Defining Religion: Course Introduction and Key Concepts

Course Textbooks

  • Irving Hexham and Karla Poewe, New Religions as Global Cultures (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1997).

  • Karla Poewe, New Religions and the Nazis (New York and London: Routledge, 2006).

    • This book is currently out of print and can be quite expensive, reflecting its specialized nature and demand. An electronic PDF copy of this essential text will be provided directly to students by the author to ensure accessibility.

  • Irving Hexham, Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 2002).

  • A new, forthcoming book by Douglas E. Cowan is also anticipated to be used; specific details regarding its title and availability through the bookstore will be provided later once confirmed.

  • All required PDF texts, including those mentioned above where applicable, will be made available to students through the D2L learning management system.

Introduction to the Study of Religion: Defining "Religion"

  • This specific lecture, Rels. 341.01 Week 2 Lecture 2, is designed to build upon and often significantly overlaps with foundational concepts introduced in Rels 205 Lecture 2-1, particularly regarding definitional challenges.

  • A central and critical question throughout the study of religion is: What precisely constitutes "religion"? This inquiry involves exploring different academic approaches to definition (e.g., substantive, functional, a family resemblance approach) and their implications for categorizing various belief systems.

Case Study: Is Scientology a Religion?

  • Public Perception and Debate: The classification of Scientology as a religion is frequently a subject of intense public discussion and skepticism across various countries and media platforms. Many individuals and organizations argue that it operates more like a for-profit corporation or a psychological self-help system rather than a traditional religion.

    • Recommended Reading: Students are encouraged to review "Scientologists in German push" by Tristana Moore, BBC News, Berlin, January 13, 2007, which explores the historical and ongoing debate surrounding Scientology's status in Germany.

  • What is Scientology?

    • Developed by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is characterized as a comprehensive system of beliefs and practices that aims to considerably increase individual abilities. This includes enhancements in areas such as intelligence, competence, and overall survival capabilities, achieved through rigorous adherence to the mythology and doctrines outlined in Hubbard's extensive writings.

    • Core practices within Scientology are diverse and often intensive, involving: confession sessions facilitated by an ee-meter (an electropsychometer used to detect changes in spiritual state), various forms of yoga-like meditation, specialized dietary regimens, and other proprietary methods designed for spiritual progression.

    • The ultimate goal of these practices is to free individuals from the "reactive mind" and its negative influences, allowing them to achieve a state of "Clear" and ultimately advance to higher spiritual states, known as Operating Thetan (OT) levels, thereby unlocking their full potential and spiritual awareness. These stages involve processing past traumas and negative experiences to attain greater self-awareness and control over one's life and environment.