Human beings are religious by nature. Religion is a conception. This ideal makes religion a social institution, a basic one along with the family and education. The notion of religion is unrelated to Christianity, Judaism, Islam or any other existing religious establishment. It includes atheism, whose religious ideal is unrelated to the existence of a divine being responsible for the origin and development of creation. The concept of religion transcends denominationalism. Religion attempts to explain creation in general and humanity in particular.
Millennia ago, leading citizens in primitive societies discovered the power of religion to affect human beings. These leaders developed religious rituals to appease the wrath of the divine acting against human unacceptable behavior. According to them draught, floods, pestilence and any other natural calamity resulted as punishment from misbehavior. Rain, fertility, health and general prosperity were blessings from above for good behavior. A priestly class originated and self-appointed themselves as divinely chosen to mediate between the human and the divine. This class merged with the ruling elite becoming undistinguishable. The alliance has remained to this day throughout the world. It is present in Africa, Asia, Oceania (the South Sea Islands), Europe and America. In the Western world where strong attempts have been made to separate government from religion, the influence of the latter upon the former is evident. The mixing of religion and government to this day opened the flood gate of the manipulation of the masses by the governing authorities. Gradually this institution has become more sophisticated and powerful.
Time has seen the appearance of organized religious establishments exhibiting bodies of highly complex systems of doctrine, discipline and polity. Judaism had its beginning in Mesopotamia in what is known today as South Iraq about six thousand years ago with the called of Abram. This religious movement spread to Palestine, where the descendants of the patriarch took permanent residence. Two thousand years ago, Christianity developed as an offshoot of Judaism. Islam appeared about 1,400 years ago as a reaction against the idolatry of Christianity. A large segment of Christianity underwent reformation from 1576 to 1648. Reformation originated denominationalism. And denominationalism led to the formation of myriad independent congregations unwilling to conform to established dogmas, each developing their own creed and claiming to possess absolute truth.
The majority of all believers practice a ritualistic religion. By far, church, synagogue and mosque attendance, particularly during holiday, is considered socially beneficial to participants regardless of doctrinal understanding. The belief is that as long as the ritual observances are done more or less as expected, understanding is unnecessary.
Influence on the Family
Sociologists define religion as value orientation. This is because religious belief determines values or that which is most important to the practitioner. Religious folks tend to favor a quiet living. Recognition of God as Creator, Savior and Sustainer motivates them to live in harmony with the human and the divine. Caring for their families is of prime importance. Respect and assistance to others in need is practiced as a matter of course. The ideals of democracy and human freedom are important to them.
On the other hand, skeptics point to religion as the cause of all that has gone wrong in human life since day one. They offer as evidence the terrible history of religion. In pre-scriptural times, the leading class mustered political, economic and religious power on the masses by creating fear of the supernatural. In scriptural times, the ruling classes continue to use the fear of God to control the people. The atrocities committed by Christians against Jews and Muslim and Muslim against Christian and Jews are well documented by secular historians. Today, the carnage created by world terrorism carried out in the name of Islam is made public each day by the press.
Projection for the Family
Granted that to this day religion has been used by the few to exert power over the many, should we discard recognizing the importance of religion as a social institution worthy of serious consideration? The abuse of religion by some should not cast a bed spell on the great ideal. Religion possesses the questions of the origin of the orderly form of the universe and the presence of the animal species on earth, including humans.
Here are fundamental questions about the mystery of human existence most people ask:
What am I? What am I doing on earth? What shall I do during my life on earth? Where am I going when my life is over?
All three major religion establishments of the Western world: Christianity, Judaism and Islam offer similar answers to these quests. They say as follows. God is existence itself and gave existence to all existence. God is the Creator, Sustainer and Savior of humanity. Humanity owes alliance to God. And this bonding is expressed through religion. Life is to be lived in the context of others and in harmony with all. Efforts should be made to care for the needy. For by serving creation the Creator is served.
