To understand the diversity of various world beliefs, it is necessary to touch upon a question such as the typology of religion. This article will be interesting not only to specialists in this field, but also to people who simply want to understand the worldviews of those who live with him side by side in a multinational country.
First of all, it is necessary to say what typology is. This is the division of a phenomenon into separate categories, according to the essential distinguishing features.
Many approaches
Next will be considered the question of the typology of religion and its classification.
All ever made attempts to systematize beliefs can be attributed to one of the points below. So, here is this simple classification of the typologies of religion.
- The evolutionary approach.
- Morphological approach.
A number of scholars considered all beliefs from ancient to the present time as an evolution of religious consciousness. They ranked primitive mystical cults as primitive examples of culture, which were later improved.
Monotheism and polytheism describes such a typology of religion as the next stage in the development of human consciousness. These scholars associate the emergence of these beliefs with the completion of the formation of certain thinking processes, such as synthesis, analysis, and so on.
This typology of religion is called the evolutionary approach.
Monotheism and polytheism
Monotheism and polytheism, their essence will be described below. Theologians holding an evolutionary point of view say that the second of these phenomena arose earlier. The worship of the forces of nature, which existed in the primitive world, gradually led to the fact that man began to identify each element with the personality of a particular god, its patron.
Each tribe also had its heavenly protector. Gradually, this deity acquired primary significance in relation to others. So monotheism arose - the worship of a single god. Examples of polytheistic religions include worship of a host of ancient Greek Olympic gods. They, as a rule, did not differ much in their behavior and external characteristics from ordinary mortals.
These gods, like man, did not possess moral perfection. They were inherent in all the vices and sins characteristic of people.
The peak of the development of religious consciousness, according to scientists developing this typology of religion, is monotheism - faith in a single god.
Among philosophers who adhered to the evolutionary point of view on religion, there was an outstanding thinker Hegel.
Morphological approach
Speaking about the typology of religions and its classification, it is worth mentioning that other, no less eminent scholars, were inclined to share all beliefs, based on individual characteristics of the religions themselves. This campaign was called morphological, that is, considering the individual components of the teachings.
According to these principles of typology, the diversity of religions and their varieties has been considered more than once in the history of science. Details will be provided on such attempts to systematize beliefs.
Distribution area
According to the territorial characteristic, another belief typology shares all beliefs. Tribal, national, world religions - such are its points.
All the most ancient cults that existed in primitive man before the advent of statehood, were spread, as a rule, within the framework of relatively small groups of people. Therefore, they are called tribal. Another interpretation of this term says that its name indicates a primitive communal system in which people created similar cults.
National religions
They appeared in the era of the formation of the first civilizations, that is, with the beginning of statehood. As a rule, these beliefs were of a pronounced national character. That is, they were intended for any particular people, took into account its traditions, customs, mentality and so on.
Usually the nation, the bearers of such religions had an idea of their God-chosen. For example, Judaism embodies the doctrine that the Most High provides his protection first of all to the Jews.
World religions
When setting out the question of the typology of religion in brief, it is impossible to ignore beliefs that do not contain any national traits and are intended for people living in different parts of the world, regardless of their moral beliefs, cultural characteristics, or their environment.
Such religions are called world religions. At the moment, they can be reckoned Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Although many scholars say that the last of these religions should be attributed to philosophical concepts. This is because the classical version of Buddhism denies the existence of God as such.
Therefore, it is often called the most atheistic creed.
As easy as pie
At the moment, there is no single, generally accepted typology of religion.
Human belief is a phenomenon so multifaceted that all its nuances do not fit in any of the existing classifications.
Most briefly, the typology of religion can be represented as follows. Many people share for themselves all the beliefs that exist in the world into true and false. The first, as a rule, they fully attribute only their religion, and sometimes some of its kind, but with a number of reservations. On the principle of “fidelity”, a number of other typologies of religion are based, the most famous of which is Muslim. According to this theory, there are three kinds of beliefs.
Islamic theologians rank only Islam as the first of them, which is commonly called the true religion.
The second type includes the so-called patronizing, or religion, books. They include Christianity and Judaism. That is, those religions that fully or partially recognize the Old Testament belong to this group. In theology, there is another name for this group. So, some scholars call them Abrahamic by the name of Abraham - the man who first adopted the law from God.
All other beliefs are, according to this classification, false.
Thus, it can be argued that many typologies of religion and their classification are based on the principle of truth.
