Halcyon
Lord of the Badgers
Is there any generalised definition of what makes a religion?
Here's my thinking, tell me what you think.
Before we can come to a definition that describes all forms that religion in general takes, we need to define the purpose of religion across the board - this is an adaptation of a Frank Herbert quote that's been stuck in my head for years;
'If the goal of science is the understanding of the workings of the universe, then it is the goal of religion to understand mankind's place in that universe.'
I think this makes sense because whichever religion you look at, from animism to Christianity to Buddhism the basic premise is an attempt to understand where you fit into the grand scheme of things; whether its as the most loved creation of God, destined to be reunited with Him in the afterlife as in Christianity or Islam or as a spirit/essence trapped in an endless series of reincarnations striving to be free as in Hinduism and Buddhism - we all want to know "why are we here?" and the "meaning of life".
If we take that as the general goal of all religions, irrespective of their specific mythologies, that leads us into understanding what makes up a religion, and why it is composed of those specific aspects.
In it's simplest form, I see a religion being composed of three interrelated parts. We have the cosmology, which includes theology if its a theistic religion, which attempts to explain the spiritual (and sometimes physical) structure of the universe, and what man's role should be within it.
Next we have the practical aspect, which uses the cosmology as a base upon which to build practices and ritual that aid the religious follower in fulfilling his or her role as defined in the cosmological drama - i.e. to become a bodhisattva, or to worship God, or to live in harmony with the spirits of nature etc.
And finally we have the third part which is the object of devotion - this could be a Buddha or Bodhisattva, a God, the spirit of a mountain or village's valley or even an ideal or elevated concept.
Each part has a role in the greater construct of the religion - the cosmology gives us the answers to our "big questions", the ritual and practices give us a tangible way to acquire the full comprehension of those answers, and the object of devotion gives us (hopefully) the perspective and humility which should stop the search for meaning becoming egocentric.
That's long winded, but if I try and put it into a single sentence definition we arrive at;
A religion is an integrated system of cosmological explanations, ritualised practices and devotional idealism that purports to offer it's followers a complete understanding of their place in the wider universe.
Thoughts? Comments? Improvements? Criticisms?
Here's my thinking, tell me what you think.
Before we can come to a definition that describes all forms that religion in general takes, we need to define the purpose of religion across the board - this is an adaptation of a Frank Herbert quote that's been stuck in my head for years;
'If the goal of science is the understanding of the workings of the universe, then it is the goal of religion to understand mankind's place in that universe.'
I think this makes sense because whichever religion you look at, from animism to Christianity to Buddhism the basic premise is an attempt to understand where you fit into the grand scheme of things; whether its as the most loved creation of God, destined to be reunited with Him in the afterlife as in Christianity or Islam or as a spirit/essence trapped in an endless series of reincarnations striving to be free as in Hinduism and Buddhism - we all want to know "why are we here?" and the "meaning of life".
If we take that as the general goal of all religions, irrespective of their specific mythologies, that leads us into understanding what makes up a religion, and why it is composed of those specific aspects.
In it's simplest form, I see a religion being composed of three interrelated parts. We have the cosmology, which includes theology if its a theistic religion, which attempts to explain the spiritual (and sometimes physical) structure of the universe, and what man's role should be within it.
Next we have the practical aspect, which uses the cosmology as a base upon which to build practices and ritual that aid the religious follower in fulfilling his or her role as defined in the cosmological drama - i.e. to become a bodhisattva, or to worship God, or to live in harmony with the spirits of nature etc.
And finally we have the third part which is the object of devotion - this could be a Buddha or Bodhisattva, a God, the spirit of a mountain or village's valley or even an ideal or elevated concept.
Each part has a role in the greater construct of the religion - the cosmology gives us the answers to our "big questions", the ritual and practices give us a tangible way to acquire the full comprehension of those answers, and the object of devotion gives us (hopefully) the perspective and humility which should stop the search for meaning becoming egocentric.
That's long winded, but if I try and put it into a single sentence definition we arrive at;
A religion is an integrated system of cosmological explanations, ritualised practices and devotional idealism that purports to offer it's followers a complete understanding of their place in the wider universe.
Thoughts? Comments? Improvements? Criticisms?
