So, yes, ideology is like religion, and it may be worth pointing this out as a means of encouraging those on both sides of an issue to introspect about their … He states that nationalism is simply ‘an ideological movement for attaining and maintaining autonomy, unity and identity for a population which some of its members deem to constitute an actual or potential “nation” (Anthony Smith, Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History, 2001, p.9). This ideology is held by many powerful individuals, who claim it transmits democracy and benefits everyone. On the other hand ideology proceeds from political leaders and economic thinkers. to religion, and "Islamic fundamentalism" is thus no more than a convenient representation of a deep-seated phenomenon. Different Theories of Ideology, Science and Religion. Ideology, religion and politics have varied in their relative importance and sometimes become intertwined. All ideology is not based on truths and proofs, nor does it exclude logical conclusions, nor is all all religion based on unwarranted beliefs. Religion deals with customs and manners of a particular community in terms of belief in superhuman powers. Already historically, they belong to a different “imaginary” than most of the “millenarian” parallels Slezkine draws throughout the book. But some religions don’t require a deity, like Jainism. There is no room for logical conclusions in ideology. It fosters innovative research, nurtures new generations of social scientists, deepens how inquiry is practiced within and across disciplines, and mobilizes necessary knowledge on important public issues. The concept of “Civil Religion” was introduced into American scholarship by Robert N. Bellah, “Civil Religion in America,” Daedalus, Winter 1967. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. PLAY. 1). Concepts at stake, such as the substantive/functional distinction or theories of political religion, make sense only within a “disenchanted” or secularized framework in the sense described most forcefully by Charles Taylor. I would suggest that you study exactly what is meant by religion and what is meant by ideology, rather then synthesize meanings for things of which you obviously know nothing. It indicates a qualitative shift in these supposedly similar phenomena. The example is Islam where their religion is a government system. Religion and Ideology are two terms that are likely to be confused due to the closeness in their meanings and concepts. What happens in Slezkine’s narrative when not paying sufficient attention to the substantive dimension of religion may be briefly demonstrated by his equating two “millennial” expressions: the “Real Day” (a metaphor borrowed from an essay by Nikolai Dobroliubov (1860) to signify the Bolshevik future expectation) and the “Second Coming” from Christian theology. The base concepts can never be proven, but are only more likely to be accepted based on individual interpretations of observables and the ability of the presenter to convey his interpretation of those observables. Hegemony: Hegemony is a form of dominance which uses ideology to control people. Indeed, the Marxists/Bolsheviks were conscious actors in the specific process of disenchantment and secularization and in its philosophical, scientific, and ideological expressions. On the other hand ideology proceeds from political leaders and economic thinkers. In other words, I would suggest you come up with a rational defense for your ideas. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The idea that religion is ideological is usually associated with Marxist and Radical Feminist Perspectives. whether or not it is promoted as an explicit system of thought or implicitly held. I use the term ideology, to mean the study of ideas or a system of ideas. One must question whether Islam is truly a religion or a political ideology given that the followers of Islam are so intent on the imposition of their beliefs on the rest of the non-Muslim world, including barbarisms such as gratuitous murder, sexual assault, and wholesale destruction of cultural artifacts. Religion is based on beliefs and faiths. From the Latin religio (respect for what is sacred) and religare (to bind, in the sense of an obligation), the term religion describes various systems of belief and practice that define what people consider to be sacred or spiritual (Fasching and deChant 2001; Durkheim 1915). The Immanent Frame publishes interdisciplinary perspectives on religion, secularism, and the public sphere. Religion has nothing to do with politics whereas Ideology has a lot to do with politics. Filed Under: Religion Tagged With: economic thinkers, ideology, political leaders, Religion, superhuman powers, Theory, Professor in Social Science and a contributing writer for Difference Between. Berger & Luckman believe all ideologies are socially constructed and cannot be measured. This is also where Slezkine’s historical narrative and focus on the individual testimonies and archival documents not only have historical, but also methodological, surplus value. Indeed, all these imitations and “parodies” of religious phenomena functioned (and were consciously used) as ideology. Since you come here to present nothing other than a red herring, your claim is devoid of validity or usefulness to this discussion. Tell that to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu who cites a Bible to justify his nation’s racist apartheid agenda. Scope: Hegemony: Hegemony captures the entire society. Religion has basic texts to follow whereas ideology has basic concepts and principles to follow. Poorly written and thought out. I would suggest that you study exactly what is meant by religion and what is meant by ideology, rather then synthesize meanings for things of which you obviously know nothing. Kujenga Amani facilitates the exchange of ideas about diverse aspects of peacebuilding in Africa. As this paper shows, three main uses are currently dominant: religion as belief/meaning, religion as identity, and religion as structured social relations. In The House of Government Yuri Slezkine presents with great richness of ideas and details a hugely well-sourced history of Bolshevik “believers” and their individual fates. Religion as a Dominant Ideology. A religious ideology is a system of theories, concepts and objectives that underhandedly takes advantage of people's religious allegiances. Religion often develops from founders and religious heads. Katya Tolstaya is associate professor at the Faculty of Religion and Theology and founding director of the Institute for the Academic Study of Eastern-European Christianity (INaSEC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, as well as founding president of the International Association for Post-Soviet Theology and Study of Religion (PAST). The most sensible answer is that it does not matter.” While I cannot nearly do justice here to Slezkine’s ambitious undertaking, I briefly touch upon two points to suggest why it does matter whether we, as scholars (historians, theologians, sociologists, etc. This is another reason why the “usual answer” is to the point. There is no room for logical conclusions in … Slezkine applies the metaphors at various places in the book, for example: “Most prophets of the Real Day were either Christians or socialists. It is not even possible to prove that the entire existence as we know it is not some virtual simulation created by some external beings for their entertainment. Now Slezkine explicitly develops his concept of millenarianism dissatisfied with the “conventional definition” of religion as implying belief in “the existence of supernatural entities with powers of action.” He raises the question “whether the Marxist drama of universal degradation and salvation (…) is in some sense ‘supernatural.’ The usual answer is no: because the Marxist prediction is meant to be rational and this-worldly; (…) because ‘ordinary people’ don’t think of Marxism as a religion; and because the whole point of using the conventional definition is to exclude Marxism and other beliefs that assume the nonexistence of supernatural (science-defying) entities.” By employing the notion of millenarianism, Slezkine tries to get beyond this “usual answer.”, But the “usual answer” makes sense in that it links to a substantive argument. This is also an important difference between religion and ideology. Comparison of Religions Eastern (Indian-Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) and Western (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) Religions Pravin K. Shah Jain Study Center of North Carolina 401 Farmstead Drive, Cary NC 27511-5631 E-mail: pkshah1@ibm.net Website: www.jainism.org Market globalism advocates promise a consumerist, neoliberal, free-market world. Religion consists in the belief in a superhuman controlling power especially in a personal God or gods entitled to worship ( Defined by The Concise Oxford Dictionary).