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religion
Latin religare `to bind´; bond of
humans to God. Code of belief or philosophy that often involves the worship of a God or
gods. Belief in a supernatural power is not essential (absent in, for example,
Buddhism and Confucianism), but faithful adherence is usually considered to be rewarded;
for example, by escape from human existence (Buddhism), by a future existence
(Christianity, Islam), or by worldly benefit (Soka Gakkai Buddhism).
Religions include:
Ancient and pantheist religions of Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome; Animist or
polytheistic traditional central African religions, voodoo and related beliefs in Latin
America and the Caribbean, traditional faiths of Native Americans, Maoris, Australian
Aborigines, and Javanese; Oriental Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism,
Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto;
`religions of a book´ Judaism, Christianity (the principal divisions are Roman Catholic,
Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant), and Islam (the principal divisions are Sunni and
Shi'ite); Combined derivation these include Baha'ism, the Unification church, and
Mormonism.
Religion and behaviour
A common factor in religions is the ascription to the God or gods of an interest in the
behaviour of humans and their judgement of it as right or wrong, although the standards of
morality attributed to gods vary enormously. From this follows the idea that a deity is to
be obeyed, or at least placated, or retribution will follow. Assistance from a divine
being can usually be obtained on certain terms.
Most religions also have the idea of reward and punishment after death. In addition to
each of these general ideas are a large number of ritual practices, such as penances,
prayer, healing, festivities, and sacrifices; there are usually also teachings on morals
and the afterlife.
Religious studies
Comparative religion aims to study the various faiths impartially. Other related studies
are the psychology of religion, which examines human states of mind under religious
influence - for example,
ecstasy, diabolic possession, and faith healing - and the possible causes of these states;
and the philosophy of religion, which coincides to a large extent with natural theology.
Until the Enlightenment, the universality of religion was taken for granted in the West,
though its forms were known to
differ widely. In some Western countries, such as the USA, religious belief is still
strong; other societies are predominantly secular.
Causes of belief
Religion may originate in pondering the unknown; in the need to
explain phenomena that are not understood; in awe of natural forces; in a psychological
need for outside support; in dreams and
visions; or in the veneration of ancestors or clan totems. Religious
belief has generally been encouraged by rulers and governments because people are more
likely to obey rules that have the force of supernatural authority behind them.
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The
Kallisto Effect