What is Religion? Part 1

"Welcome to the Understanding World Religions podcast with Daniel White III. The purpose of this podcast is to help you become informed about the various religious beliefs that exist in the world today." Daniel White III is the President of Gospelite Society International and a national best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in religion, a master of divinity degree, and a master of theology degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He also holds a bachelor's degree in religion from Texas Wesleyan University. Now here's your host Daniel White III. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Understanding World Religions podcast. This is episode number two. My name is Daniel White III, President of Gospelite Society International. The simple purpose of this podcast is to help you become informed about the various religious beliefs that exist in the world today. In the interest of full disclosure, I am, yes, I am a Christian and I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. However, I have studied religion. I do have two degrees in religion and with the knowledge of all of these religions, I have chosen to be and remain a Christian. Religion is the driving force behind much of what happens in the world today, particularly when it comes to the big three religions, if you will, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Down through the centuries, religious differences have sparked wars, created nations, and continue to spawn ongoing conflict around the world, along with doing many great things. No matter what religion you adhere to, or even if you claim that you don't adhere to any religion at all, you need to have a basic understanding of the world's religions in order to understand what is happening in the world today, so that you can be better informed and a more useful citizen of your community, of your nation, and of the world. Without some knowledge of religion, you will not understand the underpinnings of what is happening in an increasingly global society. Our quote for today is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, he said, "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." In this podcast today, we will be making our way through Gary Aramorgan's fine book, Understanding World Religions, in 15 minutes a day, learn the basics of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Christianity, and many more. If you do not have a copy of this book, we encourage you to buy yours today. Read it for yourself. Gary Morgan is a professor of intercultural studies at Northwestern College. He served with world venture for 20 years in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Our topic for today is titled "What is Religion Part One?" Ask most people if they know what religion is and they will say yes. Ask them to define it, though, and you're likely to get blank stairs and some mumbles. While we usually recognize religion, when we see it, definitions are more challenging. Most people assume it has something to do with God or gods, but that's not always the case. Definitions tend either to be so broad, they're unhelpful, or so specific, they omit or overlook certain religions. In addition, religion overlaps with philosophy, Confucius probably thought of himself as non-religious, yet his philosophical principles have been incorporated into Chinese religions. Indeed, when a philosopher devoutly follows a particular religion, it can become impossible to distinguish between it and his philosophy. Sorry in Crocker God, a 19th century Danish philosopher regarded as a father of existentialism, had a deep Christian faith and wrote profound theological works. Nevertheless, philosophy differs from religion in that it typically does not involve corporate practices like worshiping God, or worshiping a God. One far-reaching effect of cultural diversity on a global scale is that disparities, divergences, and discrepancies are not only interreligious but also interreligious, that is within the same religion in different areas, and Ethiopian Orthodox worship service bears little outward resemblance to an Ecuadorian Pentecostal service, yet both groups share core Christian beliefs. Further, because religion significantly impacts our worldview, religious beliefs and practices are highly interconnected with culture. Indeed, as with the philosophical discerning the cultural from the religious can range from challenging to undoable, so intertwined are they. What outsiders may view as religious practice adherents may see as simply a cultural tradition. Traditional Chinese people clean ancestral graves each spring. Westerners tend to identify this as a religious practice while the Chinese think of it in cultural terms. In the same way, yet in reverse, some non-natives enjoy attending Native American powwows to watch the cultural dances, but to the cultural inside of these dances have spiritual import. The English word religion comes from the Latin religio, meaning "R" or "fear of a God" or "spirit." Most religions do affirm a supernatural realm and include practices intended to worship or placate gods or spirits. But again, not all belief systems typically classified as religions entail the supernatural or even of hold is existence. Confucianism, Taylorism, the Ravada Buddhism and Jainism are found in every world religions textbook, yet indifferent or agnostic on the reality of the supernatural, especially in any personal sense. Even those who study religion professionally struggle to agree on a definition. The theologian par untilage called it that which is of ultimate concern, perhaps an accurate Descriptor, but general to be very useful as a definition. Anthropologist Michael Allen Park defines it as a set of beliefs and behaviors pertaining to the supernatural, while most anthropological explanations insist on inclusion of the supernatural. Edward Norbeck says religion is a distinctive symbolic expression of human life that interprets man himself and his universe, providing motives for human action. William James said religion consists of the belief that there is an unseen order and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves there too. Note that neither these latitude necessitates affirmation of the supernatural. Ladies and gentlemen, on our next understanding world religions podcast, we will continue talking about what is religion. In closing, I would like to say that even though we are covering many religious belief systems in this podcast, there is only one way of truly being cleansed of your sins and only one way that you can be guaranteed an eternal home in heaven with God, that way is through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Acts 4-12 neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. 1 Timothy 2.5 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all. If you do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, may I encourage you to get to know Him today, trust Him as your Savior today. He died for all people regardless of your religion or background or culture." John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, the entire world that includes you, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins was buried and rose from the dead by the power of God for you. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today to save your soul and He will do so." Romans 10 13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Until next time I beloved Him, may God bless you." [MUSIC]