Critical Project 2

Religion

According to Wikipedia religion is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe. It involves devotion, spiritual rituals and proper conduct, which is all offered to a supreme being. Three ethnic groups that amazes me when it comes to religion are that of the Indian culture, African culture and Caribbean culture. These three ethnic groups have so much in common when it comes to religion, the only difference might be time, place and names. I have come to realize that the Christian body among these ethnic groups all pray to the same Supreme Being, the only difference is the names and the descriptions. The names are different because of their native tongue and dialect and images are based on their appearance and their beliefs they accept as true. For example the image of "Our Lady" some may call her the Virgin Mary, but in many religions she is known by a different name. In the Yoruba Religion (Afro-American) she is referred to as Yemaja, Africa she is Yemowo , the Caribbean she is known as Mermaid Goddess of the Sea and in India she is Our Lady of Vailankanni. So basically this is a very good example of how religion is Universal. Religion in my opinion is a way that we communicate with each other dedicating our lives and minds to a supreme being. Giving us some values that we can live together and unite as one. However, it is these beliefs and values that individual hold so dearly that set some of us apart, and has caused many of the uproars among nations. Yes religion promotes diversity and multiculturalism, but it also segregate causing hatred because of race, nationality, sex, gender etc. There are also religions that do not promote any form of diversity or multiculturalism and practice certain spiritual rituals that caused the majority of the world to condemn and blacklist them.