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Sliding Pages Intro To Religion

The document discusses three key aspects of defining religion: 1) Etymologies of the term religion trace it to Latin words meaning to bind or reconnect humanity and the divine. 2) Scholars have defined religion as attempts to express goodness, propitiate superior powers, or unite communities through sacred beliefs. 3) The key elements that most religions share are a worldview, belief in a spiritual world, regard for sacred things and moral codes, communities of believers, sacred writings, central stories, rituals, and artistic expressions.

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Percy Roy Roa
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34 views11 pages

Sliding Pages Intro To Religion

The document discusses three key aspects of defining religion: 1) Etymologies of the term religion trace it to Latin words meaning to bind or reconnect humanity and the divine. 2) Scholars have defined religion as attempts to express goodness, propitiate superior powers, or unite communities through sacred beliefs. 3) The key elements that most religions share are a worldview, belief in a spiritual world, regard for sacred things and moral codes, communities of believers, sacred writings, central stories, rituals, and artistic expressions.

Uploaded by

Percy Roy Roa
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Nature

of Religion
What is Religion?
There are at least three etymology of the term religion

According to the first account the term comes from the Latin word religare
which means to tie or bind . It indicates the two objectives of religion : first to

Religion
bind humanity and the divine together; and second to bind humans into a
community that is bound with the divine.
The second account the term religion consist of two Latin word namely re
which means again and lig - which means to join or connect. Religion based
on the combination of Latin words therefore means ”to join again or
reconnect, in this context humanity and the divine or the human world or
sacred world.
The third account the word religion derives from a Latin word relegare which
literally means to tread carefully and which indicates respect and care.
Religion serves as the bridge between the human world and the sacred world.
Definition of Religion from
some scholars
1. F.H. Bradley : Religion is the attempt to express
the complete reality of goodness through every

Definition
Religion
aspect of our being.
2. James Frazier: Religion is a propitiation or
conciliation of power superior to man.
3. Emile Durkheim: Religion is a unified system of
beliefs and practices relative to sacred things…
which unite into a single moral community.
The Key Elements of Religion
1. Religion contain a worldview. A worldview
refers to a set of beliefs that both coherent and
comprehensive. Beliefs generally refers to
assertions, claims or thought that are to be
true

2. Spiritual world . Religion assumes that there is a


spiritual world or transcend reality . Depending on
the particular religion usually includes a God, god
souls, angels, principles ( like the law of karma),
and values, among others.
3. Sacredness
Religion regard certain things Sacred
Ordinary things can be used as mere
instrument to satisfy wants and human
interest while sacred things are treated
with respect and reverence.
4. Ethical Codes or Moral codes
Referring to the guidelines concerning how
humans ought to relate to the divine, treat
one another . In some cases this codes also
include rules about what types of food not
to eat, what types of clothes to wear on
specific occasions, and others.
5. Community
Religion have communities. A religious belief
system is shared and practiced by a
community of believers. The community of
believers usually involves an organization
consisting of hierarchy of authorities. Each
level in the hierarchy has designated rights
and duties. How people get to occupy the
higher position vary in different religion.
6. Sacred Writings
Religions have sacred writings, which
contain the main teaching or doctrines,
central stories, ethical codes and
prophecies. Sacred writings are divinely
inspired. Their contents are usually
revealed by God or gods through a chosen
messenger.
7. Central Stories
The central stories accounts of how the
world and human race began; how God
was personified or manifested in the
world.
8. Rituals
Which includes ceremonies that
reenact sacred stories and various
activities. Such as songs and dances
that express praise or thanks giving
to God, gods or revealed teacher or
prophets
9.Artistic Expressions
These artistic expression can
be in a form of music, dance,
architectural design,
sculpture, poetry , drama and
others.

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