Relation to Jesus Christ
Within this “Islamic” typology of religion, its second paragraph, which includes Abrahamic beliefs, can, in turn, be divided into subparagraphs, depending on the relationship of a religion to the person of Jesus Christ. For example, in Judaism, the Son of God is not honored. Jesus Christ is considered a false prophet in this religion, and Christianity itself is considered to be a heresy of Nazareth.
Islam considers the Savior to be a great righteous man.
This religion puts Jesus Christ in second place in importance after the Prophet Muhammad.
The fundamental difference from Christianity in this matter is that Islam does not recognize the divine nature of the Savior, but considers it to be only one of the most revered righteous people, whose holiness allowed God to send them his revelation. Christians consider Jesus not just one of the people, but a person in whom the divine essence is united with the human. Adherents of this religion perceive Him as the Savior, without whom none of the people who have ever lived could have been able to enter the Kingdom of God because of their fallen, sinful nature.
Thus, according to this typology of religion of Christ, all Abrahamic beliefs can be divided into the following groups:
- Religions that recognize Jesus Christ and his divine nature.
- Beliefs that honor the Savior, but reject the doctrine of his unearthly nature.
- Religions that do not recognize Jesus Christ, who consider him a false prophet.
Typology of religion according to Osipov
The most prominent Orthodox theologian, teacher of the Moscow Theological Academy, Alexey Ilyich Osipov, in his lectures gives his classification of beliefs.
His typology of religion is based on the relationship of man to God.
According to this system, all existing beliefs can be divided into the following subgroups:
- Mystical cults.
- Legal religions.
- Religions of predestination.
- Synergies.
According to the professor, the same religion can be simultaneously assigned to several points of this classification. This typology of religions will be considered briefly below.
Mystical cults
Religions of this type are characterized by an almost complete denial of the existence of God in the sense in which Christianity considers it. That is, for people with a mystical consciousness, there is no deity having a personality, capable of creative acts, and also voluntarily participating in the life of mankind. A huge role in such religions is played by various rituals, ceremonies, and so on. For adherents of the beliefs of this group, casting spells, performing certain actions in itself has a sacred meaning. Proper worship leads to favorable changes in human life. Moreover, the believer himself most often should not make any spiritual efforts, except for control over the correct performance of rituals.
The aspirations, ideals and goals of life for adherents of such beliefs are limited to the visible, material world.
Such religions include the shamanistic beliefs of the peoples of the north, the cult of Voodoo, the religions of the American Indians, and so on. Also, various types of paganism are attributed to this group, such as faith in the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods, ancient Slavic cults and so on.
Legal religions
The second point of this typology of religions is beliefs based on the so-called legal perception of reality. That is, believers who consider themselves to be such denominations, consider everything that is happening in this world as a punishment or reward that the Lord God sends to his children, that is, people. And accordingly, in order to receive the mercy of the Almighty, it is necessary to perform certain highly moral acts. And in the event that a person violates the laws given to him from above, he is subjected to punishment commensurate with that atrocity, which was perfect. Therefore, people who have realized their life potential have a prestigious job, a certain financial condition, and so on, deserve the respect of fellow believers. This is due to the fact that, according to this worldview, a person to whom material wealth has been sent from above is without a doubt worthy of them, since the Lord shows his mercy only to those who obey all the commandments and laws of spiritual life.
Such religions include Judaism, which meets all the criteria of this paragraph of this typology of religions. It is known that in ancient Judea there was a special order of the clergy, which was called Pharisaism. Its representatives were famous for obeying the commandments. These people were one of the most respected social classes. True, it is worth mentioning that along with them, there were also other religious figures, such as the Sadducees, who denied all the existing rules. These directions coexisted peacefully within the framework of one religion - Judaism.
Western christianity
Elements of the legal type are present in modern Catholicism, as well as in some other areas of the so-called Western Christianity.
For example, the basis of Catholic dogma is the concept of merits before the Lord God. Thus, a person committing an act that is approved by religious morality is considered a benefactor. His feelings, thoughts, as well as the motives for this act are usually not taken into account. Only the fact that the action is performed is important. This religious dogma was embodied in such a phenomenon as indulgence. As you know, in medieval Catholic countries a person who was unsure of a sufficient number of his own noble deeds could buy paper testifying that he was credited with the blessings that were committed by holy people. According to Catholic teaching, for some righteous people the number of good works exceeds the number necessary for salvation. Therefore, the merits of the saints can serve the benefit of their less godly fellow believers.
