Organized religion
Organized religion, also known as institutional religion, is religion in which belief systems and rituals are systematically arranged and formally established, typically by an official doctrine (or dogma), a hierarchical or bureaucratic leadership structure, and a codification of proper and improper behavior.
Definition[edit]
Organized religion is distinguished from the broader idea of religion especially in anthropology, sociology and philosophy. American philosopher William James considered organized religion to be distinct from and secondary to religion in and of itself, stating that "out of religion in the sense in which we take it, theologies, philosophies, and ecclesiastical organizations may secondarily grow".[1] James further comments that the essential elements of "institutional religion" are "worship and sacrifice, procedures for working on the dispositions of the deity [i.e.] theology, and ceremony and ecclesiastical organization".
Organized religion seems to have gained prevalence since the Neolithic era with the rise of wide-scale civilization and agriculture. 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.
In the modern era, the definition of the term 'religion' is becoming increasingly opaque, making the task of defining 'organized religion' difficult. Anthropologists, theologians and scholars have thus attempted to embed the idea of an 'organization' 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."[2] 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 organized hierarchy constituting a palpable religious body.[3]
Examples and non-examples[edit]
The Abrahamic religions are all largely considered organized (including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and the Baháʼí Faith). Sikhism is also generally considered to be an organized religion.
Religions that are not organized religions, or only loosely so, include several Eastern religions such as Confucianism,[4] Shinto,[5] some types of Buddhism like Secular Buddhism,[6] and Hinduism in some senses,[7][8] particularly in its lack of a central power structure.[9] The same can be said of most indigenous and folk religions, such as animism,[10] Korean shamanism,[11] African traditions like the San religion,[12] Native American religions,[13] and Old Norse religion,[14] as well as certain new religious movements like modern paganism[15] and Rastafari.[16]