Journal of American Science, 2012;8(3) http://www.americanscience.org Applying Nanian Smart’s Framework for Study of World Great Religions; a Review Mahnaz Dehghanifard Department of Humanities, Payame Noor University, PO BOX 19395-3697, Tehran, IRAN [email protected] Abstract: The current study reviews fundamentals of Nanian Smart’s proposed seven dimension of religion. Then reviews the five big religions in the world and compare the Smart’s dimensions in these religions and provide samples. Many of religion researchers believe the Smart’s model provide a good theoretical framework for conceptualizing main issues, symbols and necessities of the religions. So, the current study applies this approach for better understanding of world biggest religions. [Mahnaz Dehghanifard. Applying Nanian Smart’s Framework for Study of World Great Religions; a Review. Journal of American Science 2012;8(3):474-477]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org. 63 Keywords: Nanian Smart, Comparison, Religion, 7 dimensions. Introduction: Emile Durkheim took a functionalist approach to the It is impossible to answer the question 'What subject of religion and concluded that it was an all is religion?' without resorting to personal opinion. important factor in creating and sustaining a Like 'What is good?', the question is one of values harmonious society. Durkheim saw religion as the which are perhaps not open to scientific enquiry at cement that bound society together. Through shared all. This is quite an intractable problem. Although beliefs and practices religion creates a sense of social most of us have an idea of what religion is, we might identity and reinforces the moral values of the struggle to explain it. When asked, many would say society. Rites of passage are important as a means of that religion is a way of life based on belief in God. initiating individuals into the wider society and However, do we mean the god of classical theism, the embedding a sense of responsibility. Like Marx, god of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, or something Durkheim recognised that religion played a role in more general, more nebulous? And what of those social control but he saw this in a positive light, traditions, such as certain branches of Buddhism, that arguing that religion helped to maintain the effectively sidestep the god question altogether? All community's shared values. this goes to show how our pre-existing values and Max Weber adopted a social action perceptions colour our attempts to answer the approach to the study of religion and explored how question of 'What is religion?' religion could be an agent of change rather than a Many scholars, from various disciplines, conservative agent inhibiting change. Weber have attempted to answer the question in as objective examined the relationship between Calvinism, a form a manner as possible. What follows is an introduction of Protestant Christianity, and the development of to some of those answers. We begin by taking a capitalism. Weber concluded that, although detailed look at the work of the religious scholar Calvinism was not the only contributing factor, it Ninian Smart before going on to explore the views of created a context in which one's position in society psychologists, sociologists and evolutionary was not fixed and in which hard work was actively biologists. encouraged. The result, according to Weber, was significant social change. Approaches for Analyzing Religions Feminist sociologists have identified Social Approach religion as a key factor in the subordination of Sociologists explain religion in terms of its women. They state that practically all religions stem role within society. Karl Marx's analysis led him to from and maintain patriarchal societies. The use of conclude that religion was a powerful agent of social masculine language to describe and address the control. He believed that the position of ruling elites god(s) has helped to reinforce the dominance of men. both stemmed from and was maintained by religious In the same way the exclusion of women from the beliefs; the divine right of kings being a prime leadership of many traditions has compounded example. Marx believed that religion would naturally women's sense of inferiority. Religion has often fade away in a socialist society. It is interesting to denigrated women; at best they are seen as morally note that in both Soviet Russia and China religion did weak and at worst they are believed to be inherently not disappear. evil. Women's ambitions have been constrained by the assertion that it is their religious duty to obey 474 Journal of American Science, 2012;8(3) http://www.americanscience.org their husbands and to serve them, and their children, the realm of belief and concepts and requires in the home. Feminist sociologists have also dialogue and participation; "since the study of man is highlighted the role of religion in the subjugation of in an important sense participatory – for one has to female sexuality. Women have been denied a positive enter into men’s intentions, beliefs, myths, desires, in view of their own bodies and sexuality and