What is Religion?

In this I ask a question far too rarely asked and very important to me as an Igtheist and Historian. "What is Religion?"

I would very much like peoples input.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• History
• Religion
• Faith
• God
• Deity
• atheism
• Hume
• Churbury
• Geertz
• Durkheim
• Taylor
• Marrett
• Frazer
• Schlediermacher
• Otto
• Wundt
• Freud
• Malinowski
• Tillich
• Berger
• Monothetic
• Polythetic
• canonicity
• supernatural
• mythology
• psychology
• atheist
• atheists
• religion
• god
• christianity
• christ
• jesus
• bible
• koran
• quran
• mohammad
• muhamed
• the
• guy
• in
• bear
• suit
• deconvert
• deconversion
• sociology
• anthropology

[Ontologistics]

Why is it important to secure a definition of 'religion'? As Wittgenstein pointed out, no words can be sufficiently defined as definition will require other words which are also never sufficiently defined.

Assuming 'religion' has a 'correct' definition is a return to Platonism, as if 'religion' were a Form (eidos). A word refers to a use, not a 'thing'.

[mrgodbehere]

@Ontologistics Hence the difference between defining and descriptive definitions. The main reason I can seem, in fact the only one (hence the question), is as a cultural benchmark as to the opinion of religion within particular historical epochs. Beyond this secondary purpose, I too think it is semantic squabling, really?

[Lucem2]

I think too much emphasis have been put into Deities and Revelations rather than Anthropocentric approaches.

I see Religion as a well defined set of Memeplex byproduct of Cultural Evolution and a Natural Phenomenological Experience. It serves many purposes, like social order and cohesion, moral compass, a guide in life, as answers to deep question and a repository of hopes, dreams and fears. I think deities is the result of a natural need of being directed by & trust a superior been, a leader.

[mrgodbehere]

@Lucem2 Good definintion! But could stoicism and communism be defined as a religion in that case?

[skinnyjohnsen]

Is this no. 5? After Identity In History 4.5 I pressed on the screen for next, only to be told "this is set on personal";-(

[mrgodbehere]

@skinnyjohnsen Nope, this is a different series. I didn't realise it was on private, it shouldn't have been! I've just made them public. Go to the playlist and select EP 5a from there and it should work now.

[pumpstations]

I am always curious how the Christians in this country are always calling the Atheist a religious group. While at the same time say that Buddhism is not a religion. The Buddhist clearly have deities, festivals, ceremonies. The Atheist have none, Just meetings at the local pub, pizza joint etc. More on the level as you put it. Worshiping Manchester United. (Which isn't a bad idea by the way)

[Ontologistics]

@mrgodbehere

Fair enough. I see that the definition will suggest concomitant cultural beliefs (as you say towards the end of the video). I suppose this is philology and etymology then.

[musekiteer]

Religion? An artifact of human psychological need. Speaking of which, this is excellent: watch?v=1iMmvu9eMrg

I prefer the polythetic approach (which reminds me of the DSM's diagnostic categories) because it is inclusive without collapsing under exceptions. I think that it is human to desire a single explanation for a given phenomenon, and human folly to assume that a complex, evolved phenomenon can have a single explanation. (I'm not calling you a fool, merely saying things are complex.)

[Lucem2]

@mrgodbehere I think so, I don't have a problem with that. The fact that early Christians saw Stoicism as a competing philosophy/religion gives a hint of commonality. AFAIK, Communism also discarded Religion as a conflicting force, but Communism is much narrower in scope than traditional Religions. As Culture and Science continue to evolves, Religions start shrinking and narrowing in their purpose, functions are being replaced for secular approaches.

In short, it is a Dynamic Memeplex Superset.