What is Religion?

Religion is… the service or worship of God or the supernatural - Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary the service or worship of God or the supernatural - Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary a specific system of faith and worship – Oxford English Dictionary a specific system of faith and worship – Oxford English Dictionary a set of symbolic forms and acts which relate man to the ultimate condition of his existence – Robert Bellah a set of symbolic forms and acts which relate man to the ultimate condition of his existence – Robert Bellah

Religion is… Beliefs, attitudes, emotions, behavior, etc., constituting man’s relationship with the powers and principles of the universe – Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary Beliefs, attitudes, emotions, behavior, etc., constituting man’s relationship with the powers and principles of the universe – Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary Belief in and/or worship of God or gods – World Book Dictionary Belief in and/or worship of God or gods – World Book Dictionary

Religion is… Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe; a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship – YourDictionary.com Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe; a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship – YourDictionary.com

Religion is… [the seeking] of divine truth, exploring who we are, why we’re here, and how we should live - Joel Beversluis, ed., Sourcebook of the world’s Religions [the seeking] of divine truth, exploring who we are, why we’re here, and how we should live - Joel Beversluis, ed., Sourcebook of the world’s Religions belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto – William James belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto – William James

Religion is… …the seeking of transcendent meaning that gives our lives value and puts us in touch with the deeper currents of existence... Religion helps people to cultivate an appreciation of the holiness of humanity and teaches us to respect the sacredness of life and the world. …the seeking of transcendent meaning that gives our lives value and puts us in touch with the deeper currents of existence... Religion helps people to cultivate an appreciation of the holiness of humanity and teaches us to respect the sacredness of life and the world. - Karen Armstrong, Battle for God, pp

Definitions can be… “an infantile dependency, a neurosis” (Sigmund Freud) “the opium of the people” (Karl Marx) Both of these statements are criticisms and judgments based on a negative perspective of the value of religion. Biased, revealing a positive or negative judgment or perspective toward religion:

Definitions can be… “a specific system of belief in God, doctrines, etc. God’s relation to humanity and the universe” (Western/Christian bias) “a specific system of belief in God, doctrines, etc. God’s relation to humanity and the universe” (Western/Christian bias) Religion is a lot more than just belief Religion is a lot more than just belief There are many systems generally considered to be “religions” that do not fit with this definition (they do not believe in or relate to a god or gods) (use more generic language) There are many systems generally considered to be “religions” that do not fit with this definition (they do not believe in or relate to a god or gods) (use more generic language) Too narrow or limited (exclusive):

Definitions can be… “a system of beliefs and practices directed to the ultimate concern of society” “a system of beliefs and practices directed to the ultimate concern of society” Are economic or political systems “religions”? Are economic or political systems “religions”? What kind of “ultimate concern”? What kind of beliefs? What kind of practices? What kind of “ultimate concern”? What kind of beliefs? What kind of practices? Definitions that are too general (generic) may not be very useful Definitions that are too general (generic) may not be very useful Definitions should be sufficiently specific Definitions should be sufficiently specific Too broad or inclusive:

Three Dimensions of Religion Intellectual – Emotional - Physical Religion is a way of thinking about: Origins (where did we come from?) Origins (where did we come from?) Purpose/meaning (why are we here?) Purpose/meaning (why are we here?) Destiny (where are we going? what happens when we die?) Destiny (where are we going? what happens when we die?) Who we are (the nature of human beings) Who we are (the nature of human beings) Who/what God is (the nature of Ultimate Reality) Who/what God is (the nature of Ultimate Reality) The basis for our beliefs & doctrine, expressed through myth, scripture, philosophy, theology

