Religious influences can be found everywhere in modern cultureReligious influences can be found everywhere in modern culture
Insight into everyday life Religious influences can be found everywhere in modern
culture, not just within religious buildings. Politicians make use of religious images, for
example, when they speak of a “new covenant” with voters. Specific religions and
religious denominations take public positions on moral issues, such as abortion and war.
Our weekly routines are regulated by the originally Jewish practice of a six-day work
week followed by a day of rest, and the European- American school calendar is divided
in two by the originally Christian Christmas holidays. Even comic strips use religious
imagery: animals crowded onto a wooden boat, a man holding two tablets, angels on
clouds, a person meditating on a mountaintop. The study of religions is valuable for
helping us recognize and appreciate the religious influences that are everywhere.
Appreciation for the arts Anyone attracted to painting, sculpture, music, or architecture
will be drawn to the study of religions. Because numerous religious traditions have been
among the most significant patrons of art, their study provides a gateway to discovering
and appreciating these rich works.