What are the 7 dimensions of religion?

Summary

This video from 'Theo Minute' explores the complex nature of world religions through the lens of Ninian Smart's seven dimensions framework. It explains how religions are not just about belief in a deity but also encompass doctrines, myths, ethics, experiences, institutions, and material culture. The video uses Christianity as an example to illustrate these dimensions, providing a holistic view that goes beyond traditional definitions and invites viewers to consider the multifaceted aspects of religious practice.

Takeaways

• 📚 The traditional definition of religion, focusing on belief in and worship of a personal god, is considered too narrow by scholars, as it doesn't encompass the diversity of world religions.
• 🌟 Religion scholar Ninian Smart proposed a more inclusive approach to understanding religions by identifying seven shared dimensions.
• 📜 Doctrinal: Religions have a systematic formulation of teachings, such as the Nicene Creed in Christianity.
• 📖 Mythological: Religions tell overarching stories, like the story of Adam and Eve in Christianity.
• 📝 Ethical: Religions provide guidelines for behavior, such as the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule.
• 🎭 Experiential: Practitioners experience emotions during religious practices, like feelings of forgiveness or grace.
• 🏛 Institutional: Religions have a communal system with laws, such as a denomination's bylaws.
• 🗺️ Material: Sacred objects, places, and symbols, like crosses or icons, are part of religious practices.
• 🔍 Smart's system allows for a more comprehensive understanding of world religions by recognizing their multifaceted nature.
• 👁️ The seven dimensions are not exclusive to any one religion but are common characteristics found across various religious traditions.
• 📈 By using these dimensions, scholars can compare and contrast different religions in a more structured and meaningful way.

Q & A

What is the purpose of 'Theo Minute'?

The purpose of 'Theo Minute' is to answer theological questions concisely within about a minute.

Why have scholars largely abandoned the traditional definition of religion?

Scholars have largely abandoned the traditional definition of religion because it primarily applies to Christianity and Islam, but not to other major world religions.

What does the traditional definition of religion involve?

The traditional definition of religion involves belief in and worship of a personal god.

Who is Ninian Smart, and what contribution did he make to the study of religion?

Ninian Smart was a religion scholar who devised a system that organized a religion according to seven dimensions, identifying characteristics shared by all major religions.

What are the seven dimensions of world religions as outlined by Ninian Smart?

The seven dimensions are doctrinal, mythological, ethical, experiential, institutional, ritual, and material.

What does the 'doctrinal' dimension refer to in the context of religion?

The 'doctrinal' dimension refers to the systematic formulation of a religion's teachings.

Can you provide an example of the 'mythological' dimension from Christianity?

An example of the 'mythological' dimension in Christianity is the story of Adam and Eve.

What is the 'ethical' dimension, and how might it be exemplified in Christianity?

The 'ethical' dimension includes the guidelines for behavior decreed by the religion, such as the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule in Christianity.

What emotions might be experienced in the 'experiential' dimension of practicing a religion?

In the 'experiential' dimension, emotions such as forgiveness, grace, or awe might be experienced when practicing the religion.

What does the 'institutional' dimension involve, and how is it seen in Christian denominations?

The 'institutional' dimension involves the communal system and laws unifying the practitioners of a religion, such as a denomination's bylaws in Christianity.

What are some examples of the 'material' dimension in Christianity?

Examples of the 'material' dimension in Christianity include objects, places, and things that symbolize the sacred, such as a cross, crucifix, icon, or altar.

How can the seven dimensions of religion help in understanding different religious practices?

The seven dimensions provide a comprehensive framework to analyze and compare the various aspects of different religions, enhancing understanding and appreciation of their unique characteristics.

Why is it important to have a framework like the seven dimensions for studying world religions?

A framework like the seven dimensions allows for a more inclusive and comparative study of world religions, moving beyond a narrow definition and acknowledging the diversity and complexity of religious practices.

How does the 'ritual' dimension differ from the 'experiential' dimension in Ninian Smart's system?

The 'ritual' dimension refers to the specific practices and ceremonies performed within a religion, while the 'experiential' dimension focuses on the personal and emotional experiences of practitioners during these rituals.

What might be some challenges in applying Ninian Smart's seven dimensions to all world religions?

Some challenges might include the unique characteristics of certain religions that may not fit neatly into the seven dimensions, or the potential for oversimplification of complex religious beliefs and practices.

Can the seven dimensions be used to compare religions across different cultures?

Yes, the seven dimensions can serve as a tool for cross-cultural comparison, highlighting both commonalities and differences among various world religions.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding World Religions' Dimensions

This paragraph introduces the concept of analyzing world religions through seven distinct dimensions. It explains that traditional definitions of religion, focusing on belief in a personal god, are too narrow and do not encompass the diversity of world religions. The video script discusses Ninian Smart's approach to religion, which categorizes its characteristics into seven dimensions: doctrinal, mythological, ethical, experiential, institutional, ritual, and material. These dimensions help to outline and compare the shared characteristics of major world religions, offering a more inclusive framework for understanding religious practices and beliefs.

Keywords

💡Theological Questions

Theological questions pertain to inquiries about the nature of God, the universe, and the relationship between the divine and humanity. In the context of the video, these questions are explored within the framework of world religions, aiming to understand their various dimensions and how they differ from or align with traditional definitions of religion.

