Religion

[BumbleBee]

How would you define "religion"?

[VinylVicky]

Faith in a higher being I'd say.

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by VinylVicky

Faith in a higher being I'd say.

I would tend to agree, but that rules out Buddhism as a religion.

[go_away]

The first topic of my religious anthropology module

Geertz said that religion is a set of beliefs, patterns, symbols, patterns of behaviour etc that human beings use to control what is beyond them, if that makes sense. There are lots of other criteria like use of ritual, belief in things that are supernatural, but it's possible that even these can be rejected. If you get onto people like Durkheim, he believed that totemism was the earliest form of religious belief.

The short answer is, it's pretty difficult

[RiSe & ShIne]

I would describe religion as a tool for people to use who don't have enough faith in themselves or their own abilities to get through life.

[carlito]

Coherent spiritual belief perhaps?

It almost always involves an element of organization and practise of ritual though.

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by go_away

The first topic of my religious anthropology module

And the subject of my current essay...!

When Australia granted the Church of Scientology the right to call itself a religion two of the three judges who made the decision said that it could be classed as a religion because they believe in a supernatural being, theory or principle and they follow a pattern of behaviour that expresses that belief.

I quite like that theory because it suggests that there doesn't need to be a supernatural being, but simple a theory or principle. However, that would suggest that things like transcendal meditation (TM) could be classed as a religion, which advocates categorically deny.

[Ghost18]

Originally Posted by go_away

The first topic of my religious anthropology module

Geertz said that religion is a set of beliefs, patterns, symbols, patterns of behaviour etc that human beings use to control what is beyond them, if that makes sense. There are lots of other criteria like use of ritual, belief in things that are supernatural, but it's possible that even these can be rejected. If you get onto people like Durkheim, he believed that totemism was the earliest form of religious belief.

The short answer is, it's pretty difficult

I'd mostly agree with Geertz, although I don't think it's to try and control what is beyond them in the case of most religions. I'd say try to comprehend what is beyond them. That's the way I look at my faith. It might be different for other people.

It is pretty difficult to define. When you try to define it, it's like you're
No box can fit all religions because they are so diverse.

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by carlito

It almost always involves an element of organization and practise of ritual though.

Like yoga, or the Scouts?

[icey]

I'd say a religion is when a group of people worship something/someone.
Anything could be turned into a religion if you get enough people to follow it. Scientology for example.

[Jezzer]

The inevitable psycho-social construct which arises when a species of ape develops enough sentience to realise it's going to die one day, and then proceeds to shit its primordial pants about it.

[Teagan]

Originally Posted by carlito

It almost always involves an element of organization and practise of ritual though.

I agree. Religion involves adherence to codified beliefs and rituals.

[cameloty]

A colourful veil of mystification thrown over the material world and universe-very alluring and reassuring when not of reactionary intent......

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by Teagan

I agree. Religion involves adherence to codified beliefs and rituals.

So, is the Scouts a religion? They have codified beliefs and rituals.

[seeker]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

How would you define "religion"?

Brain damage.