Effects Of Religion

631 Words3 Pages
Effects of Religion Religion has affected societies on many different levels including culture, politics, economy, science and education. Today a person’s faith sets the standards for daily activities, what they eat, how they dress and their basic lifestyle. Organized religions can be defined as institutions that include elements such as leaders, a set of beliefs, spiritual practices, rituals, scripture, ethics, cultural components and historical traditions. (Fisher 2005) One major effect that organized religion has had on society is political. Religion is often seen as an organized structure or set of rules which has had its share of influence over politics. Since the development of America politics and religion have been closely related. (The Globalization of Religion 2006) Differences in religious beliefs have been the cause of discrimination and of war. Examples of this include World War II and the most recent War on Terror. The Holocaust of WWII remains a gruesome reminder of how Jews were denied human rights and persecuted against, used as the scapegoat for political gain. The first amendment to the Constitution states that religious freedom is a basic human right, assuming that people may legally practice their faith in America regardless of what the origin. (The Globalization of Religion 2006) However, the negative consequences of religious disagreements must be taken into account. Multiplicity of religions means conflict, religious conflicts lead to war and human devastation. (Shattuck 2003) The War on Terror has raised many questions about whether America was fighting a religious war or not. On the contrary, it can be perceived as a war against enemy terrorists and of territory. The war in Iraq is not a fight against Islam, but a fight against groups of radicals. (Daloglu 2006) Although, politically the war is not
Open Document