The Essence of Religion

What do you see as the essence of religion?

Religion comes from the Latin meaning “to bind together.” The question then is, what are we trying to bind together? Human to human? Human to G!d? G!d to human? A combination? Or something else entirely? 

 Some say that the essence of religion is to answer the big questions of life, such as,“Why are we here?” or “What is our purpose?” or “What happens after we die?” or “How do we separate right from wrong?”. It is the search for spiritual development and knowledge. Others say the essence of religion is worship of G!d.

Over the centuries, hundreds of definitions have been proposed. Each reflects the personal bias based on the presuppositions of the person making the definition. In the end, definitions of the essence of religion usually contain intellectual, mythic, ritual, social and ethical elements, all of which are generally unified by a belief in the reality of an unseen world beyond our physical world.

Peter Berger, an Austrian-born American sociologist known for his work in the sociology of knowledge and the sociology of religion, and who died just two weeks ago, wrote that the essence of religion is “the human enterprise by which a sacred cosmos is established.” French sociologist Emilie Durkheim defined it as “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things,” but this begs the question, what , then, are “sacred things”?

The quintessential philosopher and psychologist William James, son of a wealthy Swedenborgian theologian, had much to say about the varieties of spiritual experience, and he defined the essence of religion as “the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto.” Immanuel Kant describes it as “the recognition of all our duties as divine commands,” while Karl Marx claims it is “the self-conscious and self-feeling of man who has either not found himself or has already lost himself again. ... It is the fantastic realization of the human essence ...” American sociologist of religion Rodney Stark posits that the essence of religion is “any socially organized pattern of beliefs and practices concerning ultimate meaning that assumes the existence of the supernatural.” 

 

In the abstract, I might define the essence of religion as the transformative perception of an underlying mystical connection to life, the profound experience of the Oneness of All. It is certainly not a matter of creeds, although many religions have creeds. 

For me, the purest essence of religion is about relating: relating to G!d, to others, to ourselves, to the world in which we live and all of its inhabitants and even itself as a living, breathing organism constantly evolving and changing. The essence of religion ought to be based on an orientation towards love, regard and respect for others, expressed through gratitude, generosity, kindness, and a sense of awe of knowing ourselves to be part of the very Mystery of the vast unknowable, uncontainable universe. To this end, the essence of religion should lead us to become our best selves and to regard everything as sacred and holy, interconnected in a web of life. No thought, no word, no deed exists in a bubble.

Religion should change our behavior in a positive direction, as well as challenge us to keep growing. It should not confine us and box us in to narrow thinking. It should be life-giving, moving us to treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect, remain close to the Great Mystery of Being, work together for the benefit of all, give assistance and kindness and dedicate a share of our efforts to the greater good, do what we know to be right, look after the well being of mind and body, be truthful and honest, and to take full responsibility for our words, thoughts, and actions.