Ashley N.

Thompson
World Religions 2300
Dr. Wijitha Bandara

What is Religion?

Religion is an enigma society has been trying to define for centuries. It is complicated,

inexplicable and full of perspective from different outlooks. Scholars have been able to

categorize aspects of religion into materialism, functionalism and faith.

Materialists have concluded that people have created the idea of a mystical presence but

the world is as it occurs. The idea the we are too busy to see the beauty in this world unless

something bigger enables that vision. 1Ludwig Feuerbach explained that qualities of love,

wisdom and power are projected into a mythical presence that mankind feels insignificant and

feeble when compared but we have the same qualities just lack the inability to see them within

ourselves. Another perspective comes from 2Karl Marx who believes that religion is a way for

individuals in powerful positions to corrupt and persecute others as sinners in the name of God.

Functionalists define religion as serving a purpose within a community or individually.

3
Emil Durkheim refers to religion as an element that completes society and is needed for life to

function. Religion can teach us how to become productive citizens in society by giving us a

moral compass. It may also console individuals who are lonely and need something more in their

lives.

1
Mary P. Fisher, Living Religions, New Jersey, 2013 P. 4
2
ibid P. 4
3
ibid P. 4
 Faith explains religion as the ability to believe in something divine that cannot be

comprehended by rationality. It requires the ability to look beyond oneself and experience

impressions that exceed our six senses. 4William James deduced that the mind has the ability to

push through our rational awareness into a consciousness that understands that you don’t have to

see it to believe it.

These three aspects that scholars have constructed are great ground work for

encompassing rationality, functionality and faith since all of us fall into one of these categories at

one time or another. Religion will never have one definition because there is more than one

perception in this world.

4
ibid P. 8
 Bibliography

Fisher, Mary P., Living Religions, New Jersey, 2013