Introduction to World Religions

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to the study of world religions.

Religion

A belief system involving a higher power or multiple higher powers, guiding people’s lives and providing moral frameworks.

Emilie Durkheim

A sociologist who defined religion as a unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things.

Immanuel Kant

A philosopher who described religion as the recognition of all duties as divine commands.

Ninian Smart's Seven Dimensions of Religion

A framework including Ritual, Myth, Ethics, Doctrines, Experience, Institution, and Material aspects of religion.

Clifford Geertz

A scholar who described religion as a system of symbols that establishes moods and motivations for understanding existence.

Paul Tillich

A philosopher who characterized religion as a state of being grasped by an ultimate concern providing meaning to existence.

Catherine Albanese's Definition of Religion

A system of symbols (creed, code, cultus) that helps a community orient itself with respect to both ordinary and extraordinary powers.

Ritual Dimension

The forms and orders of ceremonies within a religion, pivotal in expressing beliefs and values.

Mythological Dimension

The stories that explain the universe and humanity's place in it, often addressing ultimate questions.

Ethical Dimension

Rules and principles governing human behavior within religious contexts.

Experiential Dimension

The feelings and subjective experiences of adherents, such as dread, devotion, and inner peace.

Institutional Dimension

The shared beliefs and practices of a religious community and the structures that support participation.

Material Dimension

Ordinary objects or places that symbolize or embody the sacred or supernatural aspects of religion.

Rodney Stark and William Bainbridge

Scholars who proposed five dimensions of religiousness: Belief, Practice, Experience, Knowledge, and Consequences.

3B's Model of Religious Identity

A framework encompassing Belief, Behavior, and Belonging.

4C Framework by Catherine Albanese

A structure consisting of Creed, Code, Cult, and Community, essential in understanding religious practices.