Religion's Elements of Christianity and Scientology

A religion's foundation, development, and solidification are based on specific elements and principles. People are typically drawn to a religion based on how much it follows or applies most of these elements. A belief structure, core myths, ritualism, an ethical system, emotional experiences, sacredness, and material expression are among these components. Its origin and value system determine the extent to which a religion adheres to or follows most of these elements. A belief system can be viewed as a set of beliefs upheld by faith and society as a group of people who share common ideologies and perspectives on life. Christianity is a perfect example of a structure that embodies these two elements. Christianity is a belief system as exhibited by the principles it upholds summarized in the Ten Commandments (Ratzinger, 2004). Additionally, this is a religion where everyone cares about their associate including their well-being. For instance, all the sects of the religion believe in giving the poor as a way of supporting and uplifting them. Through these aspects, Christianity strongly illustrates a seamless specimen of a community and a belief system.

Ritualism is related to customs that are repeated over a long period of time that they become habits while the central myths express the mental acceptance approved by a particular religion. Christianity explicitly displays these two elements to the extent that they determine the way individuals should live their lives. For instance, rituals that are commonplace among Christians include giving tithes and meeting on Sunday’s for a worship service. At the same time, the Christian holy book contains numerous stories that are not only supernatural but are accompanied with examples of stories (Ratzinger, 2004). For instance, the religion believes that the world was made in six days through the word of mouth from God.

Ethics define the separation of right from wrong while emotional experiences are connected to internal responses based on sensory data collected. Christian religious beliefs are built on the simple belief that wrongdoing is punished while doing that which is right is rewarded (Ratzinger, 2004). Everyone who does wrong by sinning will go to hell while those who are wrongdoers will go to heaven. God is always shown appreciation through worship and praise and Christians exhibit emotions through dancing or even crying. Such emotional experiences are normal and appreciated.

Sacredness implies consecration or being holy. Christian religious beliefs strongly encourage its members to follow the rules set in the Bible by God to the extent that they are imbued in holiness. In fact, it is an obvious belief that only the holy can see the kingdom of heaven. Material expression of religion includes the use of physically quantifiable aspects to depict religion. Christian religious beliefs are drowned in the material expression of religion as depicted by Jesus Christ. Today, all Christians are well aware of how they are supposed to react in some situations that places them apart from the other religions. For instance, Christians are expected to help those in need and avoid engaging in belligerent behavior.

Started in the year 1952 by Ron Hubbard, scientology strongly upholds the idea that religion should satisfy a human being through the seeking of self-knowledge. Scientology is a true belief system based on the main principle that salvation is dependent on the beliefs of man (Hunt, 2003). Scientologists meet in church and are concerned about the welfare of each other thus making it a true community. Scientologists are encouraged to seek knowledge before believing anything and this is why there are no mythical beliefs in scientology. Scientology purports that faith is inexistent, and it is necessary for a man to take steps and seek knowledge in a manner in they deem fit (Hunt, 2003). For this reason, there are no practices that are repeated and thus ritualism is not a common practice among scientologists.

Ethics are made up of already set principles that are constant and unadulterated that define that which is right and wrong. Scientologists do not endorse constancy and this implies that there is nothing like ethics in their religious beliefs. Even during the religious meetings, there is nothing emotional exhibited by those who are believers of scientology. Internal responses are simply based on facts collected in the process of seeking knowledge (Hunt, 2003). The only material expression of religion is the intense love for true knowledge. Religious beliefs based on Scientology encourage people to believe in the self and that sacredness is expressed based on the beliefs of an individual. For instance, if one believes that stealing is right then it should be supported by facts and it becomes a guiding principle for that individual.

Christianity and scientology are two completely different religion based on their values and principles. These two aspects determine the extent to which the religions exemplify the eight elements of religion. While Christianity upholds and displays all these elements to a great extent, scientology does not believe in myths and it does not practice rituals. Being a new religion, scientology is based on the existence of facts that are irrefutable and can be tested. Regardless of this, religions form the building blocks of people in a society or community.

References

Hunt, S. (2003). Alternative religions: A sociological introduction. Chicago: Ashgate Publishing.

Ratzinger. J. (2004). Introduction to Christianity. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.