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3
Unit one
Part I
Before you read this excerpt from an essay that offers a general definition
of the word “religion”, answer the question below. Write a short definition and
discuss it with a partner. Although there can be diverse views on this question,
the passage tries to make broad generalizations applicable to many religions
and different periods of history.
How would you define the word Religion?
RELIGION
from Compton’s interactive encyclopedia
1. It has been said that thoughts of death lead necessarily to the develop-
ment of religion. It is difficult to imagine what need there would be for religion
in a world in which no one ever died or became ill. The literatures of all relig-
ions attempt to give answers to basic questions: From where did the world
come? What is the meaning of human life? Why do people die and what hap-
pens afterward? Why is there evil? How should people behave? In the distant
past, these questions were answered in terms of mythology. In literature, they
are dealt with in poetry. Modern sciences try to investigate them.
2. As a word religion is difficult to define, but as a human experience it
seems to be universal. The twentieth century German-born American theolo-
gian Paul Tillich gave a simple and basic definition of the word. “Religion is
ultimate concern”. This means that religion encompasses that to which people
are most devoted or that from which they expect to get the most fundamental
satisfaction in life. Consequently, religion provides adequate answers to the
most basic questions posed above.
3. Four centuries earlier the German social reformer Martin Luther spoke
in similar terms about God. He stated that to have a god was to “have some-
thing in which the heart trusts completely” putting Tillich’s and Luther’s defini-
tions together, it is possible to see that religion does not necessarily have to be
involved with shrines, temples, churches or synagogues. It does not need com-
plex doctrines or clergy. It can be anything to which people devote themselves
that fills their lives with meaning.
4. In Western civilization, religion has traditionally been defined as belief
in and worship of one God. This is true for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The statements by Tillich and Luther make it clear, however, that such a defini-
tion may be too narrow. In original, Buddhism in India and Confucianism in
4
China, there was no recognition of a supreme being. Both of these philosophies
were basically concerned with patterns of human behavior.
5. Regardless of definition, all religions (as the word is normally used)
have certain elements in common: rituals to perform, prayers to recite, places to
frequent or avoid, holy days to keep, means by which to predict the future, a
body of literature to read and study, truths to affirm, charismatic leaders to fol-
low, and ordinances to obey. Many have buildings set aside for worship, and
there are activities such as prayer, sacrifice, contemplation, and perhaps magic.
6. Closely associated with these elements is personal conduct. Although it
is possible to separate ritual observances from moral conduct, worship has nor-
mally implied a type of relationship with a god from which certain behavior
patterns are expected to follow. A notable exception in history is the official
state religion of ancient Rome, which was kept separate from personal com-
mitment and morality.
Paul Tillich: protestant theologian (religious thinker) (1886–1965).
Martin Luther: German leader of the Protestant Reformation (1483–1546).
Task 1. On a separate piece of paper, write an explanation of the following
quotes from the text:
1. “In the distant past, these questions were answered in terms of mythol-
ogy. In literature, they are dealt with in poetry. Modern sciences try to investi-
gate them”. (Paragraph 1)
2. “Putting Tillich’s and Luther’s definitions together, it is possible to see
that religion does not necessarily have to be involved with shrines, temples,
churches or synagogues. It does not need complex doctrines or clergy. It can be
anything to which people devote themselves that fills their lives with meaning”.
(Paragraph 3)
3. “Although it is possible to separate ritual observances from moral con-
duct, worship has normally implied a type of relationship with a god from
which certain behavior patterns are expected to follow”. (Paragraph 6)
Compare your answers with those of a partner.
Task 2. Make up 15 questions about the text.
Task 3. Work in pairs. Read the sentences and match the underlined word or
expression with a synonym from the list. The first one has been done for you:
1. The Buddhist religion believes in the idea that individual people can
come back in a new life form after death. – e
Un i t on e China, there was no recognition of a supreme being. Both of these philosophies
were basically concerned with patterns of human behavior.
5. Regardless of definition, all religions (as the word is normally used)
Part I
have certain elements in common: rituals to perform, prayers to recite, places to
Before you read this excerpt from an essay that offers a general definition frequent or avoid, holy days to keep, means by which to predict the future, a
of the word “religion”, answer the question below. Write a short definition and body of literature to read and study, truths to affirm, charismatic leaders to fol-
discuss it with a partner. Although there can be diverse views on this question, low, and ordinances to obey. Many have buildings set aside for worship, and
the passage tries to make broad generalizations applicable to many religions there are activities such as prayer, sacrifice, contemplation, and perhaps magic.
and different periods of history. 6. Closely associated with these elements is personal conduct. Although it
is possible to separate ritual observances from moral conduct, worship has nor-
How would you define the word Religion? mally implied a type of relationship with a god from which certain behavior
patterns are expected to follow. A notable exception in history is the official
RELIGION state religion of ancient Rome, which was kept separate from personal com-
from Compton’s interactive encyclopedia mitment and morality.
1. It has been said that thoughts of death lead necessarily to the develop-
Paul Tillich: protestant theologian (religious thinker) (1886–1965).
ment of religion. It is difficult to imagine what need there would be for religion
Martin Luther: German leader of the Protestant Reformation (1483–1546).
in a world in which no one ever died or became ill. The literatures of all relig-
ions attempt to give answers to basic questions: From where did the world
Task 1. On a separate piece of paper, write an explanation of the following
come? What is the meaning of human life? Why do people die and what hap-
quotes from the text:
pens afterward? Why is there evil? How should people behave? In the distant
past, these questions were answered in terms of mythology. In literature, they 1. “In the distant past, these questions were answered in terms of mythol-
are dealt with in poetry. Modern sciences try to investigate them. ogy. In literature, they are dealt with in poetry. Modern sciences try to investi-
2. As a word religion is difficult to define, but as a human experience it gate them”. (Paragraph 1)
seems to be universal. The twentieth century German-born American theolo- 2. “Putting Tillich’s and Luther’s definitions together, it is possible to see
gian Paul Tillich gave a simple and basic definition of the word. “Religion is that religion does not necessarily have to be involved with shrines, temples,
ultimate concern”. This means that religion encompasses that to which people churches or synagogues. It does not need complex doctrines or clergy. It can be
are most devoted or that from which they expect to get the most fundamental anything to which people devote themselves that fills their lives with meaning”.
satisfaction in life. Consequently, religion provides adequate answers to the (Paragraph 3)
most basic questions posed above. 3. “Although it is possible to separate ritual observances from moral con-
3. Four centuries earlier the German social reformer Martin Luther spoke duct, worship has normally implied a type of relationship with a god from
in similar terms about God. He stated that to have a god was to “have some- which certain behavior patterns are expected to follow”. (Paragraph 6)
thing in which the heart trusts completely” putting Tillich’s and Luther’s defini- Compare your answers with those of a partner.
tions together, it is possible to see that religion does not necessarily have to be
involved with shrines, temples, churches or synagogues. It does not need com- Task 2. Make up 15 questions about the text.
plex doctrines or clergy. It can be anything to which people devote themselves
that fills their lives with meaning. Task 3. Work in pairs. Read the sentences and match the underlined word or
4. In Western civilization, religion has traditionally been defined as belief expression with a synonym from the list. The first one has been done for you:
in and worship of one God. This is true for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 1. The Buddhist religion believes in the idea that individual people can
The statements by Tillich and Luther make it clear, however, that such a defini- come back in a new life form after death. – e
tion may be too narrow. In original, Buddhism in India and Confucianism in
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