Difference between revisions of "Religion"

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"'''Religion'''" refers to a set of core beliefs upon which people base their lives.  Morality is often based on religion. Beyond this general definition, the word "religion" is used in several ways:
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* '''Formal definition''':  "The service and worship of [[God]] or the [[supernatural]];"<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=religion "Religion"] in Merriam Webster dictionary.</ref>  Under this definition, [[atheism]], [[agnosticism]], and [[secular humanism]] are not "religions."  <ref>Religious Groups Participating in Religious Congregations & Membership Study 2000. [http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/alldenoms.asp]</ref>.
 
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* '''Functional definition''':  "A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith"<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=religion "Religion"] in Merriam Webster dictionary.</ref>  By this definition, non-theistic belief systems such as [[atheism]], [[humanism]], and [[agnosticism]] could be considered religions. Indeed, the Supreme Court of the [[United States of America]] has acknowledged that "religion" does not need to include a belief in a god or gods, and included Secular Humanism as an example of a non-theistic religion.<ref>"Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God, are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others.".  [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=367&invol=488#t11 Torcaso v. Watkins, (1961)]</ref><ref>"A federal court of appeals ruled ... Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate's rights because they did not treat [[atheism]] as a religion."  [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874 Court rules [[atheism]] a religion] WorldNet Daily</ref>
 
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* '''Organisational definition''':  Under the definition, the term refers to a particular religious organisation or movement, such a [[Roman Catholic|Catholicism]], [[Methodist|Methodism]], or [[Lutheran]]ism.  These groups generally consist of a central creed or body of beliefs, an ethical component (i.e. a code of morals), a body of literature or holy texts or stories, and a set of individual and communal practices.  Under this definition, a person might say, "I'm not religious, because I don't go to church&mdash;but I believe in God."
 
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* '''Practical definition''':  Under this definition, the term refers to a set of practices, rites, or rituals observed by followers.  Under this definition, a person might say, "I'm not religious, because I'm not into rituals.  My relationship with God is enough."
 
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== List of religions ==
 
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Religions can be classified according to how many gods the religion recognises.
 
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=== Monotheistic religions ===
 
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Monotheistic ("one god") religions are followed by the vast majority of the world's population.
 
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* [[Bahá'í]]
 
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* [[Christianity]]
 
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* [[Messianic Judaism]]
 
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* [[Islam]]
 
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* [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
 
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* [[Judaism]]
 
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* [[Rastafari movement]]
 
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* [[Sikhism]]
 
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* [[Zoroastrianism]]
 
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=== Polytheistic religions ===
 
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Polytheistic ("many gods") religions believe in and worship multiple gods or spirits or other supernatural beings. Polytheism has declined since the rise of Christianity, but has seen a recent resurgence among pagan cults in developed nations.
 
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* [[Cao Dai]]
 
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* [[Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints|Mormonism]]
 
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* [[Paganism]]
 
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* [[Scientology]] {{fact}}
 
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* [[Shamanism]]
 
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* [[Shinto]]
 
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* [[Wicca]]
 
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=== Pantheistic religions ===
 
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Pantheistic ("all is god") religions believe that all of creation or nature is divine.
 
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* [[Hinduism]]
 
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* [[Jainism]]
 
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* [[New Age]] beliefs
 
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It is also worth noting the existence of 'Panentheism' and the importance of distinguishing it from Pantheism. Panentheism is the belief that God is ''in'' all things and is chiefly manifest in [[Animism]]. Nonetheless, Pantheism and Panentheism have also been shown to feature in some outlooks generally defined as 'Monotheistic' (cf. [[Baruch Spinoza]]).
 
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=== Non-theistic religions and philosophies===
 
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Non-theistic religions do not have a belief in God or gods. Some consider the existence of God to be unknown or irrelevant, while (strong) [[Atheism]] is the belief that asserts it is false.
 
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* [[Agnostic]]ism
 
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* [[Atheism]]
 
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** [[Strong atheism]]
 
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** [[Weak atheism]]
 
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* [[Buddhism]] (though with elements of [[Pantheism]])
 
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* [[Secular Humanism]]
 
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=== Parody and joke religions ===
 
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Several "religions" have been invented in an effort to denigrate or parody traditional religions.  As a rule, these religions do not have followers who actually believe the tenets of the religions.
 
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* [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]]
 
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* [[Discordianism]]
 
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* [[Jedi]]
 
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* [[Last Thursdayism]]
 
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* [[Church of the SubGenius|SubGeniism]]
 
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== Faith in organised religion ==
 
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The percentage of respondents answering they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in organised religion has decreased in the [[United States]] according to a [[Gallup]] poll taken in 2007.  Only 46% of respondents selected either of the choices above.  The numbers peaked at 68% in May 1975.<ref>Christian Examiner, Sept. 2007, Vol 25, No 9, Pg. 24</ref>
 
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==References==
 
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<references/>
 
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==See Also==
 
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* [[World Religions by Number of Followers]]
 
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==External Links==
 
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*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/religion/ What Liberals Say - Category: Religion], [[Accuracy In Media]]
 
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*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-there-a-god Opposing Views: Is There a God?]
 
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[[Category:Religion]]
 

Revision as of 13:44, November 15, 2008

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