by Darrin A Yarbrough

Created on: January 24, 2011

Religion is designed to unite social groups and cultures. Religion in some sense is a social lubricant providing a common ground of familiarity for a culture to function. Since cultures tend to be geographically specific, this causes religions to divide world populations. Curiously, the very purpose for which religion exists is the same thing that causes a division in populations worldwide. The reason for this stems from a human desire for familiarity. Cultures also tend to be exclusive, both embracing familiarity and rejecting differences.

This phenomenon is culturally complex and has multiple layers wherein a single stranger may be invited into a foreign home as a guest yet an entourage would be rejected as an enemy. On some level, this is an instinctive desire to protect territories and resources; however, the underlying roots of religion go even deeper than that. In its most basic form, religion serves as a concept of how to exist in harmony with parts of the world that are understood as well as coexist with forces of nature that are not entirely understood. These forces are not entirely natural or even supernatural, they also encompass aspects of the human psyche that are implied but not entirely understood. Since these psychological aspects differ based upon geographically unique perspectives driven both by idiosyncrasies in cultural orientation and environmental pressures, they are specific and unique to each and every human culture on the planet.

Since human beings have evolved and migrated to all areas of the Earth, their cultures and traditions have become unique and specific to every location. Even those with similar religious  views and origins may express cultural differences and traditions that are contradictory. A specific example of this phenomenon would be a tribe of Jewish people in Ethiopia who have been cut off from their ancestors for so long they no longer bear any resemblance to groups who share similar DNA. Nevertheless, the tribe is aware of its heritage and origins despite the distance and time since their separation.

So in general, religion, a cultural phenomenon designed to unite people socially serves to divide people due to dramatically contrasting beliefs and traditions. When examined at length it becomes easier to understand how these opposing dichotomies occur. Certainly, this is not an intentional consequence of religions, which almost universally promote fellowship and unity, however, the very strength of the underlying precepts of any religion makes is proponents vigilant in their support and belief regarding the validity of their own views.

Placing individuals of differing religious and cultural orientation in close proximity can serve to both illustrate and exaggerate these differences. The consequences can be civil or destructive based upon the degree and content of the orientation and conversation between the individuals. In general, religion divides the world into two major factions, Christianity, and Islam, which both have origins in similar contexts and peoples, yet survive in dramatically differing viewpoints.

Learn more about this author, Darrin A Yarbrough.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.