Can most religions be classified into 3 different classifications?

Question

I was puttering around in one of my comparative religion books and I started to see a pattern. It seems like most religions can be classified as being one of the following; theology based, law based or mystical.

There are a zillion books on Christian theology but not much on law and only a smattering of mysticism (mostly written in the Middle Ages).

There are zillions of law commentaries for Judaism a smidge of mysticism. And has anyone ever heard of Jewish theology? Islam is primarily a religion of law too.

Then there seem to be the mystical religions: The Neo-Pagan stuff, Sufism (a branch of Islam), and Native American religions, etc.

Am I seeing pigeon holes that I shouldn’t be?

Answer 1

I think this is a GREAT question and, without stroking you, a great observation. I think that the law and theology-based ones can be combined (the laws are usually of divine authority), giving us 2 categories. And while we can classify religions into theology/law-oriented or mystical-oriented, I always saw it as every religion being used either in a spiritual or a non-spiritual, rigid way. When buddhism's concepts, laws, and rituals are used as tools for reduction of the self and the experience of enlightenment, this would be the spiritual orientation. When its concepts are used as a belief system as an end in and of itself, we get the non-spiritual side. The same thing with christianity and judaism. Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, and others (e.g. I just read 'Father Joe' - excellent) used the concepts of Christianity as the context for the reduction of their ego and, in some cases, experience of enlightenment. Most, however, treat the theology as Truth and stop there. Like you said, Sufis emphasize the mystical experience (e.g. Rumi); the Muslim fundamentalists (like any fundamentalist) treat the theology as the end and not the means. There used to be a great website (Mysticism in World Religions) but the links are not working; it's excellent. Also, I recommend reading 'Belonging to the Universe' where Capra talks to two Jesuits; made me think more deeply about Christianity.

Somewhat related is an excellent article - highly recommend it (see what eminent theologians say about Islam, Judaism, etc.): http://www.salon.com/books/int/2006/05/30/armstrong/print.html

Answer 2

Actually I have personally studied books on Jewish theology granted that the volume of books on law subjects is enormous, but it only looks out of proportion if you do not realize that the nature o the laws is fundamental in Jewish theology in that they are keys to achieving closeness with the Creator. And understanding that relationship gets in to the more mystical nature of Jewish thought.

Answer 3

Theology is the study of god related subjects.
"Law"s here refer to the will of god as apply to followers.
While mysticism focus on the esoteric and meanings.

Problem is that we could not hold anyone responsible in our own reality for what was saw, said, done, written, or otherwise experienced. The only thing we could rely on is faith. That in itself is not a bad thing. But, for skeptics or opposing religions, it is very difficult to accept if at all possible.

Answer 4

Actually, that sounds like a course in Seminary. I would imagine what you're seeing is the progression from "Old Testatment, Torah, Qu'ran" originations of the "Books of Law", "Books of Justice," and Chronicals of Kings and Nations. Then you would come to the period where Jesus Christ was born; we are no longer living under the consequences of the "Books of Law," such as death by stoning for prostitution or for sleeping with a man that isn't you husband, etc. We were and are under grace, through faith in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That would bring you to the "Christian Theology" after the Reformation of the Church and Martin Luther.

The faiths or practices of "mysticism" would actually fall under those of the "Neo-Pagan / Druid / Witchcraft / Astrology" types of practices that are not "faiths," but practices---or religions.

The Native American faiths---of which I am very familiar, since I am the daughter of a full-blooded Black Foot --- are as diverse as those of the "Judeo-Christian" community. In that, the different tribes, although similar in some areas, are quite diverse in their beliefs and traditions as they pertain to "salvation". Cherokee, Apache, Arapaho, and Black Foot all believed in the "Great Spirit", God. And they all had stories, long before Catholic, Quaker, and Shaker missionaries invaded, of stories very similar to the ones of "Noah," "Adam and Eve," ect. How those originated in the tribes that were so cut off from the Middle East, we can only surmize.

If by "pigeon hole" you are describing a situation where all human beings find their niche and stay there, then I would suspect that would be a good theory--to a point.

However, my own faith in Jesus Christ brings me to the conclusion that there is only one choice---one way of thinking---that can lead me to peace, and eternal life. And that is through the promises of the prophecies of the Old Testatment, and the realizations of those prophecies by Christ bringing in the New Testament of Faith and Grace.

I believe the escape from the pigeon hole is grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

There are 'revealed' religions... primarily the Abrahamic cults of desert monotheism (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). There are religions that focus on self-realization (Taoism, Buddhism)... although they are more like philosophies than religions. Then there are nature-based religions... Wicca, Animist. then, as you say, 'mystical'. There are mystical elements to Christianity (Gnostic) and Judaism (can't remember what its called).

Answer 6

I would categorize religions this way:

#1 True
#2 False
#3 Flat Out Sillyness

Answer 7

Yeah, you're seeing pigeon holes (i think...im not familiar with that phrase).

Religions are much more complex than that. And i wouldn't use "law" as one of them; the jews just happened to put their laws in their holy book. It's not really a theologically important aspect of their religious beliefs.

All religions are theological in nature, by definition:
"The study of the nature of God. The study of religion, and religious beliefs. (Greek theo-logia: god-treating of)."

If you want to categorize religion, i would use things like deities, beliefs on the afterlife, beliefs on human nature, etc. for classifying religions. And you'll probably want to use a hierarchal classification scheme, since many religions have things in common.

Answer 8

Sorry, but there is a big difference between faith and theory. Faith is wishful thinking (or sometimes fearful thinking). It is belief in something without any evidence to support it. On the other hand, theory is a proposition to explain evidence. It is not a belief. It is something taken to explain evidence. If later evidence shows the theory false, then the theory is changed or dropped completely.

Answer 9

I've not read the books you're reading, but from your description I'll agree with you.

It sure makes sense to me, when I think of the various religions in the world.

Answer 10

They're all mystical. A non-mystical aproach to the world isnt a religion. Its science.