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Running head: WEEKLY REFLECTION
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The study of religion entails spiritual concepts that are associated with spiritual
practices. These religious practices govern ones doing such that, to be termed as a
religious person you have to be in possession of these particular values. Religion can
be understood in many concepts but the debate on theism and agnosticism stand out in
defining religion and the general belief.
The concept of theism is read out in the light of comparative religion and is the
contrast of atheism, which can be defined as the general acceptance and belief in the
existence of a god or gods. In a more focused and specific approach, theism can be
defined as the belief in the existence of one supernatural being who is understood as
the creator of the human race and as one who the whole human race should transcend
to. Furthermore, the narrow academic view of theism can be generally understood as
the belief in the existence of a theistic god. Theism can be categorized into different
more groups depending on what specific community beliefs are in regards to their god.
For instance; dualism is the polytheistic belief of two contrasting religions whereas one
is seen as good and the other as bad. Thus, Pantheism is a monotheistic approach that
god is similar and identical with the forces of nature, among many other beliefs.
(Kirkpatrick & Shaver, 1990)
Agnosticism can be understood in a narrow context, whereas it can be seen as
neither believing nor disbelieving in the existence of God. In the general and academic
approach, agnosticism can be understood as the indifferentism in the existence of
supernatural powers. The Agnostics’ concept is that nothing exists beyond the material
WEEKLY REFLECTION
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phenomenon. Consequently, the Agnostics are defined as cynic as well as the most
skeptic religious group to ever exist. (Boyce, 2001)
In addition, the two religious ideologies discussed tend to confuse many people.
At any rate, to differentiate agnostics from the theists, it can be by statement that;
theists assert that there is no existence of any god or goddess. This group is against
the belief that there exist any particular deities. The Agnosticism on the other hand
believe that it is literally impossible to give a candid proof that there is either an
existence or nonexistence of God, both in the present time and in the future. Hence,
this belief stands with the understanding that; perhaps forever, there shall never be any
proof that a supernatural being exists. (Corrigan, 2015)
Religion trends have not yet been fully defined in terms of a numbers estimate,
especially in the United States. A simple survey conducted by Pew Research Centre
found that 23% of Americans have no affiliation to a particular organized religion in 2015
and this number has risen from 16% in 2007. Moreover, this group is now the second in
terms of size in the United States, coming second to evangelical Protestants. These
statistics include the Agnostics, the atheists, and the people who believe in no particular
deity. Thus, those that believe in “nothing in particular” form a larger percentage with
15.8% of the total 23% of the nonaffiliated Americans being in that category, while the
Agnostics form a 3.9% as the Atheists form a 3.2% of the total 23% of the Americans.
(Chaves, 2016)
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References
Boyce, M. (2001). Zoroastrians: their religious beliefs and practices. Psychology Press.
Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Shaver, P. R. (1990). Attachment theory and religion: Childhood
attachments, religious beliefs, and conversion. Journal for the scientific study of religion,
315-334.
Chaves, M. (2016). Religious trends in America. Social Work and Christianity, 38(2)119.
Corrigan, J., & Hudson, W. (2015). Religion in America. Routledge.
…
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