Sample essay on reflecting

1434 words

Foundation Course – Religious studies

Studying in the OSU I feel myself a part of multicultural society. Nowadays, people of different nationalities and religions meet in the same places for some common purposes, like, for example, working and studying. It is hard to distinctly define how this diversity affects all aspects of interaction between students. But the fact is that we communicate and understand each other. How this became possible and how these effects of globalization will impact our lives in the future?
The importance of faith and traditions. There are many things that connect us, but there are even more things that distinguish each of us from other people. I think that the most significant part of human personality is indissolubly connected with religion. We grow up and experience the world through the prism of our family traditions, our parents’ beliefs. We naturally accept the behavior norms customary in the society we live in. The notion of the world has the greatest importance for each of us. Therefore, if other people accept our right to look at the world from our own standpoint, we feel comfortable and calm.
There is a good rule: live and let live. I think that the present-day American society makes a reality of this idea. The United States have a long history of struggle for equality of nations, genders, ideas and religions. Our modern society is getting read of prejudice with growing willingness, and this process opens new doors for people all over the world. Of course, I’m not trying to say that all obstacles are already surmounted, but nowadays young people have more new opportunities to work abroad for international companies.
As a student of multinational educational institution I meet people from a variety of nations, cultures and religions. Representatives of European, Asian and Arabic cultures study together and exchange thoughts and ideas. In the process of studying we do not only observe each other, but have to communicate and work together. We quickly make friends and start communicating on new levels. Such closeness generates more new questions and more serious discussions.
How globalization impacts on religion. Understanding your friend is of great importance. It contributes to tolerance to other people’s views. This question is topical for me. I am a Muslim girl living in American society and studying side by side with representatives of Christianity, Judaism and other world-wide religions. I think that the majority of young people coming of age in the 21st century have common interests that join us together. But concerning the most important things we often meet completely different opinions.
In order to reach better understanding friends (and my future colleagues) whose faith is different, we should obtain further insight into the world religions that have very special relations with globalization. In spite of the fact that world religions transform under the impact of global processes, they preserve their meaning and the potential to rebuild the world.
Religion strongly resists to the unifying processes of globalization in contrast to other fields of human activity like economics, politics, social relations and culture. It is the well-known fact, that all religions are involved in missionary work. So it seems that they need these globalization process for spreading their influence. But most of religions show critical attitude regarding globalization. For example, Islam has strengthened its position thanks to global processes of unification. It became a well-known and wide-spread religion. Nowadays, many -citizens of non-Islamic countries adopt this religion.
There is a conceptual opposition between religion and globalism. Religion saves souls for eternal life (and in this process each person is important), whereas globalism unifies everything. Thus, religion by its essence contradicts globalism. And many people who aspire to progress, see religion as something that is ” behind the times”. But the world exists due to its diversity – an essential condition for unity and surviving. Variety, rather than unification makes the world united.
Peaceful coexistence of religions. Globalism has a simple philosophy in its ideological base. It assumes the existence of common values for all the people lying in the horizon of consumer attitude toward the world. Undoubtedly, these values are significant, but they should occupy a fitting place in our lives. Unfortunately, we see how consumerism occupies too much place and substitutes spiritual values. Thus, the information that we receive learning about world religions helps us to understand better how people of different faith detach essential values from those things that only seem important.
Globalization promotes general progress and integration, while all world religions are extremely skeptical about ideas of their own development. The strength of any religion lies in its commitment to dogmas and traditions. The tenets of each religion are capable of some development (mostly in order to show their relevancy in connection with the latest requirements of era), but their essence is unchangeable.
The truths of religions are absolute and they retain their values at all times because they were commanded by God or His prophets. Therefore religions do not develop in the sense in which everything develops. This feature causes confrontation between religion and globalization which often leads to rise of religious-motivated extremism. Unfortunately, the society often connects this extremely negative phenomenon with certain religion in general but not with definite responsible people (Smock, 2008). I think that we can avoid such prejudice only learning more about each religion.
It is worth emphasizing the basic similarity of all cultures and religions, their interpenetration since ancient times. Developing and promoting this historical similarity – a synthesis of cultures and religions, both inside and outside the multicultural country, the US society aspires to reach cultural and spiritual unity.
Good-neighborhood is the key to peaceful coexistence of many religions in the same society. Of course, it is unlikely that Christians could come to the mosque to listen to the preaching of the imams and muftis, where they call for good and peace. Probably faithful Muslims also would not come to any Christian church or a synagogue to hear the preaching of the clergy. But perhaps, universities, colleges and companies’ offices are exactly those places, where Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and others can meet, communicate and work together despite the differences between nations, cultures and religions. After all, every nation has a rich culture and traditions. I think that experience of such communication in college enriches our further lives. Since we are young and our minds are open for new ideas, it is more likely that we can adopt a new friendly and respectful style of communication (Smock, 2008).
Living in a multicultural society we almost every day have to face another opinion about the customs, behavior and religious issues as well. We are getting used to the fact that many people have an opinion different from ours. Modern communications allow people to actively interact, so reaching understanding is very important.
I believe that we should follow some principles communicating with those people, whose worldview is different from our own. The most important principle is respect for personal choice and freedom of self-determination. I am guided by this principle in my life, and see how other people around me do the same. For example, the fact that I am a Muslim does not prevent me to communicate with my friends of other faiths. I respect their choices and traditions.
Another important principle is to use gained knowledge of religious beliefs and traditions to build good relations with friends and colleagues. This also contributes to finding common views on life. If there is some tension in the relationship because of the difference in religious beliefs, people should avoid discussing matters of faith and religion. For example, there are many companies whose corporate rules encourage their employees not to show their religious beliefs (for example, an office dress code). This helps to create a pleasant working atmosphere in the team.
The role of religion is exceptional due to the fact that religious values are the basis of cultures and civilizations. And today, when we talk about the dialogue of cultures and civilizations as the only alternative to chaos and instability of the modern world, we should remember that we discuss not some abstract ideas associated with cultures and civilizations, but the fundamental values of religions.
The inter-religious dialogue is the core of the dialogue of cultures and civilizations. The active position of the religions in this dialogue is another significant contribution to the reduction of tensions in the modern world. A deep sense of religion for the human community is that any true progress is possible only if we are trying to achieve something higher than ourselves. Only keeping in mind something perfect, we can progressively develop.

Reference list

Smock, D. (2008). Religion in World a ffairs. Retrieved November 27, 2014, from http://www. usip. org/sites/default/files/sr201. pdf