Religious Studies What I learned

[Audio] Good morning everyone! Today I want to share with you some of the things I learned from my Religious Studies class. My presentation will explore aspects of various religions and I look forward to a meaningful discussion with you. Let's get started!.

[Audio] I gained insight into religious practices of other cultures and their impact on society through taking this course. It was surprising to learn how these practices diverge from my own even though they may have originated from the same faith. Taking this course has made clear to me how even though different religions may have a different approach to it we all share similar values and beliefs. Without taking this course I wouldn't have known this..

[Audio] I found religious studies to be an eye-opening experience. It highlighted the tremendous beliefs and ideologies that are present around the world. Surprisingly a lot of religions have similar practices and basic principles for example stories of creation beliefs in a supreme power teachings of morality and opinions on life after death. Furthermore I had the opportunity to confirm my own opinions as well as develop knowledge on religions that are not widely known. It was stimulating to examine the distinct spiritualities and the ways in which they manifest in all forms and sizes..

[Audio] I discovered in my religious studies that Taoism is an ancient Chinese religion and philosophy. It states that the universe runs in an endless cycle of being born dying and reviving. Taoism teaches the concept of an all-encompassing energy called 'Tao' which should be accepted and embraced in all parts of life. It also encourages non-action or 'wu-wei' which is the thought of existing in a harmonious equilibrium with nature. Lastly Taoism teaches individuals to be unassuming and modest and to value basic life pleasures..

[Audio] Studying religious traditions has opened my eyes to the value of free will. We all have the power to shape our destiny regardless of what may be happening around us. I found particular resonance between my Christian beliefs and Edward Burnett Tylor's animism the concept that unseen entities move us and have free will. As Christians we believe both God and Satan to have a role in our lives however it is ultimately us who must make the decisions that alter our lives. It is crucial to put faith into action if someone claims to have accepted Christ then they must demonstrate that through their actions. This is what my religious studies have revealed to me about free will..

[Audio] Animism recognizes the influence of spirits on the physical world and suggests that if someone offends these spirits it can result in sickness failure or personal conflicts. Christianity on the other hand believes that all sins are forgiven by God upon believing in Him and that every human has a soul and spirit that returns to God after death. The Bible additionally promotes a life-giving community thus emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with the wider spiritual world..

[Audio] Anthropomorphism derived from the Greek language is a concept that describes the attribution of human form to nonhuman created things. An example of this can be seen in the Biblical story of The Mule of Balaam where a mule a nonhuman created thing is granted the capacity for human understanding and conversation. This illustrates the concept of Anthropomorphism..

[Audio] I have gained a deep appreciation for the incredible wealth of knowledge and complexity found in the world's religions through studying Religious Studies. Every religion has its own distinct values and perspectives to share and I am honored to have gained a small understanding of many of them. I thank you for attending this presentation and wish you luck in your own exploration of these topics..