An anthropological approach to religion

A summary of "Religion as a Cultural System" by Clifford Geertz (1965)

Geertz's influential definition of religion

• 1. Religion is a system of symbols which

  2. establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by

  3. formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and

  4. clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that

  5. the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.

What does Geertz mean by "symbol"?

• • a bearer of meaning, e.g., an object, event

  • quality, or relation

  • a tangible, public, observable, concrete embodiment of ideas, attitudes, judgments, longings or beliefs

  • something outside the organism influencing the social and psychological processes that shape public behavior

Examples of symbols:

• • The number 6, written down

  • the Cross

  • a painting [one that conveys meaning]

  • a word, e.g., "God," "reality," "woman."

  • a story

  • a ritual

  • a "holy book"

The functions of sacred symbols:

• • interpret reality and shape behavior

  • support received beliefs by invoking deeply felt moral and aesthetic sentiments as experiential evidence for their truth

  • depict preferences as imposed by reality

  • Synthesize a people’s ethos: the tone, character and quality of their life, its moral and aesthetic style and mood

For example, a Plains Indian on a vision quest who dreams of a buffalo takes that symbol as a message from the spirit world, as interpreted by the wisdom of the tradition of the elders.

"by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence"

We ordinarily believe that we can meaningfully participate in an understandable universe. However, when we face bafflement, suffering, and moral dilemmas . . . Religion gives meaning through a cosmology or philosophy of the universe.

"clothing these conceptions with an aura of factuality"

. . . in other words:

making the religious conceptions of reality seem true by presenting them artistically in an

appealing and persuasive way.

". . . the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic."

in other words: the religionist feels that his or her feelings and action commitments seem to

come from God (or are in tune with deepest Reality). E.g., a person makes an excellent moral

decision and feels a new divine invasion of his or her soul.

Is Geertz’s definition reductionistic?

Is Geertz claiming to tell an important part of the story of religion or the heart of the story?

Does he claim to explain religion?

Is the social-psychological study of the function of religious symbols inconsistent with belief in

the reality of the spirit world?

CG: "We believe all that we can and would believe everything if we only could."