Functions of Religion Lesson 3 PDF

Lesson 3 The functions of religion 1. **Religion and humanity, need and expectation** These days, people in this world are facing some serious problems despite the fact that they have access to technology and the internet. These problems are recognizing human identity and having spirituality in...

Lesson 3 The functions of religion 1. **Religion and humanity, need and expectation** These days, people in this world are facing some serious problems despite the fact that they have access to technology and the internet. These problems are recognizing human identity and having spirituality in life. Some thinkers believe that a valid and successful religion, that can develop humans' talents and provide a rightful worthy position for them, can be the answer to this problem. Some commentators believe that a successful ritual is the one which can bloom the potential and hidden ability of humans and put them in the position they truly deserve. Are these all we need? Or there is something more than that?\ These questions have strongly connected to the goal of life. Islamic culture had made obvious plan to find the answers to these questions and fulfill all these expectations. **Personal functions of religion** A right religion, considers the truth of humanity's existence. The personal functions of religion influence the inner dimension of people. The personal out-come of religion is the feeling of happiness and prosperity and appears in different forms like: 1. [Awareness:] the fundamental of religion and revelation is the infinite knowledge of Allah. Allah sends some instruction to humans by angels and prophets to help humanity reach their goal. وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (2:31) *He taught Adam (father of humans) the names all of them and then presented them to the angels, saying: \'Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful. \' (2:31)* وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا (17:85) *They ask you about the Spirit. Say, \"The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. You have been given very little knowledge. (17:85)* 2. [Elimination of fear and loneliness:] fear is a comprehensive inevitable feeling in all humanity. The greatest and the most important fear of all is the fear of death.\ Fear of death is as the result of absolute ignorance and considering it as the end of life.\ But if there is another impression of death, the fear appears to be futile and even will turn those fears into hope and calmness.\ Religions describe death as a new better life which is the continuation of living in this world and it is infinite. أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ (23:115) *Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to us? (23:115)* Loneliness is another bad experience. There might be someone who lives beside others but he feels as lonely as a foreigner. However if there be an existence with whom we feel secured and fulfilled, the seeds of hope bloom in our hearts. This unique existence is called Allah. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ (8:24) *Believers, listen to God and the Messengers when they call you to that which gives you life. Know that God is between a man and his heart and that before Him you will all be brought together. (8:24)* He is the nearest one to our heart: وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (50:16) \* And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein. (50:16)* 3. [Fulfilling the thirst to immortality:] the true meaning of immortality is the continuation of life even after the death of our physical body. At this stage, our souls experience the truth beyond the worldly material. And it is the beginning of this stage of life and it lasts endlessly. 4. [Reduction of pain and increase in patience:] what is the reason of our pain?\ According to the prophets: first of all, this world is the place of disaster, hardship and trouble. These hardships are for strengthening the faith of humans to Allah. Second of all, the reason of all our bad experiences is the consequence of our actions. Third of all, all human are not alike in experiencing hardship, the endurance of some people might be more than the other. 1. Consolidating social life:\ dissociation of human society is the consequence of dispute and fight between tribes, sectors and nations. Justice is the most important message in religion of Allah. According to religion, this world is an introduction to the hereafter and it values our behavior according to this fact. 2. Promotion and development of justice:\ governments and rulers, in order to attract people to their own way, preach about justice. All people stand for justice, they fight for it. Justice is their inner tendency. In Islamic culture, Allah wants humanity to establish justice. Governing based on justice and standing against tyrants is the symbol of Allah's ruling. 3. Promoting the moral values:\ humans like morality and good manners. He does good in response to goodness. Ignoring human values is the root of most difficulties in social life. Divine religions say that knowledge, power, wealth, law and government without morality and human values will create challenge, difficulty and crisis in humanity. وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ (68:4) *Surely, you (Prophet Muhammad) are of a great morality. (68:4)* Summary: 1. All humans have expectation from any religion they are invited to. This fact is true in life and the functions of religion in personal/social life must be explained. 2. The important functions of religion in personal life are eliminating fear and worry as well as satisfying the desire to immortality, reduction of pain and increase of patience. 3. Cohesion of human societies, promoting justice and moral values are of important function of religion in social life.