Purpose:

• To reflect on your experience with religion thus far in your life.
• To enable me to know where you are coming from as you begin your study here.
• To demonstrate your writing skills: this is the first written paper you produce for me as well as your first graded assignment. Make a good first impression!

Directions:

1. In an approximately 500 word essay: Discuss your personal experience (or lack thereof) with and perspective on religion to this point in your life and reflect on what you expect from this course. Some guiding questions:

• Would you consider yourself to be a "religious" person? Why or why not?
  • • What religion(s) are you personally most familiar with?
    • How is your involvement with religion today different from how it was when you were growing up?
• How do you think this course might relate to your own life and/or program of study/present or future career?
• How might this course challenge you: intellectually, spiritually, academically or otherwise? How do you plan to address those challenges?

 

Religion Discussion

Religion refers to the belief in a supernatural being that created the universe and everything in it. I consider myself a religious person because God exists and guides us in our daily activities. I often pray whenever I face challenges or enjoy victories, an indication of my spiritual nature. Though I occasionally visit places of worship, I believe that God created all of us equal, hence my staunch belief in equality and fairness. I think that values such as honesty, love, and resilience are instilled within us by a supreme being that watches over us, hence my belief in religion.

I am aware of various religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I have always been fascinated by all these religions, and I have spent considerable time studying them. While Christianity and Islam are the most popular religions globally, I have always had a strong interest in learning more about Buddhism. I am amazed at the principles and values held by Buddhists and the discipline, resilience, and mental strength demonstrated by Buddhist monks. Hinduism is another interesting religion, though I always have some reservations to its focus on multiple gods. In general, I am familiar with all four religions.

Growing up in a religious family, I was only aware of my religion because of my limited exposure. I was quite naïve regarding my religious knowledge and expected everyone to believe in my religion. However, as I continued my studies and interaction with people from diverse backgrounds, I became aware of other religious practices and beliefs. Today, I am actively involved in studying other religions. I appreciate the diversity in religion and have grown to respect diverse spiritual practices from all corners of the globe.

This course is quite relevant to my personal beliefs, goals, and future career aspirations. The course expounds on our religious knowledge, which conforms with my desire to study various diverse religions and practices. The course is quite detailed, and through it, I am bound to expand my knowledge and increase my interest in other areas previously unknown. The course will also help me learn and apply various values that would be helpful in both my personal and academic life. Finally, the knowledge that I will receive from this course will be crucial in helping me achieve my future career aspirations, hence my determination to excel in it.

I am bound to experience challenges during my undertaking of this course. Intellectually, some of my previous ideologies will be challenged during the course. Also, some concepts will be difficult to grasp, posing a big risk in my desire to excel in the class. Spiritually, the doctrines that I subscribe to and my religious beliefs and practices may be challenged during the course. My interpretation of various scripts will also test my spiritual resolve. Academically, being exposed to new knowledge and concepts will be challenging as I expand my understanding of religion. I will work closely with my classmates and instructor to overcome these challenges to ensure that I grasp all the concepts and correctly apply my religious beliefs.