💡Religion

Religion is a complex social and cultural phenomenon involving a system of beliefs, practices, and rituals that often center around the worship of a higher power or powers. The video script discusses the evolution of the definition of religion, noting that the traditional definition focusing on belief in a personal god is too narrow and does not encompass the diversity of world religions.

💡Dimensions

In the script, 'dimensions' refer to the various aspects or characteristics that Ninian Smart identified as common to all major world religions. These dimensions provide a framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of religious belief and practice, offering a more inclusive approach to the study of religion.

💡Ninian Smart

Ninian Smart was a British religious scholar who contributed significantly to the academic study of religion. His work is highlighted in the video for devising a system that categorizes the shared characteristics of world religions into seven dimensions, thus providing a comprehensive way to analyze and compare different religious traditions.

💡Doctrinal

The doctrinal dimension refers to the systematic formulation of a religion's teachings, which often includes core beliefs and doctrines. In the video, the Nicene Creed is given as an example of the doctrinal aspect of Christianity, outlining the fundamental beliefs held by the faith.

💡Mythological

The mythological dimension encompasses the overarching stories that a religion tells to explain its origins, beliefs, and practices. These narratives often serve to convey deeper spiritual truths and are central to the religious tradition. An example from the script is the story of Adam and Eve, which is foundational to Christian theology and ethics.

💡Ethical

The ethical dimension of religion involves the guidelines for behavior that are decreed by the religion. These guidelines often take the form of moral codes or commandments that believers are expected to follow. The script mentions the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule as examples of ethical teachings in Christianity.

💡Experiential

The experiential dimension relates to the emotions and subjective experiences that individuals encounter when practicing their religion. These experiences can include feelings of forgiveness, grace, or spiritual connection. The video emphasizes the personal and emotional aspect of religious practice, which is integral to the believer's experience.

💡Institutional

The institutional dimension refers to the communal systems and organizational structures that support and unify the practitioners of a religion. This can include denominations, their bylaws, and the governance systems that facilitate religious community. The script illustrates this with the example of a denomination's bylaws.

💡Material

The material dimension involves the physical objects, places, and symbols that are associated with religious practice and belief. These can include sacred texts, religious artifacts, and symbols like the cross or icons. The video script uses the cross and the crucifix as examples of material elements in Christianity that symbolize the faith's sacred narratives.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of answering theological questions in about a minute.

The outdated definition of religion being replaced by a more inclusive approach.

The limitations of the traditional definition of religion, applicable only to Christianity and Islam.

Scholars now focusing on outlining religions by identifying patterns and similarities.

Introduction of Ninian Smart, a renowned religion scholar, and his contribution to the field.

Smart's system for organizing religions according to seven dimensions.

The first dimension: Doctrinal, the systematic formulation of a religion's teachings.

The second dimension: Mythological, the overarching stories told by a religion.

The third dimension: Ethical, guidelines for behavior decreed by the religion.

The fourth dimension: Experiential, the emotions experienced during religious practice.

The fifth dimension: Institutional, the communal system and laws unifying practitioners.

The sixth dimension: Material, objects, places, and things symbolizing the sacred.

Using Christianity as an example to illustrate the seven dimensions.

The Nicene Creed as an example of the Doctrinal dimension in Christianity.

The story of Adam and Eve as an example of the Mythological dimension.

The Ten Commandments or Golden Rule as examples of the Ethical dimension.

Sacraments like baptism or the Lord's Supper as examples of the Ritual dimension.

Feelings of forgiveness or grace as examples of the Experiential dimension.

Denomination's bylaws as an example of the Institutional dimension.

A cross, crucifix, icon, or altar as examples of the Material dimension.

Encouragement to subscribe to the channel and engage with the content.

Transcripts

welcome to theo minute where we answer

theological questions in about a minute

today's question is what are the seven

dimensions of world religions hit the

like button and let's answer this

question scholars of religion have

largely abandoned the fashioned

definition of religion which was

something like this belief in and

worship of a personal god that's because

this definition only works for

christianity in islam but not for the

other major world religions instead of

trying to define a religion scholars now

try to outline it that is they look for

patterns and similarities take the

religion scholar ninion smart who died

in 2001. in his books he devised the

system that organized a religion

according to seven dimensions in short

he thought all major religions shared

seven characteristics and here they are

doctrinal the systematic formulation of

a religion's teaching mythological the

overarching stories the religion tells

ethical the guidelines for behavior

decreed by the religion

experiential the emotions experienced

when practicing the religion

institutional the communal system and

laws unifying your religions

practitioners material the objects

places and things that symbolize the

sacred take christianity for instance

the doctrinal might refer to the nicene

creed the mythological might involve the

story of adam and eve the ethical might

include the ten commandments or golden

rule the ritual might refer to the

sacraments like baptism or the lord's

supper the experiential might include

feelings such as forgiveness or grace

the institutional might refer to a

denomination's bylaws and the material

might include a cross a crucifix icon or

alter

so there you have it these are the seven

dimensions of world religions if you

enjoyed this video please subscribe to

our channel hit the like button and i'll

see you next time

[Music]