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Religion In Yaan Martel's Life Of Pi

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"What Is Religion, Really?
Religion. What is it? Some people say it’s not even important. Others don’t even know how to explain what religion is. I used to think it was just systems of different beliefs that guide people’s way of living. While this is true, it is more evident that religion is so much more than that. Religion has many varying objectives and reasonings, but common reasons for religious beliefs is that it is used as a guided path for guidance and comfort. The guided path has a purpose to it as well. Such as it gives people a sense of security, stability, and especially source for hope for the followers.
Firstly, religion is a source for personal security. In the novel Life of Pi by Yaan Martel, during the whole experience …show more content…

In many religions such as Judaism and Christianity, there is a designated day of worship. These days are a type of routine for people who follow those religions. Routines can be a strategy for stability for people. In the Catholic faith, fulfilling the Seven Sacraments provides people with goals to follow through on. The Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity are a list of rules from God’s word that people are expected to follow. Having these expectations can give people a sense of stability, because it’s a list that they can fall to and use to keep themselves in check. Dated all the way back to the American Revolution, people wanted to be free to express their religion. Now that they can, it is a way to keep society stable. People are free to express their beliefs without any government to stop them from doing so. Having this right prevents groups of people from revolting against the government because of the restrictions. In many ways, religion is a stabilizing strategy for people, their routines, and …show more content…

When in a regretful situation, many people in the Catholic faith, including myself, turn to reconciliation. After going to confession, God has acknowledged the mistakes that people have confessed to. He then forgives them. For me, knowing God has gifted me with his forgiveness, gives me a sense of hope that others can and will too. A pastor in Texas recently lost his daughter in a church shooting and says “It hurts that I lost Annabelle, but I also know that [God] has a plan that I need to continue to carry out, and that's what I do,” (Stump). Although he is suffering through a tragic loss, Frank Pomeroy utilizes his strength of belief in his religion to help him cope. It gives him hope that he will suffer on Earth to be reunited with his daughter in the afterlife. The afterlife is also a concept that provides followers with hope. Hinduism is a popular world religion that follows the belief of the afterlife. The Caste System is a repeating cycle where a soul is reborn to different varna, and each varna is a different social class with certain jobs to fulfill in a lifetime. These jobs are called dharma. If the dharma is fulfilled in a lifetime, the soul will move up in the caste system. This opportunity for improvement gives Hindus comfort in knowing that if their life isn’t the greatest, they can return to better one in their next life. Hope is an essential aspect in

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