The Different religions and human problems in anthropology

Anthropology and Human Problems

Anthropology elaborates and clearly defines human problems as all the mayhems that make day-to-day existence vulnerable to human flaws. All human difficulties encountered as a result of being a human are referred to as human troubles. Sometimes, it may be possible for humans to solve certain difficulties, and other times, it may be impossible given the circumstances. As a result, the majority of intrinsic difficulties can only be connected to a supernatural force, making that the only deemed remedy for any issues said to be beyond the scope of human power (Ingold & Tim). In this context, it’s therefore critical to analyze and get a distinct hunchback of how these supreme beings are related to human problems. Supreme beings are well explained in the religious aspect of human existence (Ingold & Tim). Several religions teach that most of what are referred to as human problems are associated with human vices most of which are deemed too destructive. Furthermore, anything viewed to be problematic to human existence is always linked to human shortcomings and consequences of failure to follow all necessary human virtues.

Religious Opinions and Anthropology

Most religions agree that human life would not be full of problems if all people observed all life attributes and shunned from conducting any forms of vices (Ingold& Tim). This is because all human life is viewed to be mainly linked to an empirical belief of the existence of divinity. Therefore, all human problems are assumed to be a typical reflection of divinity problems. This piece of writing will ultimately compare the differences in perception which occur between four different religions about human problems. Religious opinion comparison with anthropology helps to understand the similarities or differences which occur when human problems are being defined (Ingold&Tim). The main religions that have associated with the vast explanation of human problems include Christianity, Islam, Stoicism and agnosticism.

Christianity

The Christians agree that no human has an entire existence. The only being with a whole life is the God who is the Supreme Being. They also assert that all people are susceptible to daily problems as long as he/she is alive. It is also believed that person is given a choice between doing right or wrong. All problems which are encountered in human life are associated with wrong doings. These evil deeds are attached to the belief that, a form of bad deeds is associated with a sheer disobedience to the Supreme Being. Therefore, disobedience to God is showed by human trail problems which trail the individual who has committed the vice.

Disobedience to the Supreme Being is defined as, corruption of the straight path of human life which is punishable through facing of problems. It is also believed that human nature is exclusively corrupt hence, severely wounded with human flaws. For example, the famous Roman Catholic Church asserts that all people are vulnerable to sins and highly susceptible to other forms of disobedience to God (Kilborne& Langness). According to Saint Augustine, Susceptibility of human nature has denied humanity the free will advantage and made them a slave of their corruption (Kilborne& Langness).

Saint Augustine assesses understanding and concludes that human nature of existence will never be associated with a problem free life. This is due to the fact, Christians believe in the eternal presence of the original sin which is marked as the mother of all human problems. This original sin is the source of God’s punishment to humanity. The sentence is informed of slavery to their actions. This means that the original gift of free will, before the commitment of the original sin, was now limited to the repercussions of an individual’s action.

It is also believed that denial of free will by God showed His omnipotent and proved His Supremacy over human beings. It is also believed that God did not entirely retrieve free will from them but left them amidst options. These options, to sin or not, would give them a taste of liberty to choose between facing problems or not. This choice explains why each action has its respective repercussion (Kilborn& Langness). This is also a form of human problem in which, he is in control. Finally, Christian believes that God is the only reliable solution to all their problems. He is only all necessary answers to all impossible life questions. In a nutshell, he is the ultimate ender of all life struggles that human beings face.

Islam

Islam address to human problems is closely related to the Christian perspective. The only difference occurs in their phenomenological approach of the problems. First, they believe that their Supreme Being, Allah, is not the author of any of the problems that human beings face (Haviland, William, Walrath and Dana). They believe that all human problems occur with a reason. Only divine “problems” are sourced from their Supreme Being with a perfect aim of fostering faith growth in Allah within humans.

Besides, Islam portrays Allah as perfect being with defined divine power over people. Islam tells that to avoid all human problems; People should be legal minded; this sis the prerequisite to be a clean Muslim. It is also the intermediate step of faith profession in the Islamic piety, Allah. The solution to all human problems is well explained in the Islam Holy Book the, Quran. Quran describes all steps of problem-solving strategies for all human botherations.

A distinction between Islam and Christianity occurs whereby, human passions in Christianity are mainly believed to be the root emanation of human problems; however, in Islam, emotions are greatly encouraged since they are thought to be one of the most useful parts of human life. Therefore, they are not perceived to be a positive source of human problems (Haviland, William, Walrath and Dana). The main similarity between the two is that sin is the leading cause of all human problems. Their omnipotent Supreme Being is the answer to all human problems. All problems swill only be avoided if Muslims follow the commandments of Allah.

Stoicism

While not a very common religion, this is one of the strictest ancient religions. Stoics believe that the world is full of numerous unfolded problems. They also believe that all human problems are sourced from human ignorance. They define ignorance as a state of lacking a defined starting point to solve a problem hence ending up with an unfounded assumption (Becker& Lawrence).

While still within the problem, the individual cannot decipher the possible ways of solving it. Stoics assert that there is a spark of divine knowledge within every person. This means that only humans can be able to have a solution to their problems. They have a designated module of solving their problems. First, one has to understand that some things in nature are unchangeable. Second, just solve problems that are within your capabilities. This is termed as the apatheia approach to issues (Becker&Lawrence).

Hinduism

Hinduism addresses human problems in the context of karma. Karma refers to action and reaction. This means that each action has an outcome (Kurien& Prema). In this regard, it suggests that human problem problems arise from human action. All negative actions lead to human problems which result from failure to observe all Hindu virtues and commandments.

From the aspect of Karma, positive balance results to a more beneficial rebirth. The extent of human problems is defined by the frequencies of failure to observe the commandments that guide humanity. The Gods and the Goddesses have power over humanity which makes them the absolute solution to all human problems (Kurien& Prema). The only way to avoid the universal human problems is by ensuring that all Hindu virtues are followed.

Works Cited

Becker, Lawrence, A History of Western Ethics. New York: Routledge 2003. Pp27

Haviland, William, Walrath, Dana., “Human Challenge.” Cultural Anthropology. Cengage Learning, 2010. Pp314.

Ingold, Tim, “ Introduction to Religion.” Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. New York, 2014. PP72.

Kilborne, Langness, ”Determinism and Relativism.” Human Nature: Theoretical Papers. Chicago, 1987. Uni. Of Chicago Press; pp43.

Kurien, Prema. ”Multiculturalism and America Religion: Hindu and Indian Americans.” Social Forces. John Hopkins, 2006. John Hopkins University Press. pp727.