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What is your religious belief? This is a common question asked when seeking to understand someone’s world view. Religion is a lens by which we choose to view and understand the world we inhabit and also helps answer philosophical questions of origin, meaning, morality and destiny. It answers questions like, “Where do we come from? Why am I here? What is good and evil? What happens after death? One might respond to the first question as, “I am an atheist, I believe in evolution.” This too however is a world view and some would argue a religion in which one does not believe in a “God” but believes that nature alone and its cosmic collisions in time, matter, and chance alone is responsible for our existence. There are different ways in which to define the term religion. Personally I think religion is a set of belief, rituals, actions that help connect to the divine or a higher level of consciousness. One might have that belief but whether they live up to it or not is completely different. This self-made definition is descriptive because it identifies specific components that describe what religion is. As F. H. Bradley defines it, "Religion is rather the attempt to express the complete reality of goodness through every aspect of our being". Bradley’s definition is an essential definition because it narrows it down to the expressing of goodness. Bradley’s definition juxtaposes my own in that his is narrow and to the point and mines is more complex. Although my definition can encompass his, his definitions might not. It’s like all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares, his definition would be the square. Others have often argued that religion existed as a way to control the masses. This functional definition positions religion as a way to maintain social control but also to implement the social norms for conduct and morality. Greek philosopher Aristotle (1885/n.d), in his book Politics, writes that there are three ways to rule; by brute strength, by intelligence, and by virtue. The first way is by brute power, the strongest ones in the group dominate and have control of the discussions. The second is by knowledge, the more you know intellectually the more powerful that you are, and the last is by virtue, the greater the morality of the person the more fit that they are to lead as others will be more inclined to follow. Religion would definitely fall under the virtuous way to rule although many have exercised evil in the name of religion. Studying religion is appealing because it brings an understanding of the people who follow a certain religion, ultimately it is learning about people and their beliefs. My personal experiences with supernatural forces has contributed to my interest in learning how these forces might connect or be explained in other religions. The idea of good and evil is a reoccurring theme that produces a narrative that helps shape religion. Studying religion is going to help me understand that everyone has a human need to learn where they came from and know their background. Ultimately everyone will come to the conclusion of what they believe, so believe in the “Big Bang” theory while others believe that there is a higher power. The age old question is where do we come from? Religion serves as a way to bring understanding to people and answer some of these questions that are natural for every human to question. In studying religion it will bring a better understanding of different people and cultures as many of these are intertwined. It will also help me to relate and understand people better.

Soteriology is the study of the doctrines of salvation in religions. Each religion has different interpretations of what it means to be “saved” or “liberated” from the pain and sufferings of our world. In Christianity, the doctrine of salvation vary differently from each sect or schism, but in each salvation comes through repentance of ones sin’s and faith in Jesus Christ. The main religious text of Christianity is the Bible, and the doctrine of salvation is found through reading and studying but most importantly revelation from God. One highly used text by Apostolic Christians comes from the book of Acts “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38, KJV). Some Christians believe that you are saved when you have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The part of salvation that I agree with the most is “The Path of Faith.” The reason I agree with this the most is because I identify with the Christian view point of salvation. I will reference the book of Romans chapter 3, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:22-26, KJV). However I also believe says about faith, that faith without works is dead. In other words, if someone truly has faith there will be action placed behind it. I have notices parallels of the goals of salvation and liberation through different religions. They all encompass a place where there is no pain and suffering, such as “Nirvana.” The concept of realizing the Truth and being in the state of Nirvana seems like a place every religions should espouse to achieve. It looks like there are even several interpretations of nirvana, some interpretations conceptualize reaching this place after death like Christianity does in reaching heaven and eternal life. The cycles of pain and suffering seem to exist in our lives as we go day by day, sometimes we can learn from our past mistakes and reach a place of joy and peace regardless of what we believe, however I believe there is only one version of the Truth and all others are mistruths.