narrative essay about religion

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Narrating Religion

This essay stands back and looks at the large variety of ways in which religious ideas are narrated, or ideas about religions are narrated. It appears in Jeffrey J. Kripal, ed. Religion: Sources, Perspectives, and Methodologies. Farmington Hills, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, 2016, which is the first, introductory volume of what will be a 10-volume series on religion published by MacMillan, for use in upper-level courses on religion or by the general public. The volume that I am editing myself, called Narrating Religion, will be the final one in the series and should be out next year.

Related papers

From *Narrating Religion* ed. Sarah Iles Johnston (MacMillan 2016)

Suomen Antropologi: Journal of the Finnish Anthropological Society

In this paper I explore the complex and constitutive role of narrative practice in Chilean Pentecostalism. I argue that it is in large part through different kinds of storytelling that Pentecostal self identities are produced, nourished and modified. Particular attention is focused on testimonies of salvation, and life stories as narrative practices through which converts engage in ongoing construction of biographic identities and provide themselves with symbolic schemes for present and future action. I further argue that Pentecostal story telling should be seen as a specific kind of social interaction, creating and unfolding eligious realities to be inhabited by narrator and listener alike. I pursue this argument by examining different linguistic as well as non-linguistic strategies through which the listener is invited to project him or herself into the world of the story. Keywords: Pentecostalism, Chile, conversion, narratives, identity

Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion, Brill, 2020

Introduction to the volume: Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion, edited by Dirk Johannsen, Anja Kirsch & Jens Kreinath. Leiden: Brill (Supplements to Method and Theory in the Study of Religion), in press. The edited volume studies the aesthetics of narrativity in religious contexts by approaching narrative acts as cultivated and situated modes of engaging with reality, equally shaped by the immersive character of the stories told and the sensory qualities of their performances. Introducing narrative cultures as an integrative framework of analysis, the volume builds a bridge between classical content-based approaches to narrative sources and the aesthetic study of religions as constituted by sensory and mediated practices. Studying stories in conjunction with the role the act of storytelling plays in the cultivation of the senses and the cultivation of the world, the contributors explore the efficacy of storytelling formats in narrative cultures from Antiquity until today, in regions ranging from Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica to Europe, East and South Asia, and Africa.

Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion, 2020

In light of approaches to materiality, performance, embodiment, and cognition within the study of religion, the anthology documents religious storytelling practices in historically and culturally diverse settings.

In the context of significant religious change, sociologists have been re-thinking both theory and method in these early years of the twenty-first century. As our empirical gaze has expanded from the North Atlantic to the globe, our very concepts of belief and practice and organization have been challenged. Secularization has ceased to be the primary theoretical lens through which we understand religion and society, and a wider range of "religion and..." explorations have emerged. More critically, “lived religion” has joined institutionalized religion as an object of study and as a necessary arena within which new concepts may be developed (McGuire 2008). If “religion” is no longer best understood as a common set of beliefs and institutions in which people participate in neatly-bounded ways, then finding religion requires asking different kinds of questions in different ways. This article begins by suggesting that a narrative frame may be especially useful in understanding lived religion and continues by offering a set of three complementary methods of data gathering that are especially suited to exploring religion in its everyday manifestations. Drawing on our own recent work (Ammerman forthcoming 2013; Williams 2010a), we argue that catching multiple religious narratives in diverse social settings requires fishing with multiple nets.

Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Philosophy of Religion

In this entry, we survey key discussions on the role of narrative in theology and philosophy of religion. We begin with epistemological questions about whether and how narrative offers genuine understanding of reality. We explore how narrative intersects with the problems of evil and divine hiddenness. We discuss narrative's role in theological reflection and practice in general, and in black and feminist theologies specifically. We close by briefly exploring the role of narrative in theorization about life's meaning.

Egitto e Vicino Oriente 46: 75-93.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Spread of Christianity — Religion Impact On Life

Religion Impact on Life

• Categories: Spread of Christianity

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Words: 768 |

Published: Mar 14, 2024

Words: 768 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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Religious Influence on my Life

How it works

• 1 Shaping Moral Frameworks
• 2 Fostering a Sense of Community
• 3 Providing Psychological and Emotional Support
• 4 Influencing Educational and Intellectual Pursuits

Shaping Moral Frameworks

Religious teachings often lay the groundwork for morals and ethics. A study by Pew Research Center in 2019 found that people who are active in their religion tend to have stronger ethical beliefs and feel more responsible to their community. Need a custom essay on the same topic? Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and we’ll deliver the highest-quality essay! Order now

That's been true for me too. Growing up with religion, I learned a set of morals that guide what I do and the choices I make. For example, the idea of compassion, which is a big part of many religions, pushed me to help out in community service and outreach programs.

Fostering a Sense of Community

Religion's also been key in creating a sense of community for me. Things like group worship and shared rituals build strong bonds among people. Gallup's 2020 data shows that folks in religious communities feel more supported and less lonely.

I've felt this too. Going to religious events has given me a place to meet people and build meaningful relationships. Shared beliefs and values make for a tight-knit community where people help each other out, especially in tough times. This sense of belonging has been a lifesaver during hard times, providing both emotional and social support.

Providing Psychological and Emotional Support

Religion's been a big help for my mental and emotional health too. It deals with life's big questions like purpose, suffering, and death, offering comfort and hope. Koenig, McCullough, and Larson (2001) found that religious practices are linked to better mental health, like less anxiety and depression.

For me, praying and meditating have been key in handling stress and staying emotionally balanced. Praying, for example, gives me a structured way to voice my worries, seek guidance, and find comfort. The regularity of religious practices also provides stability and routine, which is grounding when things get chaotic.

Influencing Educational and Intellectual Pursuits

Religion's also affected my education and intellectual growth. Many religions value knowledge and learning. For example, Islam sees seeking knowledge as a form of worship, and Judeo-Christian traditions value wisdom. The National Center for Education Statistics (2017) found that students with religious backgrounds often do better in school, likely due to the focus on discipline and moral education.

In my own studies, the religious drive for knowledge has fueled my curiosity and dedication to learning. Combining religious and academic pursuits has helped me grow both spiritually and intellectually.

Religious teachings also promote critical thinking and reflection, which are useful in school. Studying theology, for example, involves deep analysis and interpretation of texts, which builds analytical skills. This kind of intellectual engagement within a religious setting has enriched my academic journey, giving me a deeper understanding of both secular and spiritual knowledge.

In the end, religion's impact on my life has been deep and varied. It's shaped my morals, built a sense of community, supported me psychologically and emotionally, and influenced my education. The mix of religious beliefs and personal growth shows how important religion still is today. As I keep navigating life, the values and principles from my religious upbringing continue to guide me, lighting the way forward.

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