SumBlog 3

This week we learned about religion and how greatly it can vary. I found the Westboro Baptist Church documentary really interesting as I didn't know much about their religion prior to Wednesday. It's crazy to see how different their beliefs are compared to other religions. This made me think about what types of things a "religion" can be.

In class we learned that religion involves beliefs of the sacred. While this usually means some sort of a higher power, I think it can mean something entirely different to someone else. One type of “religion” I considered was sport. Some people live and breathe American football, baseball, basketball, football (soccer), rugby, etc. This sport can be such a strong part of their lives that it becomes a religion. They believe that this sport makes the world a better place, they follow it relentlessly, and the outcome of games affects their mood. People can believe in a team and can practice their belief by attending games or watching on television. This may seem like a strange example to some people, but it is normal for many others.

Another aspect I thought of was love. Some people’s undying love for someone can be a type of religion. This reminded of a song by The Cab called “Her Love Is My Religion.” If you listen to the lyrics, the singer feels lost without his girl. Even in the title of the song you get the gist of the idea; her love is his religion. He lives for her love and she is a part of him. I think this song is a great example of how religion doesn't always have to be about a higher being for some people.

I think for the sociology definition it’s okay to say religion is based on the sacred. However, it isn't necessarily that way for all people and for all definitions. Religion is a subjective term; it isn't something that can be defined the same way by or for every person.