Myths About Religions in General
Tamara Sonn
Search for more papers by this authorJohn Morreall
Search for more papers by this authorTamara Sonn
Search for more papers by this authorJohn Morreall
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Among the problems with the idea that all societies have religions is that it assumes, at the very least, that things or aspects of life categorized as “religious” can be distinguished from those that fall outside that category. Closely related to the idea that religion can be separated from non-religious spheres of life is the notion that religion is about what is spiritual. People today often think of religion as being about “the supernatural”- a category that includes such things as God, miracles, angels, and demons. In the English-speaking world today, “faith” is often used as a synonym for “religion,” even by scholars of religion. The Advertising Council's campaign reflects the common perception that to practice religion means essentially “to worship” - as in: show devotion to and acknowledge the supreme value of something.
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