Good example of religious studies essay

Religious equality is the provision of an inclusive environment that promotes values, diversity and maintains a proper environment for all the religious denominations. In any religion there are beliefs however not universal. These values, practices and beliefs have to be respected and taken to be equal before all the other religions. Relevant bodies like the governments and several organizations are called upon to help in the promotion of religious equality by educating the public, exercising equality in public functions and disposal of management tasks (Michael, 61). Such bodies can as well assist by providing goods, services and facilities to the religious institutions equally. This essay aims at giving thoughts whether there can be religious equality in America. By giving reasons of why and why not religious equality can be achieved, this essay will major in the three religious traditions in America; Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Religious traditions of the Abraham origin including Christianity and Islam have forbidden sodomy. Both Islam and Christianity have in their teachings that such a behavior is sinful. With changes today, some denominations within the listed religions are coming up to accept homosexuality. Reformed Judaism, Metropolitan community church and the Anglican churches are at a position to accept same sex marriages. These accommodative churches accept members despite their sexual practices and others even allow same sex people to be ordained as clerics. The differences give a clear vision that religion is not equal. Religious practices are neither equal nor at a position to be equal and promote equal practices. In America, The Catholic church has instructions from the Vatican to reject gays. This Catholic Church refuses to allow openly gay men to enter catholic seminaries. The Anglican who are as well Christians on the other hand welcome everyone to be ordained I the church leadership without considering the sexual behaviors. The contradictions do not bring or even give hopes for religious equality in America. For the Islam, same sex is still not accepted and some Christians accepting same sex relationships just create religious inequality (Winfried et al, 41). The Buddhists on the other hand accept it even in their scriptures and allow people to be homosexuals. The war is going on and getting tougher as time moves on and I don’t think there can be religious equality in America. The actions towards a specific issue of homosexuality differ and will always be unequal in the three religious traditions. The treatment given to these people as well differ and will always create inequality.
Religious scriptures bring inequality in America of the religions. In Buddhism, homosexuals are found in their scriptures and even talks about sexual satisfaction (Bragger, 45). Pandaka is referred to as a deviant sex category interpreted to include homosexuals who were male. The pandaka is found throughout Pali Canon as well as other scriptures of the Sanskirt. Pandaka is described in Buddhaghosa’s Samantapasadika as being filled with insatiable lusts and defiled passions. The pandaka is further defined to be filled with libido. Islamic schools all disapprove homosexuality and view same sex desires as temptation that is unnatural. Same sex relations are taken to be transgression of the natural role and an aim of sexual activity. The differences bring inequalities and Christianity accepts homosexuality in some aspects whereas in some churches homosexuality is forbidden. The beliefs and existing scriptures still bring religious inequalities and nobody knows which religion is right or wrong.
Monotheism is still a tag a war among the three traditional religions in America (Cornille et al, 56). Christianity knows no monotheism and embraces many denominations in their existence. Shockingly even private churches exist today in Christianity and they still have followers. This is anti monotheism whereby one faith should be embraced. The scripture of some churches have been changed to meet different meanings depending with the intention of the clerics. Islam has no feature of such multi religions. The Islam still believe in their Muhammad and read the original Quran that has existed over years. There are no cases of manipulation of the Quran and this differs with Christianity. The days of worship are still maintained and Muslims worship uniformly in their respective times of worship. For Christianity, even the days of worship have been changed and some dare their Sabbaths depending with their beliefs. The most known days of worship among Christians are Saturdays and Sundays and still there are conflicts about the exact Sabbath day. Buddhists in America worship their normal days and still hold on to their beliefs. Such practices tend to cause religious inequality since rivalry among the religions want to prove whoever is right and whoever is wrong. Religious equality in America is thus still far from achievement.
In concluding, the tools of worship and beliefs of who is the creator differ among Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Some worship God in form of idols whereas others just worship God in His absence as a superhuman. Beliefs of the head of the religious traditions and their origin as well differ. Christians for instance believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God. Muslims on the other Hand believe in Muhammad and such bring confusion and competition to be best. Dressing styles and how worshipers sit in their respective places of worship conflict including the postures of worship. Some stand, others kneel whereas others bow when worshipping. The Christians, Buddhists and the Islam will always differ as long as religion is considered. Religious equality can still never be attained in America as per my opinion. Provision of an adaptable environment to religions will only depend on the area covered, inhabitants and the religious histories.

Works Cited

Cornille, C. Many Mansions?: Multiple Religious Belonging and Christian Identity. Eugene Ore: Wipf & Stock, 2002. Print.
Brugger, Winfried, and Michael M. Karayanni. Religion in the Public Sphere: A Comparative Analysis of German, Israeli, American and International Law. Berlin: Springer, 2007. Print.