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<blockquote class="definition">'''Religion''' is an [[Ideological Institution]] setup and organized by the [[Accumulating Class]]es to satisfy one or more of our [[Seven Essential Needs]] by providing [[The System|System]] friendly satisfactions.
<blockquote class="definition">'''Religion''' is a complicated and flexible human institution typically setup by members of the [[Accumulating Class]] (think Roman Emperor Constantine), ostensibly to meet [[Essential Needs]] and [[Non-essential Needs]], but more likely to be part of the [[Regime of Accumulation]]'s [[Mechanisms of Compliance]]. </blockquote>
</blockquote>


==Related Terms==
==Subclasses==


[[Religion]] > {{#ask:[[Is a related term::Religion]]}}
[[Religion]] > {{#ask:[[Is a subclass of::Religion]]}}


==Other Definitions==
==Syncretic Terms==


We can break sociological definitions of religion into two categories ''substantive'' and ''functional.''
[[Religion]] > {{#ask:[[Is a syncretic term::Religion]]}}


'''Substantive definitions''' revolve around the content (or substance) of a religion. Like, religion is the belief in spiritual beings<ref>Tylor, Edward. ''Primitive Culture''. London: John Murray, 1903. Note, Tylor's theory later criticized as evolutionary and ethnocentric (not all religions believe in or emphasize "spiritual beings" (Confucianism). Distinguished between "primitive" and "modern" spirituality, lower versus higher forms.</ref> '''What religion is.'''
==Related LP Terms==


Sociologists and others who have provided substantive definitions -> {{#ask:[[Had a substantive definition of::Religion]]}}
[[Religion]] > {{#ask:[[Is a related term::Religion]]}}


'''Functional definitions''' "describe the utility of the effect of that religion" on individuals and society.<ref>Furseth, Inger, and Pål Repstad. ''An Introduction to the Sociology of Religion: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives''. Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2006. p. 16.</ref> '''What religion does.'''
==Non-LP Related Terms==


Sociologists and others who have provided functional definitions -> {{#ask:[[Had a functional definition of::Religion]]}}
[[Religion]] > {{#ask:[[Is a related term::Religion]]}}


== Notes ==
== Notes ==


Religions satisfy our [[Cognitive Needs]] to know and understand by providing System friendly answers.  
A typical religious institution consists of social, ritual/practical, experiential, narrative/mythic, doctrinal, ethical/legal, material, and healing dimensions all geared toward the satisfaction of various human needs.<ref>Mike Sosteric, “What Is Religion” 2022, https://www.academia.edu/80934448/What_is_Religion</ref>


This definition excludes grass roots [[Connection Framework]], spiritual systems rooted in [[Connection Experience]]. As soon as a [[Connection Framework]] is infiltrated and co-opted by members of the [[Accumulating Class]], the spiritual system transforms into a [[Religion]].
Religion is often co-opted and controlled by members of the [[Accumulating Class]]. In this case, religion functions, in addition to an institution which meets various human needs, as an [[Ideological Institution]] (and sometimes [[Symbol Factory]] designed to help propagate a specific [[Existential Narrative]].  


==Definitions==
Religion may be broken down into two sub-classes, [[Elite Religion]] and [[Authentic Religion]]. Elite religion prioritizes the needs of the [[Accumulating Class]] while [[Authentic Religion]] prioritizes [[Healing]], [[Connection]], and the [[Seven Essential Needs]] of humanity.


[[William James]] "Were one asked to characterize the life of religion in the broadest and most general terms possible, one might say that it consists of the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto."<ref>James, William. Varieties of Religious Experience, a Study in Human Nature (p. 53). Kindle Edition.</ref>
Religion is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down and, frankly, scholars have said some really stupid shit about it over the years, [[Sigmund Freud]] being a classic example. Freud believed that religion arises as a consequence of  


[[Clifford Geertz]] "...a religion is:
# an expression of the son-father relationship (see totem and taboo, related to religions where "totem animals" become sacred)<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>
# the need to defend oneself against the "crushingly superior force of nature."<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>
# The "urge to rectify the shortcoming of civilization..."<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>


(l) a system of symbols which acts to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.<ref>Geertz, Clifford. “Religion as a Cultural System.” In Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Michael Banton, 1–44. Oxon: Routledge, 2004. p. 4.</ref>
=== Other Definitions ===
<blockquote>
Geertz also notes religion helps deal with the existential despair caused by "Bafflement, suffering, and a sense of intractable ethical paradox..." <ref>Geertz, Clifford. “Religion as a Cultural System.” In Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Michael Banton, 1–44. Oxon: Routledge, 2004. p. 14.</ref></blockquote>According to Geertz, religion arises partly in response to the [[Problem of Meaning]]. "The Problem of Meaning...is one of the things that drive men [sic] toward belief in gods, devils, spirits, totemic principles, or the spiritual effiacy of cannibalism..."<ref>Geertz, Clifford. “Religion as a Cultural System.” In ''Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion'', edited by Michael Banton, 1–44. Oxon: Routledge, 2004. p. 25</ref>


