Blog #5 Religion

I find religion very interesting, and the different values they have. It was really interesting how religion had begun to spread through many different countries and how they affected each of those countries. In history and now they always seems to be a fight with religion. I was really surprised the history of the Catholics in Mexico, how the bishop there was proud to say  he “destroyed 500 shrine and 20,000 idols” (Strayer, 729). That’s not something to be proud of. Strong believers of the church tend to follow the church’s actions, and I don’t think they were being good leaders. What happened to peace?  I like reading the part of Neo-Confucianism, I found their values to be interesting especially the part “intuitive moral knowledge exists in people…even robbers know that they should not rob” (Strayer, 737). This religion seems more morally and valued based, like what is right and wrong. I think Confucianism is much more peaceful than the Christianity and Catholic Churches.  Confucianism to me seems like finding your inner self and seeing what is right and wrong in your eyes, I think it is more rewarding to one, and understanding yourself more, in addition gives you strong morals and ethics. As in Christianity and Catholic it is like you have to follow their guidelines in order to be accepted by God, and they give morals and values. I think you can become a stronger person when you can find in your inner-self your own morals and values, it easier to sticks by because it is what you believe in, rather than forced to. Over all I think religion is a good part to be in everyone life, it does not matter which religion. I think religion gives you a good foundation, gives you strength, hope, and enlighten. It is always good to believe in something. While reading this chapter I felt like there was a lot going on all over the world as if religion was a wild fire. As if religion was the “trend” in that time. There were so many different religions being established and being converted it got me a little overwhelmed. I would feel like I don’t know what religion to pick or follow. Then again the religion in the area you lived in it seems like you had to be that religion or the church would punish you. Religion back then and now have become extremely different, although they still follow the same belief, but the way people express their religion is different. Take for example the Christians they worship through constantly singing songs as if they were sang on the radio with a band. I think Catholic worshiping style has not changed. Religion was a big deal everyone had a certain religion, and if you did not you were consider bad, but over time religion seem to escape people’s lives, or just worshiping method. Religion has truly evolved and tends to not have as much power as it did before, but religion will never go away.