2022-05-31
What is religion? Part I: Introduction
Over the last year or so, I've begun to reflect on some of the psychological aspects of religion. I plan to write a series of short articles on this theme, meditating on a particular religious practice, concept, or tenet in each one. This article is intended to serve as the background and context for the forthcoming articles in the series.
I am and have been a religious person throughout my life. One of the main reasons for this separate introduction piece is to clarify that the thoughts reflected in any articles of this series ought not to be construed as a denial of religion or the morals and philosophies that have shaped my life. (However, I do reserve the right to draw any into question as may become appropriate.) As stated above, the purpose of this series is simply to contemplate with an open mind some things that I feel are often overlooked, undervalued, or purposefully ignored with respect to religion, philosophy, and their intersection with psychology and personal life.
Some of the basic thoughts driving this reflection are:
Religion is ubiquitous: every society and culture participates in some form of religion in one way or another. Mankind seems to agree that religion is important. (You can try to point to atheistic societies, but by-and-large the world is still overwhelmingly--at least nominally-- religious.)
Religion is persistent: every generation for the entire (written) history of the world has participated in some form of religion in one way or another. Mankind seems to maintain that religion has always been important. The importance of religion is not a new idea, and its importance is not dying out anytime soon.
Religions are different: a review of world religions is outside the scope of my meditation; it will suffice to note that different world religions claim different primary goals, needs, methods and spiritual [postures].
Religions are similar: despite demonstrable differences, most religions have some overlap in the morals they espouse. (At present, I'm not interested in the outliers which may have wildly different and/or disparate morals from the majority of religions.)
Religions are philosophies: I'm not aware of any religion which is not simultaneously and overtly a worldview. Religions are not "spectator sports"-- they call their adherents into action consistent with the tenets of that religion. "Philosophies" do the same things, though often without a directly spiritual/supernatural element; and it appears to me for this reason are often considered by many (Western) religious people to be in a separate category of thought and discussion. I think this is near-sighted; and I see no harm in discussing the philosophical aspects of religion and many potential benefits from doing so. (An interesting thought is, "If religions are philosophies, are philosophies religions?" But I'll leave that to the reader.)
With these premises in mind, some questions arise:
What is it about religion that people find appealing/necessary?
Are there commonalities shared by all religions and (complete worldview) philosophies?
Given the differences in religions, why do they often conclude with similar (behvioral) morals?
If the behavioral morals are similar, why/how are the religions so different?
What is the import of the recognition that diverse religions espouse similar teachings?
One should not be afraid to ask these questions. None of these questions alone represents any doubts or opinions about any specific religion. I'm simply noting the facts. I think there was a time in my childhood when I was not mature enough to ask such questions; but now the questions appear obvious if I contemplate the nature of religion with an open mind. Religion can be weird. I'm just admitting the facts. But just because something is "weird" doesn't mean it's invalid, unworthy, or incorrect. I'm trying to open my mind enough to consider a few things from an angle that isn't taught in the religious circles I've participated with. As I have always found in other realms though, I fully anticipate this honest exercise to produce more clarity in ideas possessed, progress in ideas rejected, and confidence in ideas retained.
Stay tuned... I've got a lot of thinking to do. If I update this Introduction later, I'll make date-stamp the edit(s).