Study Guide on American Religions and Religion

A story shared by Buddhists and some Muslims about blind men describing an elephant after feeling different parts.
- Blind men's interpretations:
- Head: likened to a pot.
- Ear: compared to a harvest basket.
- Tusk: described as part of a plow.
- Trunk: interpreted as a complete plow.
Moral of the story:
- Each person's experience is limited and subjective.
- Life's complexity and the elusiveness of its entirety require humility and awe.

The study of American religious history will resemble understanding the elephant in the dark.
Two major areas of exploration:
- An abundance of American religions.
- The ambiguous definition of religion complicates the study.
Definitions of religion are challenging:
- Inquiry into whether systems without a deity, political ideologies, or symbolic practices count as religion.
Aim of the study:
- To articulate what is religious about American history, what is characteristically American in that history, and how religions evolve over time.

Common perception of religion:
- Generally understood from personal experiences.
- However, defining religion often leads to confusion.
Possible definitions of religion:
- Relationship with God or deities (Does this exclude atheism?).
- A way of living or ethical system (Excludes various cultural ways of living).
- A powerful experience (Yet experiences can vary widely).
The term ‘definition’ implies boundaries and clarity, whereas religion encompasses complex, overlapping aspects of life.
It might be more effective to describe religion rather than to define it.

Religions generally arise to address boundaries:
- Physical boundaries denote safe versus alien territories.
- Rituals strengthen communities for exchanges across boundaries.
- Users of rituals summon otherworldly powers for assistance.
Internal boundaries:
- Boundaries of the self (body), crossed daily through various acts (eating, speaking).
- Rituals such as prayer accompany exchanges of language and physical sustenance.
Temporal boundaries:
- Life-cycle events (birth, puberty, marriage, death) involve transitions that are often ritualized.
- Ceremonies (e.g., baptism, marriage) help ease life transitions.
Throughout history, humanity has imbued boundaries with religious significance:
- E.g. Hindu temples’ garudas and medieval cathedrals’ gargoyles.
Religion provides methods for locating oneself in social and temporal spaces through sacred rites and origin stories, reinforcing personal identity and cultural connections.

Boundaries create two forms of religion:
- Ordinary Religion:
- Synonymous with culture; teaches how to live well within boundaries.
- Expressed through customs, folkways, and habitual behaviors.
  - E.g. greetings, wedding etiquette, dietary customs, holiday practices.
- Provides social cohesion and reinforces community values.
- Extraordinary Religion:
- Emerges at life’s borders; aids individuals in transcending their everyday experiences.
- Expressed in distinct rituals often involving interaction with divine entities.
- Examples include mystical experiences and prophetic callings.
Both kinds are important in American religious landscapes, yet traditionally intertwined.

Religious systems consist of four parts (the four Cs):
1. Creed: Statements about life’s meaning (theology, oral traditions).
2. Code: Behavioral norms (moral guidelines and accepted customs).
3. Cultus: Ritual actions that reflect and reinforce creeds and codes.
4. Community: Groups of people bonded through shared beliefs and practices.
Ordinary and extraordinary religions both utilize these components, demonstrating the significance of beliefs, practices, and social bonds in religious expression.

A working description of religion:
- Religion serves as a system of symbols (creed, code, cultus) through which communities locate themselves concerning ordinary and extraordinary meanings and powers.
Locating oneself centers on recognizing and navigating boundaries.
Many individuals live without deities yet engage in religious or spiritual practices, often merging various influences.
Religion deals with boundaries in restorative (maintaining order) or transformative (creating change) manners.

The discourse over boundaries encapsulates the conflict between diverse religious identities and a unified American character.
Each religious group strives to maintain distinct identities while also negotiating their place within the broader cultural framework.
Extraordinary religion expands this dialogue by aiming for sacred experiences beyond social existence.

Original Cast: Overview of Indigenous religions, Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and African American religious influences.
Historical Effects: Evolution of new religions (e.g., Mormons, Shakers) and their adaptation to American landscapes.
Diversity of Religions: Increase of Eastern faiths and their integration into American culture.
Common Threads: Exploration of the shared elements of religious practice amid vast differences.

This text interweaves American religious history with insights from comparative religion studies.
It seeks to understand the nature of religion by examining boundaries—both social and spiritual.
Ultimately, it will address how these boundaries have shaped the rich tapestry of American religious life, reflecting both diversity and shared experiences across various traditions.