Religion and Environment

(College English Assignment)

Religion has been around for a long time. It has influenced almost everything in society. From the ideas we think, to the items we use. Religion has touched every one of them in some way. I personally do not have a particular faith and choose to follow my own beliefs, allowing them to mold around any new idea that I feel is right. That is all religion really is. Religion as defined in the dictionary is: “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.”  Another definition of religion is: “a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects” A third definition is one that almost everyone can agree they have used: “something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience.”

What does religion have to do with the environment then? It pertains to the environment because it influences so much, and in so many different ways. There are numerous different religions, with numerous sects, all having differing views. These differing views are what influence our environment in so many diverse ways. The ancient civilizations had different views to what modern day society has. This difference affects the way in which we interact with the environment. I suppose I should explain what I mean when I mention the environment. There are a couple definitions in the dictionary that will help to explain just that. The first definition is: “the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu.” The second definition is: “the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.”

The environment is shaped by every occurrence, from the slightest breath, to the largest disaster. Everything influences the environment around us. Some things have a larger influence than others. Religion happens to be one of the larger influences in my opinion. Religion has affected almost everything around us. Whether someone is a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Agnostic, or Atheist, religion affects them in some manner.  With some of the major religions, such as Christianity and Islam, the religions have had such an influence that it has caused wars because of the difference in beliefs. These conflicts have led to much strife between the religions. Some of these conflicts are among a single religion’s different sects. In the case of Christianity one of the most well known conflicts was between the Catholics and the Protestants.  In Islam, the conflict arises between two of the sects, the Sunni and the Shi’ites.

These conflicts have shaped the environment in which we live throughout our brief history. And continuing religious influence will continue to shape our environment. Whether good or bad our environment is shaped by these influences. Let’s bring up a few instances that have been influenced by religious actions. A few instances in which religion has affected are:  government, laws, media, & education. Religious beliefs of many diverse kinds influence each of these.

The different religions affect the way many governments function. Some nation’s governments are completely driven by religion, whereas some others have attempted to keep the influences to a minimum. Theocracy is a government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler.  And a secular government attempts to keep separate from the influence of religion.  Even the attempt to keep a secular take on things sometimes fails. In the case of the United States of America, The attempt to be a secular hasn’t completely worked. One instance that may show this is the legal tender the United States of America uses. One the back of the dollar bill it reads, “In God We Trust.” How is a government secular if it can’t even keep religion from influencing its legal tender?

Even the laws are influenced by religious beliefs. Many laws are accused of being immoral by religious members. Some radicals want the laws to strictly follow their religious laws. And in some countries this occurs. For some thieves they would not be jailed, but lose an extremity. Abortion laws are highly controversial among the religious population.  Some of the population is pro-choice saying that it should be up to the mother of the fetus; in time that is, whether or not to abort the pregnancy. The other side opposes and says that abortion is the same as murdering a child. These are just a couple instances in which the laws are influenced by religion.

Media is highly influenced by religion. What can and can’t be shown in the media is partly due to the religious population calling many things immoral, and often times they use the media to spread the word of their own religion. There are religious broadcasts on the Television, the radio, the internet, and in the published media as well. Religion is everywhere in the media. Good for the religious population, not as good for the non-religious populace. Some feel that religion is pushed upon them forcibly. This even pertains to the educational systems.

There are many religious schools around the world. And many of these have online courses. They allow you to choose whether the content is faith-based or non-faith based. Though they attempt to separate the religion from their non-faith based classes, religion still seems to find its way into the course material. As stated before, this could be beneficial to the religious populace, but not to the non-religious. The influence of religion on education can be seen time after time. One of the controversies raging today is whether or not the study of the evolutionary theory should be taught in schools, which leads to some schools debating on whether to teach the evolutionary theory or creationism, or neither at all.

As I have shown, religion has its influences in everything in our environment, from our governments and laws, to our media and education. The religious influences have continued since they started, shaping the environment around us. It has helped shape the ways in which we live, whether that is good or bad.