Michael Astudillo
Intro to Religion 111.02
Reading Journal #12
After going through many stages in life, sometimes one can find themselves asking who they
really are and what they are doing here. I was raised a Catholic and after leaving Catholicism I tried
different branches of Christianity to see if I was with the wrong one. There I found that there is no true
religion, but a common idea. In the end when I think about religion, it all boils down to one thing, this
idea of salvation. I am not just talking about Jesus coming, or an apocalypse, or even Reincarnation and
karma, but this idea that you will be saved from this world. When I was standing there in Church I
noticed that all these people with their hands raised in the sky singing to Jesus, all they want in the end
is to be loved and to know one day God will save them. Just as I would see in church, I see in every
ideology or religion around the world. There are some exceptions, but in the long run it seems that
everyone derives from this same idea of some day being saved. This whole class I have been pretty
critical of particular religions, especially Christianity since it is the one I am most knowledgeable about,
however, this is the one topic that I find gives religions its good side. This idea of salvation gives people
hope. Hope that if they do well, or perform the job they need to in life, they will end up somewhere
better than here. As said before, I disagree with a lot of aspects of religion, but one that instills hope and
goodness in people is alright by me.