Religions share… Belief in a higher power (be it a person or principle) Belief in a higher power (be it a person or principle) Surrender to the supreme power Surrender to the supreme power An ethic of reciprocity (the Golden Rule) An ethic of reciprocity (the Golden Rule) Worship (prayer or other such practices) Worship (prayer or other such practices) Belief in the human spirit (soul) Belief in the human spirit (soul) Belief in other worlds (beyond life in this world, afterlife, reincarnation, etc.) Belief in other worlds (beyond life in this world, afterlife, reincarnation, etc.) Paths to God that can effect a positive change in human lives Paths to God that can effect a positive change in human lives - Pope John Paul II Cultural Center “Gallery of Faith”

Seven Dimensions of Religion Practical/Ritual (religious practice) Practical/Ritual (religious practice) Experiential/Emotional Experiential/Emotional Narrative/Mythic (sacred stories) Narrative/Mythic (sacred stories) Doctrinal/Philosophical (beliefs, theology) Doctrinal/Philosophical (beliefs, theology) Ethical/Legal (moral code) Ethical/Legal (moral code) Social/Institutional Social/Institutional Material (sacred objects, structures, places) Material (sacred objects, structures, places) - Ninian Smart

Seven Characteristics of Religion

Experiential Have you ever had an experience in which you realized that there was more to life than meets the eye – a sacred moment ? Have you ever had an experience in which you realized that there was more to life than meets the eye – a sacred moment ? Experiential begins with the religious experiences of the individual e.g. the Buddha Experiential begins with the religious experiences of the individual e.g. the Buddha Theistic – God experienced as a holy presence Theistic – God experienced as a holy presence Non-theistic – mysticism – become one with the divine Non-theistic – mysticism – become one with the divine Faith generally belongs to the category of Religious Experience Faith generally belongs to the category of Religious Experience

Mythic Stories which explain and inspire Sources of sacred truth Sources of sacred truth They do not necessarily conflict with history and science, nor are they necessarily false or irrational They do not necessarily conflict with history and science, nor are they necessarily false or irrational Express Sacred Truth Express Sacred Truth MwcqN8http:// MwcqN8 (Egyptian creation story) MwcqN8

Doctrinal The belief aspect of a religion – creeds, doctrines or teachings of the religion The belief aspect of a religion – creeds, doctrines or teachings of the religion come from experiential come from experiential come from myths come from myths What is the difference What is the difference between the beliefs of between the beliefs of a religion and faith? a religion and faith?

Ethical Ideas and laws that shape behavior Ideas and laws that shape behavior The “dos” and “don’ts” The “dos” and “don’ts” How we are to act while living in the world How we are to act while living in the world – the “Golden Rule” –Laws of Manu –Ten Commandments –Beatitudes

Ritual Practices such as Practices such as –Worship, praying –Regular gatherings –Rites of passage many reenact a sacred story or myth e.g. many reenact a sacred story or myth e.g. –Hajj –Eucharist –Seder (Seder symbols song) (Seder symbols song)

Social communal aspect of religion communal aspect of religion Belonging to a group – such as a tribe, parish or congregation Belonging to a group – such as a tribe, parish or congregation hierarchy of hierarchy ofleadership Embodiment of Embodiment of spiritual perfection

Material Sacred architecture Sacred architecture structures of worship structures of worship art within them art within them sacred books of scripture sacred books of scripture sacred places (mountains, cities, rivers etc.) sacred places (mountains, cities, rivers etc.) Golden Temple of Amritsar, India – sacred to Sikhs

Defining Religion Resources blrel_def_dict.htm blrel_def_dict.htm blrel_def_dict.htm blrel_def_dict.htm blrel_def_essentialex.htm blrel_def_essentialex.htm blrel_def_essentialex.htm blrel_def_essentialex.htm blrel_def_functionalex.htm blrel_def_functionalex.htm blrel_def_functionalex.htm blrel_def_functionalex.htm es/concepts.html es/concepts.html es/concepts.html es/concepts.html

Summariser In your Google Docs: Identify the examples of the 7 dimensions from the religion with which you are most familiar In your Google Docs: Identify the examples of the 7 dimensions from the religion with which you are most familiar –Experiential- Ritual –Mythic- Social –Doctrinal- Material –Ethical