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Definitions of (and statements about)
“Religion”
John W. Burgeson E-mail JWBurgeson@Juno.com Web site www.burgy.50megs.com
The term “religion” stands for the feelings,
acts and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they
apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may
consider the divine. William James, THE
VARIETY OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, 1910.
Religion is that cluster of
memories and myths, hopes and images, rites and customs that pulls together the
life of a person or group into a meaningful whole. The cluster need not be very
systematic … [It] can be creative or demonic, theistic or non-theistic,
consciously held or only dimly recognized, static or mercurial, spontaneous or
imposed, story or signal… [It] lends coherence to life, furnishes a fund of
meaning, gives unity to human events and guides people in making decisions.
Religion, as its Latin name suggests, is what binds people together. --Harvey
Cox, The Seduction of the Spirit, 1973.
The term
“religion” has reference to one’s views of his relations to his Creator, and to
the obligations they impose or reverence for his being and character, and of
obedience to his will. It is confounded with the “cultus” or form of worship of
a particular sect, but is distinguishable from the latter. SCOTUS (1980) 133 US
333, 342.
“[A]
central feature in all authentic religions … [is] an orientation towards the
transcendent that is inextricably linked with compassionate, constructive
relationships with others …the ultimate focus of religion – liberation or
salvation – cannot be disconnected from life in this world.” Charles Kimball,
When Religion Becomes Evil, p. 128.
“God” is
not God’s name. It is OUR name for the mystery that looms within and without,
beyond the limits of our vision. – Forrest Church, UU Magazine, September 2000
Being religious means asking passionately the question of
the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if he
answers hurt. Paul Tillich, Inside the Mind of God, p. 44.
Religion – asking the question “Why is there anything at
all?” and its derivative questions.
A person's religion is that person's worldview of how he relates
to the ultimate questions of philosophy, the meaning of life, the values of
life, etc. An "organized religion" is simply a group of people who
hold a worldview in common.
We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual
beings on a human journey. Stephen Covey
Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.
Satchel Paige
You can never prove God. You can only find him…. Kate Wiggin
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt
of in your philosophy. Hamlet.
That’s why religion thrives in an age of reason. You can’t simply think God out of existence, because
religious feelings rise more from experience
than from thought. They are born in a moment of spiritual connection, as real
to the brain as any perception of “ordinary” physical reality. Andrew Newberg,
Inside the Mind of God, p. 65.
A religion can be destructive or creative. It may be defined by
stories or rituals. It may be tightly or loosely held, thought about deeply, or
held simply as vague ideas. Whatever -- it does act as at least a partial guide
to actions. – author unknown
The Ethical Society of Austin (a loose knit atheist
organization) claims to be a religion. Is it? The Texas courts are seeking an
answer.
Most
religious people share a sense that they have an appointment with the
transcendent. They see a purely material understanding of life as inadequate.
-- E. J. Dionne, Denver Post, 12/24/2002