Such excess benefits are usually called beyond merit. Among other things, they are ranked as a monk. Therefore, some Catholic saints in their prayers did not ask God for salvation of their own souls, instead they asked the Almighty for mercy on others, including those bearing the priestly rank.
Predestination
The diversity of religions and the principles of their typologies were reflected in the scientific works of many theologians. One of the most popular classifications is the system of the professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Alexey Ilyich Osipov. The third point of this typology is predestination religion. As a rule, in these beliefs there is no worship of saints, icon-paintings, and so on. The need to combat human sins is also denied. So, one of the religions of this type, Protestantism, speaks of the absence of the need for repentance.
Adherents of this faith explain this circumstance by the fact that, in their opinion, Christ, having come into the world, atoned for all past, present and future sins of mankind. In this way, according to Protestant theologians, the Savior provided everyone who believes in him with the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in a future life. Apart from the Protestantism mentioned above, Buddhism can be attributed to such religions, since the adherents of this creed and their spiritual mentors urge them to forget about their imperfections and focus only on the strengths of their character and personality.
Synergy
This word is translated from Greek as "collaboration". Religions that consider the relationship between man and God as a manifestation of just such a principle make up the fourth group of this classification. An example of such beliefs can be Orthodoxy.
In this direction of Christianity, the purpose of human life is to live according to the covenants that Jesus Christ gave to humanity, that is, in the struggle against our own sins, with fallen nature.
But, according to this doctrine, such an activity cannot bring a positive result without help from above, without communion with God and without performing the sacrament of communion. All this, in turn, is possible only if a person has faith, reverence for the Almighty and repentance for his sins. In support of this thesis, Orthodox preachers usually quote words from the Gospel, where the Lord says that he is knocking on the door of human dwellings, and those people who open to him will celebrate and have fun with him. This suggests that the Almighty cannot go against the free will of man, people themselves must come out to meet Him, that is, live according to the commandments of God, since the Savior himself said that he who loves the commandments loves Him.
Regional features
This chapter will introduce another classification of beliefs. This typology of religions is based on the geographical features of the existence of faiths.
There are many points in this system. For example, African religions, beliefs of the peoples of the Far North, North American religions and so on are distinguished.
The separation according to such criteria is interesting, first of all, not from the point of view of the features of the locality in which the followers of a particular religion, its relief and minerals live, from the point of view of considering sociocultural nuances.
Such information is extremely useful for deciphering the meaning of parts of religious literature that are difficult for perception. So, for example, a person who is not familiar with the nature of life and life of the ancient Jews is unlikely to understand why the Old Testament recommends sacrificing just a one-year-old lamb.
The fact is that ancient Israel was essentially a livestock state. That is, the main source of income and food was livestock rearing. Mostly they were sheep. In the first year of life, animals require the most respect for themselves and care. Therefore, an individual who has reached one year of age is perceived under these conditions almost as a member of the family. Sacrificing such a pet is not an easy thing from an emotional point of view.
Classification by source of religious knowledge
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Atheism
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Examples of such countries are the USSR, North Korea and some states of the so-called socialist camp.
Secular countries
There are also states that do not prohibit their citizens from having any religious beliefs, participating in rites, services, and so on. The authorities do not interfere with the construction of religious institutions and temples. However, in these countries the church is completely separate from the state and has no political power. In turn, the government does not intervene in the internal affairs of religious organizations, unless the law is violated. A similar country is currently the Russian Federation.
Clerical countries
This is the name of the state where church representatives play a certain political role. As a rule, in them there is a religion that occupies a privileged position in relation to the rest. An example is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where the Church of England has some political power.
Theocracy
Such a political regime exists in countries where power is completely concentrated in the hands of the church. The head of the only official religious organization is also a political leader.
The most striking example of such a country is the small state of the Vatican. As you know, in this country the Pope is at the same time the supreme ruler and head of the Catholic Church.
Conclusion
In this article, the problem of the typology of religion and its foundations (various essential signs of dogma) was considered. This phenomenon, like faith itself, is a very complex and multifaceted concept. And therefore, there is no single generally accepted typology. Some of the options available today have been discussed in separate chapters.
The complexity, and, according to many scholars, and the impossibility of creating a universal typology, lies in the fact that the question of what should be called religion has not yet been resolved. Is, for example, Catholicism a separate faith or is it just one of the directions of Christianity? In a typology of religion, it is no less difficult to classify a particular denomination as monotheism and polytheism.