1. Definition

2. Modern views

3. References

4. External links

Organized religion (or organised religion—see spelling differences), also known as institutional religion, is religion in which belief systems and rituals are systematically arranged and formally established. Organized religion is typically characterized by an official doctrine (or dogma), a hierarchical or bureaucratic leadership structure, and a codification of rules and practices.

Definition

Organized religion, or institutional religion, is religion in which belief systems and rituals are systematically arranged and formally established.^[1] Organized religion is typically characterized by an official doctrine (or dogma), a hierarchical or bureaucratic leadership structure, and a codification of rules and practices.

Organized religion is distinguished from the broader idea of religion especially in anthropology, sociology and philosophy. American philosopher William James states that

Religion... shall mean for us the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude... in relation to whatever they may consider the divine. Since the relation may be either moral, physical, or ritual, it is evident that out of religion in the sense in which we take it, theologies, philosophies, and ecclesiastical organizations may secondarily grow.^[2]

Organized religion seems to have gained prevalence since the Neolithic era with the rise of wide-scale civilization and agriculture.{{cn|date=August 2018}} Organized religions may include a state's official religion, or state church. However, most political states have any number of organized religions practiced within their jurisdiction. Due to their structured, standardized, and easily proliferated form, organized religions comprise many of the world's major religious groups.{{cn|date=June 2017}} The Abrahamic religions are all largely considered organized (including Christianity, Islam, Judaism and the Bahá'í Faith), as well as some schools of thought within Indian religions (for example, some schools of Hinduism and Buddhism).{{cn|date=August 2018}}

Religions that are not considered organized religions, or only loosely so, include many indigenous and folk religions, such as traditional African religions, Native American religions and prehistoric religions, as well as personal religions including some strands of Hinduism.{{cn|date=June 2017}}

Modern views

In the modern era, the definition of the term 'religion' is becoming increasingly opaque, making the task of defining 'organised religion' difficult. Anthropologists, theologians and scholars have thus attempt to embed the idea of an 'organisation' into the definition of religion itself. Some examples of this are found in the definition provided by Clifford Geertz, who defines religion as a "Cultural system."^[4] Furthermore, Max Weber's prominent definition of a religion includes the idea of a 'Church,' not necessarily in the Christian formulation, but insisting on the notion of an organised hierarchy constituting a palpable religious body.^[5] Therefore, it becomes apparent that 'organised religion' has also been considered as part of the definition of religion itself, which in the modern era has caused a degree of controversy with the prominence of aforementioned personalized faith systems.

References

External links

• When the Kellys Rode
• When the Kellys Were Out
• When the Killing's Done
• When the Killing's Done (Boyle)
• When the king enjoys his own again
• When The Leaves Blow Away
• When the Levee Breaks (That '70s Show)
• When the Levee Breaks (That '70s Show episode)
• When the levy breaks
• When The Light Is Mine
• When the Lights Go Down (disambiguation)
• When the Lights Go Down (Faith Hill song)
• When the Lights Go Down (song)
• When the Lights Go On Again
• When the Lights Go on Again
• When the Lights Go on Again (All Over the World)
• When the Lights Go Out (album)
• When The Lights Go Out (EP)
• When the Lights Go Out (EP)
• When the Lights Went Out
• When the Love is Gone
• When the Love Is Gone
• When the Love Is Good
• When the Moon Forgot
• When the Morning Comes