RELIGION

Religion

Religion

Introduction

There is a definite tension that exists within the world, the constant struggle that humans endure having to choose between good and evil. This sets the dynamic for the dualism, the power of God the righteous Lord against the source and concept of evil, the Lord of Darkness, the devil. The reality and problem of evil is constant in the world and is present within every world view.

Thesis Statement

Religion a force for good or evil in the world.

Discussion

While religion is notoriously difficult to define, we might isolate the following five general features: Religion is (1) a symbolic system that (2) instills durable human motivations by (3) codifying and explaining the order of existence (4) authoritatively and (5) beyond doubt (Tremmel, 2007). The system of meaning and belief codified in the doctrines of religion and reinforced through the practices of its observance present powerful motivation for the actions of human agents (Lewis, 2008).

Religion functions to insulate the beliefs it establishes from criticism. These features lead both to stability and instability. In the post-Reformation era in Europe, powerful and insular religious motivations often led to violence between the adherents of conflicting Christian doctrines. As the forces of globalization continue to bring the disparate regions of the world system into tighter connection, religious belief is again contributing to conflict (Kushner, 2009).

The strength of this theodicy is that it preserves the almightiness and goodness of God by reminding humans that they are human and not gods themselves. It encourages humility. At the same time, its weakness lies in its more modest estimate of human beings' ability to question, to think, and to arrive at answers. If human intelligence is a God-given gift, then ought it not to be directed toward all areas of life and to all questions that arise?

Another response is to suggest that God is not immediately responsible for evil in the world. Rather, God is the source of good things that occur, and the Devil (the demonic, Satan, the Evil One, Lucifer) is responsible for the bad things that happen. As a result, persons ought not to blame God for the things that the Devil does (Hick, 2007).

This theodicy is often called “cosmic dualism,” and it draws on the sense in various religions that there is a negative force in life and the world that causes and promotes evil, as well as a positive force in life and the world that encourages and promotes goodness. This theodicy sometimes appeals to the figure Jesus, who wrestled with temptation from the Devil in the wilderness and emerged victoriously (Griffin, 2006).

The strength of this theodicy is that it makes God responsible for the good things that occur and thereby preserves God's goodness by accounting for the bad things that occur by pointing to the Devil as the culprit. The weakness of this theodicy is that it brings God's power into question: With another cosmic force competing with God, it would seem that God is not all-powerful in the world because God must share power ...