Scientific Materialist Explanations of Religion
Scientifically, religion is an integrated system of practices and views relative to sacred things. These values that unite the group with a shared belief make up a moral community. The heterodox movement, also known as the New Apostolic Reformation, found in the protestant Christianity religion, has gained influence in the current church worldwide.
Many Pentecostal and charismatic believers are part of the program by following their leaders, who include apostles and prophets. Many people understand science as a source of information based on reasoning. At the same time, religion assumes that humans can access it more deeply through other means that do not involve purpose or reflection.
Examples
Examples of scientific materialist explanations about religion include the law of attraction and the supernatural power of giving. They believe that people who confess positive things attract good things in their lives. For instance, some Christians claim wealth and healthy, lavish lifestyles. The law of attraction is what they embrace, how a magnet works scientifically.
Through giving, a person receives an equal measure of what they offer to the church. The belief makes the prophets and apostles claim other extra-biblical relations, dreams, and visions that they teach about their personal experiences (Bowie, 2021). This may involve face-to-face conversations with Jesus, trips to heaven, and visits by angels, among others, that the scripture cannot prove.
Limitations
These scientific materialist beliefs miss aspects of religion because they do not condemn sin; they only value being rich and healthy. According to the Bible, material giving does not result in more possession of wealth (MacArthur, 2021, James 1:26-27). These false doctrines lured the Bible’s truth and led to the belief that salvation is about the wealthy.
The Bible records that Paul never prayed for their difficulties (MacArthur, 2021, 2nd Cor 12:7-13). They were suffering for the gospel’s sake, in any case. Paul also claims they knew how to live both in plenty and lack. It does not indicate that they sometimes wish to and subsequently attract lack. If it were the case of the claim it receives, then Paul would be a role model because they are the pioneer of many epistles.
Broader Perspectives on Understanding Religion
The world has many people with many beliefs, and different religions help when associating with people from different cultures. Understanding the perspectives of each doctrine is essential to notice the differences between these groups. When scrutinizing faith, different perspectives can help; for instance, the sociological approach describes religion as a system of beliefs and practices concerning what people decide is just and spiritual.
Through this approach, society provides better reasons for life and goodness (Watson, 2019). Observing the social systems within society provides a different approach and understanding of religion. People perform sacred ceremonies for their faith, and observing how these activities influence their livelihoods can educate us about their doctrine.
Personal Reflection on Preferred Perspective
I prefer a sociological approach when discovering a new faith. Many societies associate life, nature, and fate with sacred beliefs. Without these restrictions in life, the value and the joy that people associate with it can easily be lost. Furthermore, those without power must be protected from those who can dominate and eliminate them.
A society without rules and restrictions is unpredictable. Achieving law and order within a community requires reinstating strict restrictions. Religion commands superiority in a community, and the laws that it imposes on its followers are more highly respected than any authority.
Science is a source of information that provides many scholars with knowledge, although many religions provide other supernatural powers that can reveal new things to humans. These mystical forces can create, deliver, and perform miracles in their lives that make them comfortable on earth. Scientific explanations about religion should be investigated and compared to real-life experiences because some concepts are foreign to the Holy Book and require proof.
References
Bowie, F. (2021). Anthropology of religion. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to the Study of Religion, 1-24. Web.
MacArthur, J. (2021). The MacArthur study Bible: English standard version. Thomas Nelson. Web.
Watson, P. J. (2019). Psychology and religion within an ideological surround. Brill Research Perspectives in Religion and Psychology, 1(1), 1-89. Web.