A REFLECTION PAPER ON

THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION IN AN INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE

Religion is defined as the sacred engagement with that which is believed to be a spiritual

reality. Religion is a worldwide phenomenon that has played a part in all human culture and so is

a much broader, more complex category than the set of beliefs or practices found in any single

religious tradition.

It is important especially in developing one’s self. Although religions may differ in so

many ways, they were all aimed at guiding people through life and mostly for every individual to

reflect on the meaning of life and what they want in life. It teaches us what are truths and lies,

what’s evil and good, and all things that will lead us to righteousness. Moreover, religion does

not only teach virtues but it also helps in improving one’s personality. The saying “no man is an

island” is similar to the proverb “A man does not live by knowledge alone”. We feel. Religion

helps us shape our emotions whether in our hardest situations or in our ecstasies. Our faith in

God and the belief that our loss could’ve made meaningful are some of the reasons that release

us from the fears and grieves and thus, integrating our personality.

Our relationship with God was edified by religion through its art of prayer. Jesus taught

man to pray, the same thing religion does but only in different ways. Religion, in understanding,

includes a complex of activities that are not only a part of an individual’s life but also of group

dynamics. For instance, in celebrations and feasts, we offer foods, clothes, riches and others

wishing for better sake. However these actions are aimed for God. We ask God for guidance, we

thank Him for the blessings, we adore Him, and we ask for forgiveness - these are simple prayers

to God, only religion made it more in with actions. In addition, religion also teaches us to read

writings, like the Holy Bible, that define God, Jesus and His teachings. Aside from what religion

teaches us about God, this is also one way how religion carries us closer to God.

It is possible to have a healthy and growing relationship with God even without religion.

Our faith in God is within us, religion only just shaped it better. But I always tell myself, religion

is man-made, faith is beyond religion. God had given us the free will. We chose whatever

religion we want to. We believed in whoever gods we chose to believe in. For me, I believed in

God because of my religion as a Christian and for some reasons, because I wanted to. And

religion has nothing to do with my spirituality. Just like the followers of Jesus, they never had

rituals or regulations to be moral, they’d just let Jesus lead them their ways, and they chose to

follow Him and let Him deal with the immoralities.

My faith in God might be altered by many factors in my life, probably by my relationship

with my family or even my culture or whatsoever. But the main point is, religion is not God.

Religion might be our introduction to God but not to the extent that it also became our basis for

our spirituality. Because I believe that spirituality is personal and one should discover it on his

own. As the saying goes, “You can lead a horse to a water, but you can’t make it drink.”

Religion helps us to be closer to God but it cannot dictate our spirituality.