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Jake Wilson
Ms. Thomas
UWRT 1103
18 November 2015
Religion
For as long as humans have been roaming the earth, they have had beliefs and values.
These have defined every event and every story ever told and has also given them meaning.
Meaning is all humans search for, using their unique beliefs and values to do so. As humans
progressed through history and began to become more organized, religion, which is collection of
beliefs and values in a group a people, took shape. People lived and still live today based on their
religion. I was lead to the question of Why Religion? by religion itself. Everyone knows about
religion and has different viewpoints on it. Each human being has their own beliefs and values,
even people who arent necessarily religious. Today, religion is still one of the most talked
about and debated about topics and likely will be for the rest of human time. No one will settle
for some elses beliefs which what makes it so unique and even dangerous. {Insert thesis
statement}
In the article, Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social
Stability, Patrick F. Fagan, director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute, discusses
the topic of religion and how it affects everyday life is brought is to life. Religion has always
been a focal point of society. The society, religion, and place of discussion are revolved around
Christianity in America. America is one of the most populous of worshipping people in the
world. It is believed that the first settlers of Christianity saw themselves as, agents of divine

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providence. It can be inferred that this mentality and motivation to spread beliefs was a key
factor in making Christianity what it is today. Prayer is something that Americans do more than
going to church. Composite surveys were taken to show percentages of prayers in different
groups of American people. 94% blacks, 84% whites, 91% women, and 85% of men all stated
that they pray on a regular basis (Fagan 1). As the numbers might seem inflated, the simplicity of
prayer, its discretion, and its importance to even the most unsuspecting people must be taken into
account. Fagan believes that religion should and all of its positive consequences, should be
taken into account by policymakers and looked at as an alternative towards all of societys
problems today. Fagan goes on to make note of religion and how it is key benefactor in creating
a positive environment in previously negative ones. For example he states, how church
attendance is the most important predictor of martial stability and happiness and can provide
substantially to the formation of personal and moral criteria and moral judgment (Fagan 1).
Fagan sees religion has being a positive for mental as well as physical health. In the three most
comprehensive systematic reviews of the field there is at least 80% satisfaction and positive
benefits for those in religious practice. Even with these high numbers the effects of unhealthy
religious practice are used to downplay the generally positive influence of religion, which
distorts the positive social consequences of religion to policymakers. In addition, Fagan argues
that the strength of the family unit is intertwined with the practice of religion. Churchgoers are
more likely to be married, less likely to be divorced or single, and more likely to manifest high
levels of satisfaction in marriage (Fagan 1). I also agree with this statement because church can
be a common place to come together and work on any issues or problems that couples are
facing.

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In the article Religious Influence in Society, L. Ron Hubbard, philosopher of scientology,
examines the role of religion in society and why it is commonly attacked. Hubbard first describes
the West and how an early 20th century philosopher talked of the inevitable decline of it.
However, this philosopher failed to predict was that the West would export its culture to the rest
of the world and thus grip the entire word in its death throes (Hubbard 1). We are all involved in
the decline today and it is of an upmost importance. What is at stake is the ideals that we cherish
and whether or not new abhorrent sets of values will take over. For today is a watershed of
history and our actions today will be the ones that determine whether where the world goes next,
either up or continue to slide into some new dark age. Bad conditions dont just happen and the
cultural decay we see around us isnt haphazard. It was caused. Societies have the capability to
survive for thousands of years unless it is attacked from within or without by hostile forces. It
has been known throughout history that religion is the most critical point of attack on a culture
since religion is the foundation of society. Religion is a sense and most of the time, the first sense
of community for many people. It is a mutual experience with others that makes it so strong.
Hubbard further explains that when that gets destroyed, the people associated either become
desperate to save it or shatter at the knees. Probably the most critical point of attack on a culture
is its religious experience. Where one can destroy or undermine religious institutions then the
entire fabric of the society can be quickly subverted or brought to ruin (Hubbard 1). I, along
with Hubbard, know how important a sense of community is, especially to humans. And it makes
perfect sense to think that religion really is the first exposure of this for a majority of people and
that it has such a strong effect.
Throughout this video titled How Religion Contributes to Culture Change, Christine
Scarince, editor of Study.com, discusses how religion causes the culture to change. First,

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Scarince explains, Religious practices shape, and are shaped by, the culture around them. In
this video, the power of religion is put on display. Scarince also discusses that the fact that
friends or family members help to expose religion. Hearing about global conflicts connected to
or directly related to religion. In addition, I believe that religion affects more than people. The
three key points about religion that are being discussed include the spread of Christianity through
the Roman Empire, the impact of Islam in Middle Age Europe, and the role of religion in the
founding of the United States.
Christianity was new religion in the Roman Empire and viewed as threating to the
leadership. It was used to blame for the negatives of the empire and the people who practiced
Christianity were persecuted to death. When a Roman emperor by the name of Constantine
professed to Christian beliefs, Christianity went on to influence the Roman Empire in a big way.
The influence of the leader Constantine and his interest in Christianity went on to impact the
spirituality of the empire.
In the second half of the first millennium of the Common Era, Islam influence was growing
vastly. Islam and its intense beliefs about the disciplines earned itself a spot in a politics
throughout regions of Arabia, North Africa, and into parts of Europe and Asia, such as Spain and
India. This influence has led to the conflict between Sunni and Shia forces today in the Middle
East. As with Christianity, Islam incorporated some traditions from other religions (Scarince 1).
Without a doubt, the power of religion is evident in this video; it is able to display how
religion by itself can change an entire culture and society. In the beginning of the video, they
discuss ideas about how people come about religion and how it can be the vocal point of major
conflicts. In all three examples, all cultures are changing at the ends of religion it is because
either a leader is displaying interest in religion or the majority of people are. It is hard to think

