Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 1
- Lesson
- Minimum of 2 scholarly sources (in addition to the textbook/lesson)
Instructions
Choose only one (1) of the following two options:
Option 1: Eight Characteristics of Religion
In an essay, address the following:
- Identify and briefly describe the eight key characteristics of religion developed in your reading.
- Choose 2 for further explanation and include an example for each of your chosen characteristics as demonstrated in a given religion. (You may use different religions for each characteristic or stay with one throughout.)
- Why did you choose these 2 reasons? How do they relate to your own religious worldview or your clinical practice?
Option 2: Etic and Emic Views
In an essay, address the following:
- Explain how the etic and emic perspectives describe your own religion or a religion with which you are familiar.
- In etic, explain how an objective researcher would describe the religion including specific elements. In emic, explain how a practicing member would see the same reality.
- Quote an “authoritative religious leader” from this religion as part of your emic paragraph, in addition to your scholarly source. (E.g., Buddhism-Dali Lama; Catholicism-Pope)
- How does understanding this add to your understanding of your chosen religion?
- What does it add to your approach to patient care?
Click on the following link to view an example for Option 2 (Shinto):
Hopefully you can see the difference between the etic approach using facts and objective information devoid of emotion or attachment whereas the believer (emic) approach showed devotion, faith, appealed to the senses and emotion. The quotes showed personal faith. Your emic view does not have to use quotes, except for the religious leader requirement, but it needs to show a personal view.
In addition to outside sources, make sure to reference your textbook and/or lesson.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
- Length: minimum of 500 words (not including title page or references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (Cite textbook/lesson and a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources – 1 for each approach for Option 2; 2 scholarly sources for Option 1.)
- Page or paragraph for in-text citations
Solution:
Understanding Religion Essay
There is no precise way to define what a religion is. Definitions that are attached to religion tend to have one or two gaps. Such definitions are often too shallow or ambiguous to the extent that they imply that anything and everything fits to be a religion. Considering this, a sensible way to define religion would be to identify the fundamental characteristics that are common to various religions. This paper will explore eight characteristics of religion.
All religions have a supernatural being. The presence of a supernatural being, especially a god, is the most common characteristic of all religions. For example, Muslims believe in Allah while Judaists exalt the name of Yahweh. Another common characteristic of religions is distinguishing between sacred and profane things (Clarke & Woodhead, 2015). Adherents of each religion are highly encouraged to cherish all that which is sacred and shun anything that is profane. This is the defining characteristic of all religions. For example, Christianity frowns upon sexual impurity and urges all its followers to have sex only within the institution of marriage…Please click the icon below to purchase the full answer at only $10