Religion is an amalgamation of different world views, cultural beliefs, morals, revelations, and prophesies that often have spiritual backgrounds and meanings to members who subscribe to a given faith.

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Religious Studies and Literacy
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Religious Studies and Literacy
Religion is an amalgamation of different world views, cultural beliefs, morals,
revelations, and prophesies that often have spiritual backgrounds and meanings to members who
subscribe to a given faith. Often, religion involves numerous activities and practices such as
prayers, meditation, sermons, feasts, symbols, rituals, and trances. It follows, therefore, that
religion and culture are topics that are correlated and intertwined. Studying and understanding
religion is significant in increasing a person’s cultural awareness. The lack of understanding of
religions other than a person can fuel bigotry as well as hinder cooperative alliances in various
contexts. This is because, globally, human history has been and continues to be impacted by
religious acts, laws, institutions, and commitments.
Religion should not be isolated into the private spheres of ritual expressions and religious
beliefs but function in all and every aspect of human experience. In the holistic development of a
person, community, and the entire nation, religion stands out as an integral part. It penetrates
every aspect of life that revolves around the existence of humanity. In human history, religion has
been related and associated with cultural, mental, and social structures. The sense of belonging
and the perception of what the world around holds revolve around the understanding of the
different religions. According to Pressley, “In essence, cultures shape religions, and religions
shape cultures.” It is clear, therefore, that religion should not be practiced in isolation.
From the Professor’s notes and Chapter 1, there are three notable things that come out
clear as lessons learned. First, I learned that to be considered religiously literate, one will be
required to have the ability to have a basic understanding of beliefs, practices, history, and

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manifestations of the many religious traditions of the world. Secondly, I also learned religions
are internally diverse, unlike the perception that religions are uniform. Finally, and which I found
compelling was the fact that religion and culture are inseparable. Professor Pressley mentions in
his notes, “Just as religion cannot be understood in isolation from its cultural context, it is
impossible to fully understand a culture without considering its religious dimensions.”

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Reference
Pressley, K. RELS 1102: Religious Studies and Religious Literacy