Philosophy of Religion
Chapter 1. OVERVIEW
Section 4 . What is Religion?
What is Religion?
are many definitions of religion. It
is not that easy to pin down exactly what religion is and then to insure
that the definition distinguishes religion from magic and from cults and
sects. Many people offer
definitions without much knowledge of the wide range of religious
phenomena and the many different cultural manifestations of religion.
It is a rather common misconception to think that religion has to
do with god, or gods and supernatural beings or a supernatural or
spiritual dimension or greater reality.
None of that is absolutely necessary because there are religions
that are without those elements.
In this millennium there are over 6.2 billion people on the planet earth. Most of them would declare that they are religious in some way. Rough estimates are made that place people in the various traditions.
Here is a tabulation from adherents.com and available at: http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html
(Sizes shown are approximate estimates, and are here mainly for the purpose of ordering the groups, not providing a definitive number. This list is sociological/statistical in perspective.) Last modified 13 June 2001.
The three religions that are proselytizing religions, seeking more members actively are: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Islam is the fastest growing of the traditions and will most likely have the most adherents in the world by 2020.
Some of these religions
have no belief in a god. Some
have no belief in the survival of a soul. Some believe in more than one god.
What do they have that makes them religion?
Here is a definition that captures the common core and yet distinguishes religion from other institutions and phenomena. It is from Federick Ferre in his work Basic Modern Philosophy of Religion.
Religion is the most
comprehensive and intensive manner of valuing
known to human beings. We shall put this definition or understanding
aside until the final chapter and after we have examined a number of
important issues related to religion. For now it would be less
abstract and more useful if the initial idea of religion would be phrased
in terms of its characteristics which most people who have any experiences
with religion can most likely identify.
Characteristics of Religion
These are the common characteristics or family traits of those members of the category or “family” of religion. Just as with family members not every member must have every trait but most have most of the traits. The more any human phenomena demonstrates these traits the more likely it is that it will be included into this category of social institutions known as religion.
Common Characteristics: (family traits)
The more any phenomena displays the characteristics above, it is likely to be accepted as a religion. The fewer the features demonstrated, the less likely it will be termed a religion. It might be termed magic, or sorcery, cult or some other description but not as a full fledged religion.
Religions of the West – the
of the West- Judaism-Christianity and Islam share in some common traits or
characteristics that distinguish them from other religions in this world.
These common features bind the three traditions of the West together. They share many similar ideas. Among those shared are: One god made the universe and along with it the beginning of time and that one god will end the universe. Each human has a soul and at the death of the body the soul shall separate from the body and go on into another dimension. There is a judgment to be made concerning the moral worthiness of the soul at death for an eternal reward or lack thereof. Time is linear and there is but one period of existence for individuals and the entire universe. There may be variations from these basic tenets of the faith or religious beliefs, however, these are ideas fairly typical for most of the religions of the West.
Other religions hold for multiple
deities or no deities at all , cyclic time and the reincarnation of souls, even multiple reincarnations.
Some religions have no idea of a deity and some have no belief in
the survival of a soul. As the Living Religions of the World are examined
in all their variety in this work it is with the understanding that they
display enough of the characteristics listed above to be well placed in
the grouping or category labeled as "Religions."
Some religions have no idea of a deity and some have no belief in the survival of a soul. As the Living Religions of the World are examined in all their variety in this work it is with the understanding that they display enough of the characteristics listed above to be well placed in the grouping or category labeled as "Religions."
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© Copyright Philip A. Pecorino 2001. All Rights reserved.
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