Keiran Eagen 10/2/13 The Boy Who had a Thought about Religion Have you been positively socialized

by religion? I have. Being a teenager isnt always easy but, for me, religion can make this journey easier or it can make it harder. First thing you should know is that I am Christian. This is important because I am writing this paper based on what I have learned and experienced. So peoples views may not be the same as mine based on their religion and what they have been taught. To me, religion means a lot of things. Its a connection with something that is unknown. I also think that other religions need to be seen as partners in our journey, not as enemies. This is all extremely important because religion will continue to and always be a huge part of society and culture. I think that I have been positively socialized by religion because religion has socialized me to think and believe that there must be something for me to follow and believe in. Religion gives me a feeling of purpose. I feel that I need to be loyal to my religion. Since I have been positively socialized by religion I believe in it and feel a sense of loyalty toward my religion. This belief and loyalty is what I would call a purpose. My purpose to be devoted to my religion. Religion plays a large role in society and has many images, but what is religion to you? To me religion is a belief in something greater than man. Something that people need but dont need to see to believe. Merriam Webster defines religion as this religion noun \ri-li-jn\ : the belief in a god or in a group of gods : an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods : an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group1 I think that Merriam Webster is correct in that definition, but I dont think it fully grasps what I feel religion is. Religion is deeper than a set of beliefs. You need to understand and connect to those things. Religion is spiritual belief. It socializes me and takes me to a deeper understanding of things. Religion becomes more than ceremonies and it really becomes who you are and how you act. So in the end, my actions and identity lead to purpose. Religion has socialized me to be a caring and devoted person. Christianity talks about being caring and devoted all the time. You need to be devoted to your religion. I have been around religion for a while and really all it is teaching you is how to connect with God and other people on a deeper level. Being at a catholic school from preschool to eighth grade really drove that message in. Religion has socialized me to believe that people need something to believe in. They need something that they can follow. People need a feeling of purpose or something to be loyal to.
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion 9/18/13

Does religion give me a feeling of purpose? Yes. The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness. Dalai Lama XIV.2 I think that feeling is a feeling of loyalty. Like being loyal to love and forgiveness. Following those things and trying to live them each day. Its hard to do, I know, but I think that is what this loyalty is connected to. I think that religions feeling of purpose is what makes people so attracted to it. You could also call this feeling of purpose a connection. That connection is, as I said before, a feeling of loyalty. For me being loyal to love and to my religion is my purpose. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.3 I think that religion has socialized me to see other religions as permissible. Even more than that maybe. Maybe that I see them as brothers and sisters on a different path. That I see them as people trying to get to the same destination they are just getting there in a different way. I have been socialized to see other religions as partners and that all religions teach the same things just in a different way. I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong. John Lennon.4 I think this is one of the most positive things about religion. I think that the religion teaching to love everyone. Now we all know that loving everyone is impossible, but the least you can do is try to forgive and to try and make your relationships with your enemys better. I try to not be violent when I am angry or frustrated during school or any other activities because no one can love everyone, but we sure can try. I think that I have been positively socialized by religion. I think this because my parents have said so but also because I have seen this positive socialization reflected and talked about at church functions. I guess really what I am trying to get across to people is that religion has a lot of bad parts but it also has a lot of good parts. You can never judge something by what you have heard about on the radio or on the news. You have to experience it and then decide what you think. I have experienced religion and I decided it has positively socialized me and that religion can help people, including me, through there life. That people need something to believe in that is greater than man. That religion can be the answer to things. I believe it.

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/59162-the-whole-purpose-of-religion-is-to-facilitate-loveand 9/24/13 3 Ecclesiastes 3:1 4 http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/religion?page=2 10/1/13