1. Why Do You Think People Are "Religious"? What Particular Aspects Of Society May Prompt People To Look For Religious Faith And Identity?

People are religious for many reasons. These include the difference religion makes in life and how religious beliefs influence actions.

Religion structures a religious person's life. More than three quarters of the world's population consider they belong to a religion.

All aspects of religion are reasons for a person to be religious. For some, the difference that sacred places, books, prayer and celebration make is significant. Others, the belief that there is something beside our own world or the difference having a figure to follow can change a life.

Sacred places can help a person to have an ambition in life, a reason to live Ð'- to reach this sacred place, for example the Holy place of Mecca for Muslims, a pilgrimage is taken, and this is a life experience for many Muslims.

Books help many understand life, and much of being religious is about understanding. They answer questions and instruct you in the right direction in life.

Prayer can be seen in two ways, in my opinion. The first is to pray to a God, to keep you and your loved ones safe, for security. Secondly, it gives a person a daily or weekly ritual, which can help in structuring lives. By having this structure also gives a person security and sometimes controls emotions in a very complicated society we live in.

Celebration can be an appeal to religion, if a not strong one. Celebrating a belief among others passes on the faith to the future generations.

The dictionary definition for "religious" is "Pertaining to the belief in and worship of a god or gods, a specific system of belief and worship involving a code of ethics, a value orientation emphasizing spiritual peace."

Belief is a common reason to be religious. Belief that there is an external force that guides you through life. Belief that there is life after death. Belief is very personal. Everyone has different beliefs, and by following a religion with similar belies to your own, you can fulfil your own.

Fear is another aspect of being religious. Fear that if you do not believe and there is something else then something bad will happen. If a person is not religious then often they feel scared that when they die they will not fulfil "heaven" or "enlightenment" or any other after life. there is doubt;

Other humans prompt people to become religious. Society today, for example Discrimination in the West of Africa caused a group of young African boys to join a religion where they were accepted. They were in an environment where they were equal; less strained and were surrounded by people who understood them.

Also, many are religious by tradition and family. If your parents and ancestors are religious, and this is the way you are brought up, many cannot imagine life without their religion. Growing up in a high density of one religion and belief often draws a person to it.

Aspects in society such as violence can be incorporated into reasons to be religious. Religion has caused more wars than political or other reasons. The September 11th scenario is a good example. Here the issue was Islam versus the West. Religion and difference in beliefs caused the incident, the deaths and the sorrow, yet so many people turned to God and a religion in