My professor asked us a question in class that I still do not know how to answer: What is the definition of religion?
Is there a definition that covers all religions out there? Or is that even possible? Let’s once again put on our thinking caps and dive into this one.
We can start with a simple dictionary definition of beliefs and worship: people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life.
OK, it’s not a bad place to start — nor is it a bad definition. But does it work?
Not really. Not all religions out there worship a deity, nor are all concerned with a divine intervention. Take Buddhism for example. The Buddha is not considered a deity nor is he supposed to be worshiped. Yet we still consider Buddhism a religion.
Let’s move on to some theory to find the answer. Famous sociologist and religious theorist Emilie Durkheim came up with a definition to religion in his book “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life.” He states, “A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden — beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.”
That is not a terrible definition of religion either, but it does have some flaws. I believe it could be too open to other things being called a religion. Essentially, one could easily place being a Denver Broncos fan in that definition and call it a religion. Bronco fans have a unified system of belief in their team, there are things that are forbidden when cheering for them and they have practices and beliefs that unite them into a single community. So perhaps Durkheim’s theory is not the best for defining religion either.
So we’ve tried a simple dictionary definition and a theorist definition. Is there anything that we can use to define religion?
The truth is, I don’t know. And that is what makes religion such an intriguing topic.
There is no one way to look at religion, and that is why it is such a hot-button issue. Religion is something that has changed throughout history and will continue to change in the future. That is why we cannot be afraid to discuss it and work with the topic. There are no right answers, nor are there any wrong answers to complex questions such as these. But as long as people keep working with difficult questions such as a definition of religion, we can come closer to understanding why people think the way they do and what we are as a society.
