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Introduction
Since the dawn of time religion has affected humans in hundreds of ways. Religion has
shaped the course of human history itself. Religion liberates people, as well as imprisons them. It
uplifts as well as tears down. In part due to the complexity of religion and how it differs across
cultures and societies, scholars, researchers, and philosophers, are generally split into three
groups when it comes to defining religion: functional, faith based, and scientific materialism.
Sometimes unfortunately, the functional perspective doesnt also seem to work, as we see
Myanmar is currently persecuting the Rohingya people and has been for the last half
century. This ethnic group has been denied citizenship since 1982, making it impossible for them
to rise out of extreme poverty. Recently violence erupted between police and the Rohingya that
has left over 1,0001 people dead. Previous to that the persecution was so bad that an estimated
The country of Myanmar has a Buddhist majority. This is startling because Buddhism
teaches loving kindness among other things. It doesnt seem like loving kindness to allow such
things to occur. The Buddhist Temple I visited had a very calm welcoming feeling, and one
would have to ignore some very fundamental Buddhist teachings for such violence to occur.
In conclusion I feel that Religions do not always mix well with other religions, even
when the preach loving kindness or acceptance of others. Functionally speaking they fail at times
like this. But religion is more than just its function. Its hope for a better future.
1
Jazeera, Al. Myanmar: Who are the Rohingya? Asia Pacific | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 30 Nov.
2017
2
Ibid
Reflection
This course and this assignment in particular, made me think differently about the influence
Everyone thinks their religion is the right one. Who is to say which one is correct?
Furthermore, are any of them correct? Are they all correct in their own way? For the answer to
that, I feel like we need to look at religion through the lenses of the different theories on why
This class has also changed my thinking because when I came into this class, I knew very
little about Eastern Religions and traditions. Theres much I still dont know, but I feel like this
In addition to that, I feel like this class has opened my eyes to new ways of thinking that I
previously had been unaware of. There are so many people that think differently than I do, and
Jazeera, Al. Myanmar: Who are the Rohingya? Asia Pacific | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 30 Nov.
2017, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/08/rohingya-muslims-
170831065142812.html