The general principles expressed above are derive from the sacred scriptures of all three religions. The first Hebrew sacred writings appeared during the tenth century BCE. Much later, the Tanakh appeared containing the five books of Moses, the writing of the prophets and other writings. All of the Hebrew sacred scriptures are contained in what Christians call “Old Testament.” The term “Old Testament” comes from the declarations of Prophet Jeremiah, who said that some time in the future God would make a new covenant with each individual believer of the house of Israel to replace the original collective covenant made at Sinai through Moses with the house of Israel (see Jeremiah 31:31-34). Christians believe this covenant to have been established by Jesus with his followers at a Seder meal during Passover before his death. At that occasion, Jesus broke a piece of bread and using it as symbolic of his body, said: “This is my body broken for you.” He also lifted up his wine cup and said: “This is the blood of the new covenant shed for you” (see I Corinthians 11:23-25). This Christian concept was spelled out in a collection of documents called “New Testament” written by Christian scholars after the death of Jesus.
The sacred Scriptures of the Muslim world are the Koran, Qur’ān, Alcoran or Al-Qur’ān, meaning recitation. This book is also a collection of writings appearing beginning 610 ACE, containing the Hebrew prophetic writings, yet another version of the gospels and some additional instructions for believers.
It is the duty of the religious family to introduce their offspring to the concept of religion as expressed in the respective creeds of the religion they profess. The concept that God is life and love permeates human existence and is the basis of all religious teachings. Teaching this truth to new citizens along with the normative system included in the sacred scriptures of these religious traditions by far will assure excellent citizenship.
Let not the immorality of some religious leaders nor do the abuses of pretenders using religion to do evil adversely affect your religious posture. Confusing the two may only destroy your faith and eliminate your motivation to instruct your children on the superior principles advocated by religion. Clergy persons are as imperfect as anyone else. But most are well-intended men and women of excellent character dedicated to serve God and humanity. The evil ways of some should never be allowed to tarnish the good behavior of the many.
Implications for the Family
Given the above discussion, what suggestions may be offered for the family today? It is undeniable that the concept of religion has been distorted and abused all throughout history by the economic-politico-religious authorities. It is also unquestionable that humans are religious beings and that the spiritual aspect of human being makes them incomparable to any other animal form. Human beings need a lot more nurturing than mere animal care. If men and women are going to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually healthy, they will have to receive love, affection, sound instruction and direction from their care givers.
The family is the human group in charged of the socialization of the child. No adequate substitute exists. This task must be taken seriously. The future of humanity depends upon the quality of care given to each individual. Standing within the family is religion offering spiritual nurturing to the new citizens. Spirituality is passed on from parents to children. True, religion establishments are standing by to help the family as needed. But the family is the institution called to give direction to the developing of human beings.
Suggestions to the Christian Family
Jesus of Nazareth is the father of our religious perspective. Jesus was born to a Jewish family in Galilee. He lived and died as a Jew, observing the cultural traditions of his people. He was publicly recognized as a rabbi (a teacher of his religious tradition). He was a traveling instructor. People in mass received his teaching well. However, the religious authorities of the time opposed Jesus teachings as too demanding. Unable to stop his socially upsetting teachings, the Jewish religious authorities brought up other charges against Jesus. They accused him of attempting to overthrow the Roman puppet king of Judea and set himself as king. He was charged with sedition, carrying the maximum penalty. And he was convicted and executed by the Romans authorities.
In reality, Jesus was through and through for God just as the prophets of old. His intentions were to call people from practicing empty religious rituals to developing meaningful relations with the Creator and sovereign Lord of the universe. Jesus mission was religious, not political. His message was intended to transform people. Meantime, the politico-religious authorities feared Jesus to bring change in the social order towards democratic ideals and lose their privileged life styles.
Knowing what his fate would be, Jesus charged his followers to continue his work after his death. After Jesus was gone, his disciples continued propagating his message. During the early days of the Christian movement, the small group of followers grew exponentially. Today, Christendom counts with thirty-three percent of the world’s population while Islam numbers to twenty-one percent. On the other hand Judaism is down to thirteen and a half millions members or less than half of one percent of the world population. These statistics make Islam the fastest growing world religious establishment. It shows Christianity slowing down considerably and Judaism barely surviving due to the massacres they suffered at the hands of the two others and their own disillusion and disinterest.