The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
The Characteristics of Religion
Religion is defined by its characteristics. For a phenomenon to be called a religion, it must
have all of the characteristics that distinguish a religion from other phenomena. Though it is
often said that a large gathering of people that is held regularly and that has the same
structure and operations each time it meets (for example, a football game or a Wimbledon
tennis match) might be called a ‘religion’, if such a gathering does not have all of the
characteristics of a religion then it cannot correctly be called a religion.
Activity
Divide into groups and discuss what would be the key features of a hypothetical religious
tradition based on the following circumstances:
 a world inhabited only by women
 a world where children had all the power
 a world covered in water with intelligent marine life forms
 a world beneath a planet whose surface temperature was 200 degrees Celsius.
Beliefs and Believers
The most important characteristic of religion is the belief system
it maintains. Central to all religions is a belief that there is a
reality that is greater than all the parts of the universe and. In
many cases, exists outside the universe. This belief can be in a
transcendent or immanent God or gods.
Each religion, however, is made different by what is
known as its paradigm. This is the core belief that a person must
have it that person can truly he said to belong to that religion.
this core belief is the basis for all other beliefs held by believers of
that faith tradition.
In Buddhism the paradigm is a belief in the Three Refuges—the Lord Buddha, the
Dharina and the Sangha. In Christianity it is the belief that Jesus Christ died and rose from
the dead in order to save humankind from sin and death. In Islam it is submission to Allah if a person acknowledges that submission to the will of Allah is essential for being a human
and for understanding his or her place in the universe, then that person is a Muslim. For
Judaism, the belief that God has entered history and formed a covenant relationship with
his people is absolutely important. For Hinduism, the belief that ultimate union with
Brahman is the only real purpose for humans is fundamental.
Every religion, however, has other beliefs that flow out of its core paradigm. Sonic of
these other beliefs are most important and must also be accepted. In Buddhism, a belief
that there is no such thing as a permanent human person is central. For Judaism, the idea
that God revealed himself to Moses and other people throughout history flows from the
belief in a God who works for humans within historical reality.
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
There are other beliefs that are held by sonic within a religious tradition but not by
others. These beliefs are not seen to be essential for a person to belong to a particular
religious tradition. For example, in Christianity there are some who believe that all God's
assistance (grace) conies through Jesus' mother Mary, while other Christians would regard
this belief as wrong. Both sides would still consider themselves Christian.
In Buddhism, the belief of some that there are powerful beings called Bodhisattvas
that can help a person attain nirvana is not universally acknowledged by other Buddhists.
Both sets of believers, however, would consider themselves to be authentically Buddhist.
These differing sets of belief – other than a
religion's paradigm – create the various significant
divisions within a religious tradition. These schools of
thought or denominations have developed over time.
Many have either come about through movements to
reform the religious tradition by removing customs, laws
and ideas that are seen as not essential for the tradition
(for example, the Protestant Reformation of the
sixteenth century), or they have arisen after further
significant insights and understanding have developed (for example, the rise of Mahayana
Buddhism). Others may form because the application of strict observance based on ancient
law and custom is not thought to be relevant to modern times (for example, the rise of
Liberal Judaism).
There is also a range of believers within a religious tradition. It is important to acknowledge
that, while there are some believers who are dedicated to the beliefs and practices – often
referred to as devout believers – there are also people who are largely indifferent to the
beliefs and practices and use the religion only on important occasions, for example,
weddings, a boy's entry into the Sangha or a teenager's Bar Mitzvah.
There are also differences in gender, age and authority structures. There are often
clearly defined roles for both genders, differing expectations of young believers and more
mature believers, and people possessing more authority to make decisions. There are also
historic differences in practice and customs within a given religious tradition.
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
As a religious tradition enters into new countries and experiences, cultural differences
develop within that tradition. For example, Buddhism as practised in Nepal and Tibet is
different from that practised in Japan. The same is true of other religious traditions.
Christianity takes different forms in South America compared with the forms in the United
Kingdom.
Activities
1. What is the central belief of the five major religious traditions?
2. Explain the different sets of beliefs of the major religious traditions.
3. List the reasons why beliefs are different both within a religious tradition and
between religious traditions. Give examples.
Oxford Studies of Religion