The word ‘religion’ has so many different connotations that it is impossible to give a precise definition. Theologians, philosophers, anthropologists, historians and atheists have all tried to define it variously according to their expertise and view points. I am not competent to review all these definitions, and I think that for our purpose such a comprehensive review is not necessary. All definitions are formulated with words which themselves need definitions. As soon as we leave the field of the material our language becomes incapable of providing us with clear-cut concepts and meanings.

Almost all definitions of religion speak of the belief in some supernatural being or power, in something that appears to be sacred or divine. The origin of such a belief may be the fear of the pre-scientific man facing the devastating nature which he did not understand and which was all-powerful, or it may be, as in the organized religions, belief in the revelation of some superhuman mystery. In all cases the central concept is belief. And belief, as it is ordinarily understood, is not founded on personal experience or experimentation. It is mostly the result of indoctrination, the handing down of traditional lore of which the veracity is unquestioned and unquestionable. For the critics of religious beliefs this attitude is irrational. But believers themselves defend their attitude by saying that reason is an uncertain means of knowledge: there is an insight greater than reason which can discover truths that reason is incapable of knowing; the supernatural power or being uses seers and prophets possessing such insights to reveal itself to the ignorant humans. On hearing such statements the critic will immediately point out that there is here a second belief—belief in the words of the seer and the prophet.    more »