CHAPTER ONE

1. WHAT IS RELIGION?
2. TYPES AND KINDS OF RELIGIONS
3. COMMON BELIEFS OF RELIGIONS
4. THE HIERARCHY OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

RELIGION

There is one element that man primarily needs to survive in this world. And that is air, in particular oxygen. There are others like water and food that life solely depends on. This is why scientists conclude that the three essential elements for life are air, water and food. On the other hand, theologians and religious pundits also conclude that religion is indispensable in the life of man: the total life of man is wholly religious. Before we can understand the realities of Rastafarianism, we must critically delve into the nature of religion.

WHAT IS RELIGION?

The two most reliable accurate books that give vivid accounts of the world and historical events are the Holy Bible, and the other books. For a better understanding of religion we must learn from history or we perish. Read and learn from history, and survive the tailspin of life. It is only the absent-minded who forgets the events of the past. History, they say, is the mother of future. Because, no history—no experience, and no experience—no learning, and no learning there would be no growth and development.

With the help of the Bible and the events of the past, we must have a gist of the emergence of religion. This is because if you know yourself and your past, then you will know your future. It would be our interest to know the origin(s) of religion first if we are to properly answer the question: what is religion? The origin of religion, here I mean, where did religion start/begin? How did it begin? Why did man institute religion at all? We can have a fair comprehensive idea of the definition of religion if we have answers to these knotty questions.

The nature and origin of religion can be viewed from two extreme concepts. And I call them the quantitative concept and the doctrinal concept. The quantitative concept of the nature and origin of religion identifies religion as the worshipping of one established supernatural power or multiple supernatural powers capable of influencing man’s life. On the other hand, the doctrinal concept institutes religion on the basis of the principal doctrines and beliefs of the major religions of the world.

As a matter of fact, there is no one universal definition for religion. Irrespective of our diverse views about religion or the definition of religion, there are some commonalities which will be identified in all the definitions we may assign to religion.

As we read earlier, lots of definitions have been given to the word religion by many great philosophers and writers. The Macmillan English Dictionary (2006) tries to define religion as “a system of beliefs in a god or gods that has its own ceremonies and tradition.” In fact, we must note that our aim here is not to find out which definition gives the correct meaning of religion, but to underscore some commonalities that exist in all the attempts. When the common ideas are highlighted, then we can get a fair concept of what religion is all about.

With regard to anthropologists, theologians, philosophers, and other scholars, the definition keeps changing. Every phenomenon depends on subjective thought, and since religion is also no difference, any attempt to defining it depends on subjectivity and criticism. One way or the other, people try to give description of a phenomenon rather than a definition. If care is not taken one may talk about religion to suit his/her own interest.

From the above we can logically infer that religion is the recognition of the existence of a Supreme Being (god/deities) who is greater than man and the universe, and whom man constantly relies and serves for protection. In other words, it is a system of beliefs which gives man a mental picture about the existence of a supernatural power that man seeks protection from. From the conception of religion to its inception until now, the ultimate and fundamental concern of man is for protection.

QUANTITATIVE CONCEPT

Under the quantitative concept, there are two major schools of thought regarding the nature and origin of religion. In view of one school of thought, called Monotheism, a single/mono god existed in the beginning of human existence.

According to monotheists, man believed that a single supernatural power controls the world, and he resorted to seek protection and answers to issues that border on what the eyes couldn’t see from this mono god/God. But with time and tide, man had a desire to worship many gods (objects-of-worship).

Many writers and monotheists like Schmidt believes that religion began from Monotheism (worshipping one god) and evolved into a more complex form called Polytheism (worshipping multiple gods). Man and society at large moved from monotheism to polytheism.

On the other hand, the second school of thought, called Polytheism, rather reverses the trend, postulating that religion began first as polytheism, but later it developed into monotheism. Monotheism, to the second school of thought, is a complex state of religion. Edward B. Tylor and Sir James G. Frazer are among the polytheists (Pantheists) who believe that religion originated and progressed from polytheism to monotheism. Although we cannot actually have comprehensive and empirical evidences to proven either of the aforementioned theories, however, we all agree that religion started somewhere.

According to a course book with the title SOCIOLOGY by the Department of Sociology, the University of Ghana, Legon, “theories of origin of religion are not empirically based. Thus what is known about the origin of religion is not sufficient to make firm conclusion. Therefore theorizing on religion has proceeded from the attempts to understand its functions rather than its origin.”

In a larger perspective, we can spot out a third school of thought on this subject. This school of thought called Atheism, argues that since it is difficult to empirically prove spiritual issues or superstition, then there is neither god nor gods, and in a larger extend there is no need for religion. The atheists hold the view that there is no God neither mono nor poly; and anything that has to do with magic, sorcery, divination and divinity is waste of time and energy. …[READ MORE]