yahoo post #1

What is "religion?"
According to Mircea Eliade, religion is an experience of the sacred, to German Philosopher Rudolph Otto it is the experience of the "Wholly Other", to theologian Paul Tillich it is the "ultimate concern" of one’s existence, to W.C. Smith it is an "cumulative tradition, and to Ninian Smart, religion is "an organism with seven dimensions." Five academics, five definitions.
Thus, it is truly hard to pin down what religion truly is. I do think it is a combination of the all of the aforementioned. On a personal level, religion will be what Eliade, Otto, and Tillich claim it to be. An individual needs the experience of the sacred and partakes in the experience of the "Wholly Other" in order for religion to become one’s "ultimate concern." On strictly an academic level, religion has to be what Smith and Smart claim it to be. Smith is right in that religion is an evolving organism. I doubt very much that it has remained static and unchanged during the course of humankind’s existence. As for Smart, I don’t think his position is a definition as much as it is a composition of what is needed to be considered a religion. If anything, Smart’s seven dimensions of religion are pieces of the pie that is considered religion.
How Should We Study It (Proper Methods)?
There are numerous approaches to study religion. One can study religion from a theological perspective, a religious studies perspective, a phenomenological perspective, from a sociological perspective, a psychological perspective, a historical perspective, and an anthropological perspective. Yet none of the above would matter if one does not approach the study of religion with a proper methodology. Smart suggests that when studying religion one will do so with a position of antipathy, which studies religion with a negative viewpoint, or sympathy, which studies religion with a bias, yet postive viewpoint, or empathy, which is neutral in its viewpoint and the preferred methodology to study religion. To follow Smart, scholar Peter Berg suggest that one will study religion from a position of reduction, which attempts to reduce religion as a product of social origins, or deduction, which is similar to Smart’s sympathy, or induction, which focuses on the experience of the believer and the preferred methodology to study religion.
Why Study It?
There are many reasons as to why one should study religion. Some of the reasons are that a knowledge of religion can develop a tolerant individual and build a tolerant society, promote inclusiveness rather than divisiveness, and to be a well informed citizen of the world. Especially in today’s world, a knowledge of religion is important because religion is a motivating force of some of the world’s political hot spots. To be ignorant of religion means to be ignorant of our world’s current events.
How Did Religion Start?
There are many explanations as to the origins of religion, there is the biological, theological, anthropological, psychological, sociological, and egotistical. Yet three stand out more than others and they are the biological explanation, the theological explanation, and the anthropological explanation. The biological explanation posits that religion is inherent in our being, that it is a result of our neurology. The theological explanation posits that religion was bestowed upon a few chosen ones by God to be shared with the rest of humankind. Finally, the anthropological explanation posits that religion sprang out of animism and magic. Animism accounted for the plurality of gods at the dawn of man’s rise and magic played are role due to man’s lack of scientific knowledge.
I tend to agree a combination of the biological and anthropological. I do think religion, i.e. faith, is inherent in all of humankind. Due to this inheritance, God evolved as humankind evolved. As man learned, the gods that were once needed no longer had any use. God went from the plural to the singular.
Will Gods Decay?
Religion will never decay. It has survived these many thousands of years, thus proving its resiliency. It may appear to decay but it is really evolving. As mentioned previously, religion is not static. It changes as those who believe in it change. Due to the other aspects of what religion has to offer aside from God, religion will always be in demand.
What Role Do Memes Play In All This?
Memes are very important in the origin and study of religion and whether or not God will die. Why? Memes are the ideas that are passed on from generation to generation. They are the ideas that have stood the test of time and have proven themselves to be beneficial to the progress and evolution of humankind. In this sense, without memes, religion would fail to exist.