What is Religion?
Re-lig-ion
• “bind/tie back,” “bind together” (to be
bound)
(“Yoga” = to Unite)
• “re-connect”
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–
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To a Higher Power
To other people, in community
To the world around us
With ourselves
Three Dimensions of Religion
IntellectualIntellectual
- Emotional - Physical
Religion is a way of thinking about:
• Origins (where did we come from?)
• Purpose/meaning (why are we here?)
• Destiny (where are we going? what happens
when we die?)
• Who we are (the nature of human nature)
• Who/what God is (the nature of Ultimate
Reality)
The basis for our beliefs & doctrine, expressed
through myth, scripture, philosophy, theology
Three Dimensions of Religion
Emotional
Religion is a way of feeling:
rejoicing
faith
peace
love
awe
gratitude
guilt
bliss
appreciation
joy
ecstasy
fear
hope
reverence
Three Dimensions of Religion
Physical
Religion is a way of acting, of living, a
social system:
• Spiritual practices: meditation,
chanting, prayer, ritual
• Physical forms: art and architecture,
ritual objects, statues, icons, etc.
• Communal celebrations:
rites of passage, holidays
Religion as a way of acting
(continued)
• Social regulation: morals & ethics,
prohibitions & taboos
• Institutions/organizations/communities:
– Leaders (gurus/priests/ministers) & followers
(disciples, laity)
– Hierarchies, obedience & discipline (monastic
communities)
– History
Reflection
Thinking about the religion you are
most familiar with (likely your own or, if
you are non-religious, that you have observed
among family, friends, or neighbors)…
Identify several examples of each
dimension of religion. Why do you
identify these examples as you do?
Examples
• The church building, as a physical structure, is
obviously part of the physical dimension of religion.
• Celebration of Passover, as a holiday observed in
community with family and friends, commemorating an
ancient event in the history of the Jewish community, is
an example of the practice & social sub-dimensions of
the physical dimension of religion.
• I feel uplifted (feeling dimension) when we
(social/physical dimension) sing songs (practice/
physical dimension) of praise (feeling dimension)
• When the preacher gives her sermon (practice/physical)
I use my intellect to try to understand (intellectual
dimension) the message and how it relates to my life.
Reflection
Thinking about the religion you are
most familiar with (likely your own or, if
you are non-religious, that you have observed
among family, friends, or neighbors)…
Identify several examples of each
dimension of religion. Why do you
identify these examples as you do?