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about large events in the past that were not caused directly are least connected to religion or
criticized through the eyes of religion afterwards.
Throughout the blog How Religion and Society Contribute to Gender Inequality, Schwab
Bakombo, teaching assistant at the University of Toronto, explores how religion affects gender
roles in todays society. Bakombo believes that the struggle for gender equality in religion is
still an issue despite the progress that has been made in bridging the divide (Bakombo 1). In
addition, he argues that these social constructs [are] deeply rooted in history (Bakombo 1).
After studying this issue for several years, Bakombo discovered that religion and culture present
some limitations (Bakombo 2). As a result of living in Canada, the author has noticed that the
idea of gay marriage is more widely accepted in the Canadian society, rather than other societies
where religion plays a greater role. Furthermore, Bokombo discovered that specific gender roles
are less prominent in Canada compared to other countries with strong religious beliefs. With
most religions defining strict gender roles, it is not surprising that these roles have not been
redefined in many societies. Bakombo also discusses how religion affects gender identities
within todays society. He defines gender identity being a concept devised by men because
religion and culture are closely associated (Bokomo 2). Since religion affects both gender roles
and identities, we are able to see these effects within different cultures. For example, Bakombo
explains that his culture expects the woman of the household to be the caretaker of the home.
These gender roles are even defined within the biblical Wife of Noble Characters story in
Proverbs 31. Overall, I believe these religious cultures have heavily contributed to gender roles
and identities in society. Since these gender issues have going on for such a long period of time,
Bakombo believes that it will take quite a while for these stereotypes to disappear, especially
since The definition and attribution of gender roles differ from culture to culture (Bakombo 1).

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Until these religions eventually decide to reshape traditional customs, we will continue to have
gender gaps in society.
Throughout the article, Science, Religion, and Society: The Problem of Evolution in
America, Jerry A. Coyne, head of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago, explores
the different issues relating to the acceptance of evolution in society. Coyne first considers the
fact that religion plays a large role in Americans not wanting to accept evolution. He adds,
Many Americans who seem to accept evolution in principle nevertheless claim that God
somehow intervened in or guided the evolution of Homo sapiens, thereby exempting us from the
naturalistic evolution accepted by scientists (Coyne 2654). Coyne, however, attempts to resolve
this issue with two strategies. First, convince religious people that neither evolution nor science
poses threats to their faith (Coyne 2658). This strategy is known as accommodationism. The
idea of accommodationism addresses science and religion in two separate aspects of human
understanding. The second strategy of gaining more acceptance of evolution in society is
decreasing the importance of religion. Almost all indicators have shown that religion in America
is dropping. As a result, the idea of evolution is becoming more accepted in society. Religion is
an answer that many people do not want to hear, but there is much evidence that Americas
resistance to evolution is truly a byproduct of Americas extreme religiosity (Coyne 2655).
Evolution, of course, contravenes many common religious beliefs not just those dealing with
Biblical literalism, but those dealing with morality, meaning, and human significance (Coyne
2655). Sciences method of finding truth, which relies on reason, empirical investigation,
criticism, doubt, predictive power, and repeatability of observations by different investigators, is
incompatible with religions methods for understanding the universe methods based on dogma,
authority, and revelation (Coyne 2656).

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Throughout the article, Study: Religion is Good for Kids, Melinda Wenner, freelance
science writer based in Brooklyn, New York, explains how teaching children religion from a
young age is actually very beneficial. It is noted that children with religious parents are simply
better behaved than ones without. Studies were taken with young children and they examined on
well they interacted with their peers and showed self-control. The researchers correlated this with
how often the childrens parents said they attended worship services, talked about religion with
their child and argued about religion in the home. It was evidently found that when both parents
were attending regular religious services and talked with their kids about religion, those specific
children were found with the highest level of social skills and approaches to learning than kids
with non-religious parents. On the contrary, parents who argue or normal basis about religion had
children who were more likely to have problems. Wenner adds, Religion can hurt if faith is a
source of conflict or tension in the family (Wenner 1). To conclude Wenners findings, John
Bartkowski, a Mississippi State University sociologist, notes the three key factors that make
religion a positive thing for developing children. The first was that religious networks provide
social support to parents, which can improve parenting skills. For when children hear parental
messages reinforced by other adults they may, take more to heart the messages that they get in
the home. The second factor is all the positive values and norms that children are constantly
exposed to. The final would be how religious organizations imbue parenting with sacred
meaning and significance. The kids whose parents regularly attended religious services
especially when both parents did so frequently and talked with their kids about religion were
rated by both parents and teachers as having better self-control, social skills, and approaches to
learning than kids with non-religious parents (Wenner 2). As you grow up you learn about how
devoted people are to their religion and how they live their life around it. Also I was raised in a

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religion and put into church before had any idea of what it was all about, which most likely
happens to the majority of kids today. Kids today are fed knowledge which contradicts what
other kids are told. So once they are adults so are completely sold on their beliefs and theirs only,
so when someone who was taught something different disagrees, a conflict arises. This is seen all
the time today, arguments and debates over things with nothing to do with religion, and the only
reason there is an argument is because the two sides dont share the same beliefs and values and
have a different viewpoint on the topic. Because of this, I know how big of a role religion plays
in todays diverse society. I have also come to the conclusion after reading this that the most
important thing that should be taught to children is all the values that go along with religion