Introduction to the Study of Religion

Author: Luo Zhufeng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1991-12-01
Features:
Foreword
Religion, neither a simple belief in ghosts and gods nor a part of other social consciousness systems, is the imagination of the objective material world in the human brain. "In religion, people transform their experiential world into an imaginary essence that stands in opposition to them as a foreign entity."① Corresponding to the complex imagination of people, religion exhibits a variety of types. Each type has formed distinct religious doctrines, organizations, and rituals within its own geographical and ethnic scope, yet all are emotional phenomena. It is precisely this emotional influence that has given religion both positive and negative roles throughout history.
The study of religion is a very young discipline. It differs from theology, which assumes the existence of deities, and from atheism, which argues against the existence of deities. Instead, it takes religion in general as its research object, with religious phenomena existing in society and history as its subject. It examines the forms and contents of religious ideas, actions, and organizations, studies the processes and foundations of their origins and evolution, and explores their nature, laws, and social functions. As a social science, the study of religion covers a broad scope, encompassing almost all fields of humanities and social sciences, as well as certain natural science elements. Thus, it is undoubtedly an interdisciplinary foundational discipline, and its research methods naturally reflect this inclusivity in a colorful array.
Therefore, in the series of textbooks we have compiled for postgraduate students in relevant disciplines at universities and for elective courses in religious studies for liberal arts majors, this book, An Introduction to the Study of Religion, undoubtedly holds a central position. It unifies the basic theoretical perspectives and methods of the other two works—A Concise History of Religion and Selected Religious Texts—in terms of its fundamental theories.
When compiling this book, we strove to provide as comprehensive and objective an understanding of religious issues as possible from different levels. The title An Introduction to the Study of Religion (rather than "An Introduction to Religion") reflects its purpose: not to systematically introduce various religious traditions, but to examine the role and function of religion in human social life from a general perspective. In fact, no general can exist without the particular, and it can only be embodied within the particular. Therefore, if readers can further grasp the specific materials provided in the other two books on the basis of the methodological foundations discussed in this book, it will undoubtedly be beneficial for a deeper understanding of religious issues.
The book is divided into five parts, each a self-contained unit, discussing religious phenomena from different perspectives and guiding readers to further explore religious issues based on domestic and international research findings.
Part I discusses and introduces the nature of the study of religion, the origins and constituent elements of religion, and its classification.
Part II discusses religious consciousness, pointing out that the characteristics of religious belief are the reflection of the objective material world in people's thoughts and emotions, as well as their pursuit of the ultimate and the afterlife. It elaborates on the philosophical principles of religious theology, that is, religion is a reversed perception of the objective world by humans, a sentimental activity, and it highlights the mystical nature of religion.
Part III discusses the relationship between religion and social life. It first introduces the views of Western scholars on religious sociology, pointing out the role and significance of the development of religious communities and organizations. It also discusses ethical perspectives in religion and introduces the content and meaning of religious rituals and practices.
Part IV explains the relationship between religion and historical culture, elaborating on the interdisciplinary significance of religion as a field of study. It introduces the interconnections and distinctions between religion and mythology, language, art, culture, and science.
Part V discusses religious issues in the socialist period, a brand-new research topic. To scientifically understand this social phenomenon, one must reveal the religious factors from all aspects of human social life and recognize religious phenomena from a philosophical height. In this regard, the content of the study of religion is extremely broad, so a true understanding of religious phenomena requires multidisciplinary knowledge.
When discussing religious phenomena in this book, we strive to generalize the various manifestations and factors of religion in social life and encourage readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this social phenomenon. This is also the purpose of compiling this book.
Undoubtedly, there are still many shortcomings in this book, and we sincerely welcome readers' criticism and corrections.
The authors who participated in the compilation of this book are as follows:
Part I—General Concepts of the Study of Religion: Lu Junjie, Zhu Changyi
Part II—Religious Consciousness: Lu Junjie, Xu Jiajun, Deng Huidong, Liang Song, Xian Junning
Part III—Religious Life and Society: Zhu Changyi, Qiu Naiqi, Liang Song, Liu Chun
Part IV—Religion and Historical Culture: Qiu Naiqi, Liang Song, Liu Chun, Zhang Nan, Zhao Changlin, Wang Honghu
Part V—Socialism and Religion: Xiao Zhitian, Luo Weihong
The entire book was compiled and edited by Zhu Changyi and Lu Junjie, and reviewed by Luo Zhufeng and Chen Zemin. Liang Zuomin and Chen Wei participated in the writing and revision of some chapters.