the culture. Furthermore, these deception and subterfuge of linking religious people alone to divisiveness is that it completely submerges the fact that there are perhaps even more people among us, who are divisive and do not consider themselves very religious, who have the same spirit. (Bellah, 1991, pp. 42-87)

The ruse is that such combination presumes a false philosophy implicit in its form. It is suggested that religion is more divisive than other institutions or ideologies, something that is sociologically false, but ideologically believed by those predisposed against religion. The sociological question would be why African people are more generally tending to divisiveness in modern society (in religion, in politics, in family and many other things) and the answer would not be merely because they are religious, but instead will point to a lot of other sociological variables. (Harper and Bruce, 2002, ...