Religion related concepts

1
Religion related concepts

• Steve Carson
• GSC Associates
• for JTC 1/SC 24 WG 8 Palm Springs, CA USA
• August 2001

2
Definition of religion

• NSOED Definition of religion Belief in or
  sensing of some superhuman controlling power or
  powers, entitled to obedience, reverence, and
  worship, or in a system defining a code of
  living, esp. as a means to achieve spiritual or
  material improvement acceptance of such belief
  (esp. as represented by an organized Church) as a
  standard of spiritual and practical life the
  expression of this in worship etc. ME. 4 A
  particular system of such belief.

3
Classification of faith groups

• Religion
• Branch
• Denominational family
• Religious body
• Congregation

4
Example

• For instance, an individual in the United States
  may identify herself as "Christian" in a general
  survey. She is probably aware that her church is
  quite different from some Christians. She is a
  Protestant she has Catholic neighbors who she
  knows are Christians, but a different kind of
  Christian. She may explain she is a Presbyterian
  when telling her coworkers what church she goes
  to. If she is active in a congregation, she can
  probably identify a specific religious body (or
  "denomination"), such as the Presbyterian Church
  (U.S.A.).

5
Example - continued

• This person's religion is Christianity.
• She is part of the Protestant branch of
  Christianity.
• She is Presbyterian. Presbyterianism is a
  denominational family within Protestantism.
• The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is the
  religious body (or denomination) she belongs to.
• Finally, the Oakview Presbyterian
  Church is the congregation she attends.