"Does anyone know what the term ‘religion’ means?" (etymologically)

"Religion": Literally "tie/bind back", "To Bind Together" (a "ligament" binds bones together)

Binds us together in a community with other people (horizontal relationship)

Binds us to something bigger than ourselves, to our origins, the ultimate reality behind our existence (e.g., God) (vertical relationship)

communion - "with union," linking two as one (Yoga = "union, to join" [Yoke])

 

The vertical relationship: Relationship with Ultimate Reality/"God" - source and origin, something bigger than the immediate, present self

The Horizontal relationship: relationship with other selves, other people (moral and social aspects of religion), sometimes extended to include other aspects of our environment, a relationship with the non-human aspects of nature (e.g., Native American and other earth traditions)

Thus religion, defined as relationship, may have the self at the center but extends to many levels both bigger and broader than just ourself in its current state.

Religion teaches us to go beyond the self, beyond egotism and selfishness.

Distribute handout: Definitions of Religion

A substantive definition is concerned with what is believed in religion

A functional definition is concerned with what religion does, how it functions in our lives (socially, psychologically)

Some definitions may refer to both the substance and function of religion

A useful definition is:

inclusive but not so broad as to include pursuits not generally considered religious

definitive but not so specific as to leave some religions out

PowerPoint presentation: Things to consider when seeking a good definition of religion

Group exercise #1: see handout

Student contributions (create list on board), (transparency)

PowerPoint presentation

Intellectual: Religion as a way of thinking, as a philosophical system, addresses basic questions regarding personal and communal origins, purpose and destiny. The basis for our beliefs, doctrine and creed expressed through myth, scripture and philosophical/theological speculation.

• Where did we come from? (question of origins, creation)

• Why are we here? How ought we to live? What ought to be our relationship with each other and with the source of our origins? (issues of values and morals)

• Where are we going? What happens when we die? How do we get there? (afterlife and salvation issues)

• Who are we? (question of the nature of human nature, the soul)

• Who is God? (question of the nature of Ultimate Reality)

• "Is there someone watching out for us or are we on our own?"

Emotional: Religion as a way of feeling, as experiential, addresses how we relate with the divine (the vertical relationship); the basis of mysticism and the spiritual life; the esoteric (hidden) side of religion; draws on personal, internal feelings such as: awe, faith, hope, gratitude, appreciation, ecstasy, joy, bliss, peace, reverence, fear...

These feelings cause us to respond in certain ways both intellectually (thinking certain ideas about the cause of the feelings) and actively (performing certain activities as an outward expression of the feelings)

Active/Performative (physical): Religion as a way of acting, as a social system, addresses how we relate with each other (the horizontal relationship); the exoteric (External) side of religion

• Spiritual practices: meditation, prayer, chanting, ritual

• Physical forms: buildings/architecture, ritual objects, statues and other art forms

• Communal celebrations: rites of passage/life cycle celebrations, holiday celebrations (often linking the present to the past, recognizing the origins of the community)

• Social laws: morals & ethics, prohibitions & taboos

• Social institutions/organizations, religious communities: leaders (gurus/ priests/founders) & followers (disciples, laity), hierarchies, obedience & discipline, historical relationship to past generations (origins of the community)