Four Kinds of Religion

Four Kinds of Religion

There are four kinds of religion in this world namely, Natural, Organised, Revealed and Institutionalised religions. 

(1) Natural religion. 

In prehistoric times, primitive man lived in fear because he was surrounded by the mysteries of unexplained natural phenomena. Primitive man naturally feared what he could not understand. Fear comes to those who are not able to comprehend the laws of nature. Fears are nothing more than states of the mind. 
When early man could not understand the nature and reality of natural phenomena and other natural occurrences, he developed a belief that there is indeed some sort of divine or supernatural power behind these inexplicable occurrences such as the seasons, eclipses, lightning, thunder, rain, the rainbow, volcanic eruptions, flood, drought and various other mysterious occurrences. 
He thought they were the work of powerful supernatural forces which he had to placate so that they would help him to lead a peaceful life. Accordingly he began to worship them and enlist their aid to ensure his survival and his power over others. Over time these practices and beliefs were organised into formal ritual and prayer, giving rise to what we call "natural religion". 

(2) Organised religion. 

Before religions came into existence, human beings had humanistic concepts but there was no "religion" as such. Through the development of their inherent humane qualities and virtues, they organised certain practices and according to their way of thinking developed a code of behaviour to govern the society in which they lived. The primal, instinctual forces of shame and fear (hiri and ottappa) were the guiding factors which shaped their conduct regarding themselves and others. The resultant moral codes and beliefs eventually developed into religion. 

(3) Revealed Religion. 

It originates from a message given by a Supreme Deity through a messenger or prophet in the form of commandments or religious laws. The followers strongly believe that the divine message as revealed to them is the basis of their conduct in spiritual and social matters. 

(4) Institutionalised religion. 

In other societies, humans introduced a religious way of life by developing psychology, philosophy, morals and ethics in an orderly manner. In order to maintain order and good conduct, they introduced regulations to cultivate humane qualities, to live peacefully and solve the numerous problems, calamities and disturbances that confront them in this world. These were later formalised, given a spiritual basis and became institutionalised. 

A well-known Buddhist scholar Bhikkhu Buddhadasa classifies religion in the following manner: 
Religion of Miraculous Power and Magic based on fear on the part of its followers. 
Religion of Faith - merely based on Faith and Prayer. 
Religion of Karma - based on the self-help principle. 
Religion of Wisdom - based on free thinking (reasoning). 
Religion of Peace - based on non-harming oneself as well as others. 
Religion of Loving Kindness or 'Love' based on giving up all and everything (for others) etc. 

What is Religion?

1. The word " religion " is an indefinite word with no fixed meaning. 

2. It is one word with many meanings. 

3. This is because religion has passed through many stages. The concept at each stage is called Religion though the concept at one stage has not had the same meaning which it had at the preceding stage or is likely to have at the succeeding stage. 

4. The conception of religion was never fixed. 

5. It has varied from time to time. 

6. Because most of the phenomena such as lightning, rain and floods, the occurrence of which the primitive man could not explain, any weird performance done to control the phenomenon was called magic. Religion therefore came to be identified with magic. 

7. Then came the second stage in the evolution of religion. In this stage religion came to be identified with beliefs, rituals, ceremonies, prayers and sacrifices. 

8. But this conception of religion is derivative.

9. The pivotal point in religion starts with the belief that there exists some power which causes these phenomena which primitive man did not know and could not understand. Magic lost its place at this stage.

10. This power was originally malevolent. But later it was felt that it could also be benevolent. 

11. Beliefs, rites, ceremonies and sacrifices were necessary both to propitiate a benevolent power and also to conciliate an angry power. 

12. Later that power was called God or the Creator. 

13. Then came the third stage that it is this God who created this world and also man. 

14. This was followed by the belief that man has a soul and the soul is eternal and is answerable to God for man's actions in the world. 

15. This is, in short, the evolution.