Pseudoreligion encyclopedia topics

Pseudoreligion - 2 reference results

Pseudoreligion (or pseudotheology) is a generally pejorative term applied to a non-mainstream belief system or philosophy which is functionally similar to religious practices, typically having a founder, principal text, liturgy and faith-based beliefs.

Belief systems such as Theosophy, corporate Kabbalism and the Nation of Islam have all been referred to as pseudoreligions, as have humanism and various New Age religions, as well as political ideologies such as Nazism, Marxist Communism. Within the academic debate, ideologies that resemble religion are sometimes referred to as political religions.

While the more serious-minded participants in these groups may prefer to consider themselves part of a proper religion, or not part of a religion at all, the mainstream ascribes to them fringe status. Such groups as the Raëlian Church, Heaven's Gate, or Scientology, when seen as dangerous, exploitive, secretive, or closed, have been classified as pseudoreligious cults.

Others may begin as splinters or hold-overs from traditional religions based in Apocryphal or Pseudepigraphical writings not accepted within the originating religion. Examples of this include the various sects of Gnosticism.

Satirical or parody religions, such as Discordianism, Church of the SubGenius, or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, have been viewed as pseudoreligions, particularly when members claim that their group is as real and/or as valid as other more widely accepted belief systems.

Professor James Carmine, chair of Carlow University's philosophy department, proposes a three-pronged test to distinguish "authentic" religions from pseudoreligions:

# Any religion lacking a guiding coherent theology is a pseudo-religion.

# Any religion entirely self referential is a pseudo-religion.

# Any religion whose only fruit is adherence to itself is a pseudo-religion.

Applying this test, Carmine describes "third-wave feminism" and political correctness as "bad religions."

Other scholars of religion, particularly anthropologists and sociologists, are not inclined to view religious practices in terms of authenticity. Examples of marginal movements with founding figures, liturgies and recently invented traditions that have been studied as legitimate social practices include various New Age movements, and millennaristic movements such as the Ghost Dance and south Pacific cargo cults.

References

External links

"Pseudo-Science and Pseudo-Theology: (A) Cult and Occult"; Bube, Dr. Richard A., Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, Issue 29, March 1977.
"Bad Religions and Good Religions"; Carmine, Professor James D, IntellectualConservative.com, 14 December 2005.