Transcript Definitions of Religion

Definitions of Religion
Anthropological
is the study of humans, past and present. To
understand the full sweep and complexity of
cultures across all of human history,
anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge
from the social and biological sciences as well as
the humanities and physical sciences. (from
American Anthropological Assoc. website)
Anthropological
• Edward Tylor (1832-1917)
• “Belief in the existence of a superhuman
controlling power, especially of god or
gods”
• Saw religion as a way of explaining the
unexplainable
• Links everything from magical to spiritual
Sociological
• "... a system of beliefs and practice by
means of which a group of people struggle
with the ultimate problems of human life.“
--from: Yinger, J.M. (1970). The Scientific
Study of Religion.
Sociological
• Emile Durkheim (1818-1883)
• “A unified system of belief and practices which
unite into one single moral community all those
who adhere to them.”
• Religion had been the cement of society, moving
into an irreligious time, what would take it’s place?
Or keep society from falling apart?
Phenomenological
• concerns the experiential aspect of religion,
describing religious phenomena in terms
consistent with the orientation of the
worshippers. It views religion as being
made up of different components, and
studies these components across religious
traditions so that an understanding of them
can be gained—from Wikipedia website
Phenomenological
• Rudolph Otto 1869-1937
• “Awe, fear, and fascination of the transcendent
numinous –a power that suggests the presence of
God.”
• Mysterium—Wholly other
• tremendum—absolute unapproachability
• fascinans--potent charm, attractiveness in spite of
terror
Narrative
• Religion and mythology differ but have overlapping
aspects. Both terms refer to systems of concepts that are
of high importance to a certain community, making
statements concerning the supernatural or sacred.
Generally, mythology is considered one component or
aspect of religion. Religion is the broader term: besides
mythological aspects, it includes aspects of ritual,
morality, theology, and mystical experience.
Disconnected from its religious system, a myth may lose
its immediate relevance to the community and evolve—
away from sacred importance—into a legend or
folktale.—from Wikipedia website
Narrative
• Joseph Campbell 1904-1987
• “Myths are stories of our search through
the ages for truth, for meaning, for
significance.”
• The Hero’s Journey
4 Functions of Myth
1. [is] to evoke in the individual a sense of grateful, affirmative awe before the monstrous
mystery that is existence
2. is to present an image of the cosmos, an image of the universe round about, that will
maintain and elicit this experience of awe. [or] …to present an image of the cosmos that will
maintain your sense of mystical awe and explain everything that you come into contact with in
the universe around you.
3. is to validate and maintain a certain sociological system: a shared set of rights and wrongs,
proprieties or improprieties, on which your particular social unit depends for its existence.
4. myth must carry the individual through the stages of his life, from birth through maturity
through senility to death. The mythology must do so in accords with the social order of his
group, the cosmos as understood by his group, and the monstrous mystery.
Chief Seattle