What is Religion?

Defining religion is not that easy. There are over a hundred different definitions of religion today. The German philosopher Maximilian Forschner recognized this problem and, instead of a definition, named 8 criteria that characterize every religion.

In this video, you can find out which 8 criteria these are and whether we can actually find them in all 5 world religions.


0:00 Overview and definition
2:34 8 Criteria of Religion (Maximilian Forschner)
3:49 1st Criterion: Belief in supernatural beings and powers
5:03 2nd Criterion: Distinguishing sacred and profane objects
7:00 3rd Criterion: Ritual acts
8:58 4th Criterion: Moral code
12:23 5th criterion: Specific feelings
12:42 6th Criterion: Prayers
16:27 7th Criterion: Presentation of nature and history
19:02 8th Criterion: Community
19:51 Own examples?


SOURCES 📚

Arte. 2021. Göttlich! Die großen Weltreligionen.
https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/RC-0216...

Forschner, Maximilian. 2002. Religion. In: Lexikon der Ethik. Hrsg.v. Höffe, Otfried. Beck. München.

Gäb, Sebastian. 2022. Religionsphilosophie. Nomos. Baden-Baden.

Glasenapp, Helmuth von. 1996. Die fünf Weltreligionen. Diederichs. München.

Der Brockhaus Religionen. Glauben, Riten, Heilige. 2006. Brockhaus. Mannheim.

Kanning, Sarah. 2019. Glaube und Frieden.
https://www.deutschland.de/de/topic/l...

Pollack, Detlef. Was ist Religion? Eine kritische Diskussion.
https://d-nb.info/1142115194/34

https://www.religionen-entdecken.de

All online sources were last accessed on 16.04.2022.