THE NAT U R E
OF R E L I G I O N
AND IT’S
M E A N I N G
Objectives:
a. Gain a broader understanding of religion
and the various faith traditions throughout the
world.
b. Explore the significance of religion to the
individual and the society.
c. Identify and explain the types of religious
organizations
THE NATURE OF RELIGION AND IT’S
MEANING
The english word religion is from the
latin verb religare, which means “to
tie” or to “bind fast”.
Religion is a powerful institution that
connects human beings, both as
individuals and collectively, to a
transcendent reality.
JOHN F. CUBER
Religion is a culturally entrenched pattern of behavior
composed of sacred beliefs, emotional feelings
accompanying the belief, and overt conduct implementing
the beliefs and feelings.
EMILE Durkheim, 1961
Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to
sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and
forbidden-beliefs and practices which unite into one single
moral community called a church and all those who adhere to
them.
Substantive Definition
Edward Tylor, the founder of British social anthropology,
presented the earliest substantive definition of religion as
"a belief in spiritual beings." This substantive definition of
religion limits religion to the belief in supernatural or divine
force.
Tylor's (1903) theory is that human beings develop
religious beliefs in order to explain dreams, visions,
unconsciousness, and death.
FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION OF
RELIGION
Some social scientists prefer a functional
definition of religion that does not necessarily
refer to the belief in supernatural being (god or
force).
Functional is anything that provides an
individual with the ultimate meaning that
organizes his/her entire life and worldview.
FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION OF RELIGION
Milton Yinger
• American scholar of religion
• He defines religion as "a system of beliefs and
practices by means of which a group of people
struggles with the ultimate problems of human
life" (Yinger 1970, p. 7).
• In this definition, religion may also include
humanism, individualism, nationalism, and even
socialism.
T Y PE S O F
RELIGIOUS
ORGANI Z AT I O N S
The body of beliefs plus the rituals
and practices produced are what
we call religious organizations.
(Yinger, Religion, Society, and
Individual) and other sociologists
like the German sociologist, Ernst
Traeltsch (1930) recognize three
major forms of religious
organizations: ecclesia or church,
CHURCH
• A religious organization claiming to possess the truth
about salvation exclusively.
Example: Roman Catholic Church.
• Membership by birth: New generations are inducted
through baptism.
• Adapts to prevailing culture and politics, making it
moderate in demands compared to sects.
SECT
• The sect also perceives itself as a unique owner of the
truth. However, it constitutes a minority in a given
society.
• Recruitment takes place through conscious
individual choke.
EXAMPLE: “Born-again” Christian that recruits members by
asking them to accept Jesus Christ in their lives. Once
an individual has joined, the sect requires a high level
of commitment and activity.
Another example of sect in the Philippines is the Iglesia ni
Cristo (INC, or Church of Christ) that has 2,251,941 members in
2014. The INC was established in 1914 by Felix Manalo.
DENOMINATION
• In contrast to the church and sect, the denomination is
oriented toward cooperation, at least as it relates to other
similar denominations.
• People join through individual and voluntary choice, although
the most important form of recruitment in established
denominations takes place through childbirth.
EXAMPLE: Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal (within Christianity)
CULT
Howard Becker (Sociologist)
• He introduced the concept of another
form of religious organization, the cult in
1932.
Gerry Lanuza (1999)
• He provides a comprehensive definition of a
cult: "a non-traditional form of religion, the
doctrine of which is taken from diverse
sources, either from non-traditional sources or
local narratives or an amalgamation of both.
CULT
• The label cult is often attached to a religious
group that society considers as deviant or
non-traditional. Hence, the term cult is often
used in a negative way.
New Religious Movements (NRMs) and
Indigenous Religious Groups
• The term "new religious movements" came
into use among social scientists in the
1960s.
• NRMs are also known as alternative
religions, emerging religions, or new
religions.
Religion affects us and our way of
thinking in the existing world. It serves
as a pattern for the actions we take in
day-to-day existence. Religion is seen
not only as a social belief but also as a
social institution that continues to
develop over time.
2 Corinthians 5:7
We walk by faith, not by
sight.
Galatians 2:20
We live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved us and gave
himself for us.
NA GETS
NIYO??
THANK YOU!
