|
What is religion religion |
||
|
Roles of Women and Abraham in LDS and Islam |
The following is a synopsis of questions asked and answers given on several subjects regarding what constitutes religion, and why it is important to study religion Definition of religion In his book, Anatomy of the Sacred, James Livingston offers the following as a working definition of religion: "Religion is that system of activities and beliefs directed toward that which is perceived to be of sacred value and transforming power" (Anatomy of the Sacred, Page 11) I believe this to be a reasonable yet inaccurate definition of what constitutes religion. The following is my opinions on this matter: Livingston’s definition is, by his own standards, too narrow. By saying, “Religion is that system…”, he is narrowing the definition down too far. A better way would be to replace the word “that” with the word “any”. His use of the word “sacred” by his own admission, is problematic and therefore should not be included simply on the basis that he feels that “it strikes many as the most workable and encompassing term”. Instead, the wording “…perceived to be of spiritual value”, ending the definition here and discarding the irrelevant “…and transforming power” would make the definition more workable. Since spirituality is nearly universally accepted as the base of all belief systems, the following wording would make for a more precise and all encompassing definition: “Religion is any system of activities and beliefs directed towards that which is perceived to be of spiritual value.” Livingston’s working definition of religion is also completely unnecessary when the one simply opens a dictionary. Websters 1828 Dictionary defines religion as: (4): Any system of faith and worship. This definition encompasses what Livingston is saying, while not necessitating the creation of a new definition. Livingston himself would likely say that it is too broad, but this is not the case. Each religion is simply a system of faith and / or worship. Although worship is not always part of a religion, faith is required by the follower since no form of proof can be offered other than that which is perceived through faith. Five reasons to study religion: 1. To understand that human beings are religious creatures and because religion has become a part of human nature. 2. Because most people do not understand the history, practices and beliefs of their own religion let alone the religions of their neighbors. 3. To understand how religion has shaped, and continues to change, our lives and the world we live in. 4. To understand that many cultures and nations are driven, in whole or in part, by the religious convictions of their inhabitants. It is important to understand the role these convictions play in the lives of those peoples in order to achieve a peaceful coexistence. 5. To help us to formulate and understand our own personal religious convictions. Green and Neusner’s Three reasons to study religion summarized: 1. To know that religion does make a difference in all of our lives 2. To simply have a say in what we know and how we use that knowledge. 3. To better understand the point of view of other religions and cultures. What is distinctive about human life that makes us uniquely spiritual beings? Human beings are intelligent, self-aware, and by dint of such aspects, also constantly searching for answers to such ultimate questions as “why am I here” and “Is death the end?” This is also what has driven man to ask such questions as or “How did I anger the god(s) so?” and “what makes the thunder roar?” Humans have the same basic needs as all other life, (food, water, shelter, sex) but also have the need to understand and comprehend the world around us. This is what truly sets us apart from other animal species. With the need to understand came to need to explain. Humans need to have a grasp on what they perceive to be reality and in order to do so they must have answers to such questions. When the answers to these questions are outside of our understanding or the answers prove to be beyond our control, humans have universally resorted to religion as a means to answer these questions and belay the fear of the answers. Seven Disciplines/ Methods used in the scholarly study of religion Literary criticism is the study of religion by looking at the sacred texts that are employed in the execution of the faith. Understanding is gained by studying the intended context, understanding the use of language, studying editorial changes or copying errors as well as understanding the political climate of the ear in which the text was written. These and other factors relevant to the writing itself can help us gain a better understanding as to what the author was trying to say, who they where trying to say it to and why. Historiography is the Study of religion using historical facts in order to document the history of the religion, to discover it’s origins, and understand how it has been shaped by events as well as it’s role in shaping other events. Historiography is, crudely put, the scientific search for “What Really Happened”. Anthropology studies the way in which social institutions help to shape and are shaped by, politics, families, economic situations, law and religion in society. Since the religious life of a society is almost inexorably tied to the religion it practiced, anthropologists are especially interested in the religious beliefs of the culture. The most common anthropological method used is Functionalism, the study of what roles institutions and beliefs play in the shaping of the society. Sociology is generally similar to anthropology accept that sociology is more concerned with the way in which societies and their institutions interact with religion in a contemporary, literate and developed society. Psychology is used in studying how interaction with religion can shape the minds and behaviors of an individual. Philosophy is used mostly as a tool to scrutinize and debate weather a religion or belief is valid and sound, or impractical and invalid. For centuries, philosophers have analyzed stories and beliefs with the goal of getting to the bottom of religious doctrine and tales of gods and goddesses, mythical beings, and their ilk. The nominal goal of philosophy used to study religion is to prove or disprove the tales by showing their logic, meaning and truth. Phenomenology is the study of religion through a form of comparative theology. By showing how many unrelated religions will exhibit the same characteristics, it helps us to see how certain beliefs can be seen in the same way by many different cultures.
What is the difference between a textural critic, documentary critic and a historian? A textural critic researches to find an original, authentic text, or if the text that we have had passed down to us over the generations has been altered, either by accident or with a motive. By contrast, a documentary critic is in search of when and by whom it was written. The work of the textural critic often builds upon the work of the documentary critic. These two types of researchers both center on the textural writings, however the historian goes beyond text into the many fields of scientific research such as archeology, demography, sociology and anthropology. While the textural and documentary critics are searching through texts for what is written down, the historian is searching for the physical proof of what was written down. What is the nature of interpretation and explanation in the study of religion and the problems associated with reductionism? The interpretation of religion, or hermeneutics, uses all available resources in order to, in effect, decode what the religion is conveying through its texts, actions, song and other means of communication. It takes into account all available data and decides which criteria need to be present in order for the original meaning to have been conceived. It must be understood from the perspective of the individual or culture that originated the belief. However, explaining religious phenomena in these now purely non-religious terms reduces it to a point at which there is little or no meaning left. Religion explained away in non-religious terms simply takes the belief at face value and ignores the spiritual side of the belief. Though religions all have a purely sociological and psychological beginning, the spiritual side is necessary to the complete understanding of the religion. |