Religion is widely considered the foundation upon which our lives are based; we are guided by the principles and motivations to obtain the written goals in our religious texts. With that said, there are a few religions out there. And whether you were raised to follow the religion of the Latter Day Saint movement, and you are furthering your religious understanding with Archeological Evidence Of The Book Of Mormon, or you were raised to follow the ways of the Hindi religion, there is no right or wrong religion to follow.
The core principles and beliefs of most religions out there are intriguingly compatible with one another. There are numerous consistencies that most religions share, from the virgin birth to the resurrection and, of course, the ultimate deity watching over us. Most religions also have two or more afterlife’s, while a select few suggest that we are reborn on Earth. However, this only stresses the importance religion has maintained around the world for several centuries.
Regardless of which specific religion you decide to follow or your reasons for settling on a particular religious following, here are five reasons why religion will positively impact your life.
Strengthen Your Moral Compass
We all need a moral compass; without this attribute, we would find ourselves unable to determine right from one. Because the teaching of most religions encourages followers to do good always under the notion that a greater deity sees all, religion can strengthen your moral compass. Having a strong moral compass will positively impact all aspects of your life, from how you handle challenging situations to how you handle conflicts and everything in between.
Develop Empathy
It is said that empathy is the highest form of knowledge; it requires you to suspend your ego and genuinely relate to another individual or situation. Empathy is a staple learning for most religions, as most religious texts indulge the importance of empathy and how it will be rewarded in the long run. Empathy is not just crucial for religious growth, as we all need empathy to get through life. Understanding empathy can help you develop strong family bonds, deal with conflict in a mature manner, and enable you to lend a helping hand in the community where it’s needed. On the other hand, not having empathy will leave you unable to create bonds with anyone.
Less Stress
Many studies show that individuals who follow religion are less likely to experience high levels of stress. These statistics are likely based on the principle that those who follow religion feel they can leave their worries to a higher power. In addition to this, religious followers also tend to believe that their God is in control of their lives, which boils down to having no reason to stress and worry about things. As a result, following a religion faithfully will likely reduce your stress in general. And we all know just how much of a negative impact stress can have on our lives and overall health.
An Everlasting Sense Of Comfort
Those who don’t believe in life after death tend to feel a lot more lonely and disconnected in general. On the other hand, religion offers us a sense of everlasting comfort, as the belief in life after death is undeniably comforting. Knowing that you are not alone in the world can help keep depression at bay as well. Even conditions such as anxiety are generally less prominent within religious communities. The comfort received from faith is invaluable to life on Earth.
An Opportunity To Learn
Some would say that there isn’t much learning involved when it comes to religion. However, anyone that has ever delved into religious scripts would beg to differ. Religion can be a standalone study, as every religion has its very own unique history and teachings. Choosing to follow a religion means you will have the opportunity to learn and enhance your understanding of the past. There’s no doubt that any learning opportunity is valuable, as Einstein famously quoted the saying, “the value of an education is not within the teaching, but the training of the mind to think.”
There are several other benefits associated with following a religion, and all advantages will have an undeniably positive impact on all areas of your life. However, it is crucial to find a religion that compliments your core beliefs well, as some religions might not appeal to you. Unfortunately, if you have too many doubts and questions about any particular reason, following the teaching won’t be beneficial. You will be following with a subconscious goal of proving the religion wrong. Therefore, you should choose a religion that you are willing to follow with unbreakable faith and learn the teachings with an open mind to reap the many benefits.
Benefits For Children
There are also tons of benefits to raising children with religion. Studies show that children who come from religious and spiritual upbringing tend to be far more disciplined and ambitious than those raised without religion. This result may be because many religions encourage structure and routine within their practices; saying prayers before bed and reading scriptures each day scratches the surface of some religious systems.
So if you are wondering if introducing religion to your family will be a beneficial decision, you can also be certain that your children will benefit tremendously. With that said, you should also consider enrolling your children in a religious school to ensure teachings are complemented in their education. Your children will reap all the same benefits as you, and possibly even more as they will have a strong foundation of empathy, comfort, moral development, and many others. With that said, it is also crucial not to force religion onto children but rather introduce the following gradually while ensuring you are open to answering any questions they may have. Because there are tons of religions out there, be sure to opt for one that will compliment you and your family well. The changes should not be drastic, although gradual and comforting.