Types of Religion

Have you ever wondered what the difference between theism, non-theism, and atheism actually is?

This is one of the basic questions about religion. Let's think about what the different types of religion actually are.

• We will look at different types of religion in sociology.
• We'll mention the classification of religion types.
• Then, we will discuss types of religions and their beliefs.
• We'll move on to discussing theistic, animistic, totemistic, and New Age religions.
• Finally, we will briefly mention types of religions around the world.

Types of religion in sociology

There are three different ways sociologists have defined religion over time.

Substantive definition of religion

Max Weber (1905) defined religion according to its substance. Religion is a belief system that has a supernatural being or God at its centre, who is seen as superior, all-powerful, and inexplicable by science and the laws of nature.

This is considered an exclusive definition as it makes a clear distinction between religious and non-religious beliefs.

Criticism of the substantive definition of religion

Functional definition of religion

Émile Durkheim (1912) described religion according to its function in the life of individuals and society. He claimed that religion is a belief system that helps social integration and establishes collective conscience.

Talcott Parsons (1937) argued religion's role in society was to provide a set of values on which individual actions and social interaction can be based. Similarly, J. Milton Yinger (1957) believed religion’s function was to provide answers to the ‘ultimate’ questions of people’s lives.

Peter L. Berger (1990) called religion a ‘sacred canopy’, which helps people to make sense of the world and its uncertainties. Functional theorists of religion do not think it has to include belief in a supernatural being.

The functionalist definition is considered an inclusive one, as it isn't as centred on Western ideas.

Criticism of the functional definition of religion

Interpretivists and social constructionists do not think there can be one universal meaning of religion. They believe that the definition of religion is determined by the members of a certain community and society. They are interested in how a set of beliefs is acknowledged as a religion, and who has a say in the process.

Social constructionists don’t believe religion has to include a God or a supernatural being. They focus on what religion means to the individual, recognising that it can be different for different people, among different societies, and at different times.

Alan Aldridge (2000) claimed that whilst members of Scientology consider it a religion, some governments acknowledge it as a business, while others view it as a dangerous cult and have even attempted to ban it (Germany in 2007, for example).

Criticism of the social constructionist definition of religion

Classification of religion types

There exist many different religions in the world. There is more than one way to categorise them. The most common classification in sociology differentiates between four major types of religions.

These big categories and the subcategories within them differ from each other in the nature of the belief system, their religious practices, and their organisational aspects.

Types of organisations in religion in sociology

There are many different types of religious organisations. Sociologists differentiate between cults, sects, denominations and churches, based on the size, purpose and practices of the particular religious community and organisation.

Now, let us discuss types of religions and their beliefs.

Types of religions and their beliefs

We will look at the four major types of religion.

Theism

The term theism comes from the Greek word ‘theos’, which means God. Theistic religions revolve around one or more deities, usually immortal. While superior to humans, these dieties are also similar in their personalities and consciousness.

Monotheism

Monotheistic religions worship one God, who is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (all-present).

Monotheistic religions usually believe that their God is responsible for the creation, organisation, and control of the universe and all its beings.

Polytheism

Followers of polytheistic religions believe in the existence of multiple Gods, who usually have specific roles in the governing of the universe. Polytheistic religions reject the God(s) of any other religion.

Fig. 1 - The ancient Greeks attributed different roles and responsibilities to their Gods.

Henotheism and monolatrism

A henotheistic religion worships only one God. However, they acknowledge that other Gods may also exist, and that other people are justified in worshipping them.

Monolatristic religions believe that many different Gods exist, but only one of them is powerful and superior enough to be worshipped.

Non-theism

Non-theistic religions are often called ethical religions. Instead of focusing on the belief of a superior, divine being, they revolve around a set of ethical and moral values.

Non-theism is an umbrella term for many different belief systems that do not revolve around a deity; we can include pantheism, scepticism, agnosticism, and apatheism among them.

Atheism

Atheism rejects the existence of any kind of God or supernatural, superior being.

Deism

The definition of animism was created by Sir Edward Taylor in the 19th century, but it is an ancient concept also mentioned by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Sociologists claim that it was animistic beliefs that established the idea of a human soul, thus contributing to the basic principles of all world religions.

Animism has been popular among pre-industrial and non-industrial societies. People considered themselves to be on an equal level with other beings of the universe, so they treated animals and plants with respect. Shamans or medicine men and women acted as religious mediums between humans and the spirits, who were often considered to be the souls of dead relatives.

Totemism

Totemism developed among tribal, hunter-gatherer societies whose survival depended on plants and animals. A community picked a totem (usually one that was not an essential food source) and carved the symbol into totem poles. The symbol was considered sacred.

Fig. 2 - The symbols carved on totem poles were considered sacred by totemist religions.

Durkheim (1912) believed that totemism was the origin of all world religions; that is why most religions have totemistic aspects. He researched the clan system of Australian Arunta Aboriginals and found that their totems represented the origin and identity of different tribes.

Durkheim concluded that the worship of sacred symbols actually meant the worship of a particular society, so the function of totemism and all religions was to unite people into a social community.

Individual totemism

Totemism usually refers to the belief system of a community; however, a totem can be a sacred protector and companion of one particular individual as well. This particular totem can sometimes empower its owner with supernatural skills.

A. P. Elkin's (1993) study showed that individual totemism predated group totemism. A specific person’s totem often became the community’s totem.

The New Age

The idea of the coming of a New Age originates from late-19th century theosophical theory. It birthed a movement in the West in the 1980s after traditional religions, such as Christianity and Judaism, started to lose their popularity.

The New Agers reject the authority of an external God and claim that spiritual awakening can be achieved through the exploration of the individual self. The aim of many New Age practices is for the individual to connect with their 'true inner self', which lies beyond their 'socialized self'.

As more and more people go through a spiritual awakening, the whole of society will enter a New Age of spiritual consciousness which will put an end to hatred, war, hunger, racism, poverty, and sickness.

Many New Age movements were based at least partly on traditional Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, or Confucianism. They spread their different teachings in specialised bookstores, music shops, and at New Age festivals, many of which still exist today.

Fig. 3 - Meditation is one of the New Age practices that are still popular today.

Types of religions around the world

According to the Pew Research Center, there are seven main categories of religion around the world. The five world religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. In addition to these, they categorise all folk religions as one and identify an unaffiliated category.