instead order to understand why they act as they do – it is have been presented with virginal role models. fatal if cultures including our own are described merely externally, without entering into dialogue Evolutionary Approach with them. Below we have some discussions on the Many scientists, from a wide variety of dimensions of Smart’s categorization. disciplines, influenced by Darwinian evolution have Social and Institutional: belief system is shared sought to explain religion in evolutionary terms. and attitudes practiced by a group. Often rules for Some writers have tried to suggest that the identifying community membership and participation pervasiveness of religious beliefs is due to the (public) existence of a 'god gene'. Supporters of the theory, Ethical and legal: Rules about human behavior such as Dean Hamer (The God Gene: How Faith is (often regarded as revealed from supernatural realm) Hardwired into Our Genes), suggest that human Doctrinal and philosophical: systematic religious behaviour is the result of a genetic formulation of religious teachings in an intellectually adaptation. Twin research conducted at the coherent form University of Minnesota in the late 1970s and early Material: ordinary objects or places that 1980s seemed to suggest that some people have a symbolize or manifest the sacred or supernatural genetic predisposition towards spirituality. Religious Ritual: Forms and orders of ceremonies (private supporters of the idea argue that, as creatures we are and/or public) (often regarded as revealed) 'hardwired' to reach out to our creator; God made us Narrative and Mythic: stories (often regarded as to want to love him. revealed) that work on several levels. Sometimes Richard Dawkins, the world-famous author, narratives fit together into a fairly complete and ethologist and evolutionary biologist, has put forward systematic interpretation of the universe and human's the concept of the 'meme'. Memes mutate and evolve place in it. in much the same way as genes, but unlike genes that Experiential and emotional: dread, guilt, awe, are bundles of genetic material within the cells of mystery, devotion, liberation, ecstasy, inner peace, living organisms, memes are bundles of ideas, such bliss (private) as tunes, or jokes, scientific theories or religious beliefs. While genes are passed on through sexual Seven Dimensions of religion and samples an reproduction, memes are passed on in comparison with world big religions communication, and ultimately, through imitation. Ritual Dimension: Religious beliefs, according to Dawkins, are among Rites of Passage – mark or bring about change of some of the most powerful memes ever and, although social position and status, change in physical or he rightly offers no explanation of the origins of the spiritual being of initiate; change of life phase (life- god meme, his concept provides a theoretical cycle rites: birth, puberty, marriage, framework that explains the development and death). Example: Death rite in Hinduism: pyre, son amazing persistence of religious beliefs: religion is recites prayer to fire, burns, and strikes head highly infectious. The Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension The Intellectual components of religions, Dimensions of religion however simple or complex.. Especially developed in Smart (1958, 1960)is widely known for his literate, scholarly traditions. The role and influence of seven-part definition of religion, or rather scheme of scripture upon the spread and continuity of idea. study; as this approach avoids the problem of Examples of doctrine are: Theology: Systematic defining altogether. Whatever else religion may or speculation about God and God's relationship with may not be – whether theistic or non-theistic, Human beings. religions possess certain recognizable elements, which can be studied. These dimensions vary in The Ethical and Legal Dimension importance but are almost always present. Smart Ethics concerns what is good and bad, how one divided these into "historical" and "para-historical," should live. E.g., the ethic of love in Christianity; meaning by the latter those dimensions that take the Covenantal ethic in Judaism. Law concerns what you investigation into the experience, or inner lives, or must do and what will happen if you don't (rules and religious people. The "historical" can be studied punishments). Examples: Shari'a (Law): pray (5) empirically, the para-historical takes the student into times daily, give alms, four wives.… Torah ("law"): 475 Journal of American Science, 2012;8(3) http://www.americanscience.org hundreds of laws, dietary (milk and meat. Oral/written. Kinds of narratives are: Historical The Social and Institutional Dimension: how narratives: Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad -- people's interactions are organized as part of their Histories of: a people; saints; prophets; nations and religion. lands; wars .... Creation narratives: before history, Examples include: Church, monastic orders, before time. How the universe began - cosmogony. Sangha, Umma. All of society itself: totemism and How is creation organized -- cosmology.