Andrea Rider
Copmparitive Religion Essay
May 5, 2009

Is it who you are that defines what you do, or what you do that defines who you are? This is one of the many questions that sit in the ‘thawts’ corner of my head, but it is one that I like to try and crack with religion. Religion is something that I have always been taught, but it is my faith in God that is truly embedded with in me. That said, it’s understandable that while trying to answer these collection questions I look to what I have always known. But through my spiritual development I’ve finally relaized that to truly grasp the God I have grown to love and know I have to educate myself about the other forms He/She takes in other people groups culture. So, I signed up for Comparative World Religions.

What is most appealing to me about other practices of faiths is the different perspectives that can dirive from the same foundation, such as, the ripple effect from Judaism to Christianity to Islam. Through their teachings they are all valid and just goes to show how you can convice yourself to believe anything you want, but what truly makes you you is the ulitmate superior in deciding what it is you choose to believe. You define your faith and to what level you devote yourself to it. For me, faith is my absolute everyting and religion is an expression of that faith.

Faith is mysterious, an artistic yet logically based part nature that is in constant limbo with itself, attempting to weigh out wordly facts verse personal intuition. Faith comes in many different forms and is expressed through a practice of religion. All religions have constants such as facts and names, but they also share some degree of ultimacy, whether its believed that it dwells inside humanity or that it doesn’t exist at all. People communicate with this ultimacy through prayers or meditation, and worship through riding bicycles or kneeling face down. It all depends on both a personal conviction and the level of devotion.

We live in a world where people judge others the practices of religion. Humanity groups together ‘types’ of people creating misconceptions, stereotypes, and ignorancy for both parties. Unless all of humanity were to decide collectively to strive for a better understanding of eacothers religions and cultures, coexistence will always be an issue. Realistically this can not be obtainted; therefor, those of us who know we have a responsibility to teach ourselves must do just that. Bettering life for all people begins with the only person you can change and that is yourself.

This semester in Comparative World Religions I have begun the journey of making that change. I find in myself a desire not to conform to the ways of this world but to educate myself about the vast manefestations of humanity that surround me. By striving to see people out of eyes that are not my own. To love with a heart that is forgiegn to my body. To seek answers with a mind that is letting go of its constrictions and broadening everyday. I try my best everyday to view the world from the perspective of whom I have placed my faith in. Like I said, my faith is my absolute everything.