Introduction to Religion
What IS “Religion,” Anyway?
Substantive: What Religion IS
“Religion is the belief in a god or gods.”
Functional: What Religion DOES
“Religion explains the unexplainable.”
Introduction to Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Catherine Albanese and the “4 Cs”
Philosophical “Worldview”
•The Totality of the System
•Provides the Internal Logic
Introduction to Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Catherine Albanese and the “4 Cs”
Morality/Legality
•Behavior
•Structured Practice
Introduction to Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Catherine Albanese and the “4 Cs”
Practices, Postures, Behaviors
•Behaving the Creed and Code
•Symbolic Actions
Introduction to Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Catherine Albanese and the “4 Cs”
Institutions and Social Organization
•Group Activities
•Collective Identity
Introduction to Religion
Characteristics of Religion
Catherine Albanese and the “4 Cs”
…a system of symbols (creed, code, cultus) by means of which people
(a community) orient themselves in the world with reference to both
ordinary and extraordinary powers, meanings, and values…
From this perspective, while many people live without Gods, nobody
lives without religion. (Albanese, p. 11)