== Origins ==
"Religion tends to be conceptualized as an external, community-based phenomena in which a particular organized set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals are institutionalized by individuals sharing similar spiritualities."<ref>Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” ''Journal of Social Service Research'' 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03</nowiki>. 42</ref>
[[Sigmund Freud]] suggest religious ideas arise from


# an expression of the son-father relationship (see totem and taboo, related to religions where "totem animals" become sacred)<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>
==Quotes==
# the need to defend oneself against the "crushingly superior force of nature."<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>
 
# The "urge to rectify the shortcoming of civilization..."<ref>Freud, Sigmund. ''The Future of an Illusion''. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21</ref>
"Every fully developed religion exists simultaneously on several different levels. It exists as a set of abstract concepts about the world and its governance. It exists as a set of rites and sacraments, as a traditional method for manipulating the symbols, by means of which beliefs  about the cosmic order are expressed. It exists as the feelings of love, fear and devotion evoked by this manipulation of symbols.
 
And finally it exists as a special kind of feeling or intuition—a sense of the oneness of all things in their divine principle, a realization (to use the language of Hindu theology) that “thou art That,” a mystical experience of what seems self-evidently to be union with God."<ref>Aldous Huxley, “Chapter Twenty-Four: 1961 Letters,” in Moksha (Rochester, Vermont: Park Street Press, 1999).</ref>


{{endstuff}}
{{endstuff}}


[[category:terms]][[Is a related term::Human Spirituality| ]]
[[category:terms]]
[[Is a related term::Spirituality| ]]
[[Is a related term::Exoteric Religion| ]]
[[Is a related term::Esoteric Religion| ]]
[[Is a related term::Elite Religion| ]]
[[Is a related term::Authentic Religion| ]]
[[Is a related term::Elite Spirituality| ]]
[[Is a related term::Authentic Spirituality| ]]
[[Is a related term::Mainstream Spirituality| ]]
[[Is a related term::Colonized Spirituality| ]]
[[Is a related term::Elite Religion| ]]
[[Is an::Ideological Institution| ]]
[[Is a related term::Boundary Problem| ]]
[[Is a related term::Boundary Fetish| ]]

Latest revision as of 12:44, 21 November 2024

Religion is a complicated and flexible human institution typically setup by members of the Accumulating Class (think Roman Emperor Constantine), ostensibly to meet Essential Needs and Non-essential Needs, but more likely to be part of the Regime of Accumulation's Mechanisms of Compliance.

Subclasses

Religion > Authentic Religion, Elite Religion

Syncretic Terms

Religion > Comprehensive Framework

Related LP Terms

Religion > Boundary Fetish, Boundary Problem, Narrative, Sacrilization

Non-LP Related Terms

Religion > Boundary Fetish, Boundary Problem, Narrative, Sacrilization

Notes

A typical religious institution consists of social, ritual/practical, experiential, narrative/mythic, doctrinal, ethical/legal, material, and healing dimensions all geared toward the satisfaction of various human needs.[1]

Religion is often co-opted and controlled by members of the Accumulating Class. In this case, religion functions, in addition to an institution which meets various human needs, as an Ideological Institution (and sometimes Symbol Factory designed to help propagate a specific Existential Narrative.

Religion may be broken down into two sub-classes, Elite Religion and Authentic Religion. Elite religion prioritizes the needs of the Accumulating Class while Authentic Religion prioritizes Healing, Connection, and the Seven Essential Needs of humanity.

Religion is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down and, frankly, scholars have said some really stupid shit about it over the years, Sigmund Freud being a classic example. Freud believed that religion arises as a consequence of

  1. an expression of the son-father relationship (see totem and taboo, related to religions where "totem animals" become sacred)[2]
  2. the need to defend oneself against the "crushingly superior force of nature."[3]
  3. The "urge to rectify the shortcoming of civilization..."[4]

Other Definitions

"Religion tends to be conceptualized as an external, community-based phenomena in which a particular organized set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals are institutionalized by individuals sharing similar spiritualities."[5]

Quotes

"Every fully developed religion exists simultaneously on several different levels. It exists as a set of abstract concepts about the world and its governance. It exists as a set of rites and sacraments, as a traditional method for manipulating the symbols, by means of which beliefs about the cosmic order are expressed. It exists as the feelings of love, fear and devotion evoked by this manipulation of symbols.

And finally it exists as a special kind of feeling or intuition—a sense of the oneness of all things in their divine principle, a realization (to use the language of Hindu theology) that “thou art That,” a mystical experience of what seems self-evidently to be union with God."[6]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Mike Sosteric, “What Is Religion” 2022, https://www.academia.edu/80934448/What_is_Religion
  2. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  3. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  4. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  5. ↑ Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” Journal of Social Service Research 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03. 42
  6. ↑ Aldous Huxley, “Chapter Twenty-Four: 1961 Letters,” in Moksha (Rochester, Vermont: Park Street Press, 1999).







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