Bygone Religions Flashcards
Religion
Although the famous Paul Tillich defined faith as the ‘ultimate concern,’ many don’t quite buy this definition. Unfortunately, finding a definition that is neither too restrictive nor too vague has kept sociologists and theologians busy for years.
Rather than nailing down a concise definition, many choose to focus on the traits that most religions seem to share. A few of these traits are the belief in the supernatural, an inclusion of a moral code, and the carrying out of prescribed ritual acts.
As for belief in the supernatural, this is witnessed across time and the globe, as knees have bowed to so many different names and beings. Adding to this, the inclusion of a moral code is also seen in the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments.
Lastly, the carrying out of prescribed ritual acts is also a main trait of religion. Believed to sometimes stem from anxiety, these rituals are often motivated by the desire to please, consult, and even manipulate the supernatural beings.
Theories on the origins of religion
Just like the term ‘religion’ has many facets, the theories on its origin are also many. Throughout the ages, people have sought to understand the human need to reach beyond ourselves. In an effort to understand this phenomenon, theories abound!
For Kant, religions developed as people tried to make sense of things that reason could not explain. For Muller, religion originated as man observed nature and its workings, personifying it as cultures developed. Frazer added to this by purporting that religion evolved in phases and would eventually be replaced by science within the evolved mind.
Adding to these theories of origin, the famous Karl Marx believed religion was man’s attempt to deal with the difficulties of social class. From a completely different perspective, Freud linked the origin of religion to man’s need for a father figure in whom he could trust.
