Pithy and Comprehensive

Two days ago in my 600-level "theory of religion" course - also known as required-to-graduate-as-a-religious-studies-major course - I was asked to write out a definition for religion.

Now we all know Geertz tried and systematically spiraled our society into a serious shenanigan. But he also structured religion in such a way to leave no room for Freudian liberty.

You have the Vatican. And then you have your 10:00pm (on the dot) cookie-eating devotee. Does our society not ascribe to them both a certain "religious" demeanor? The relativity of the word in and of itself defies the boundaries of an organized, centuries-old construct.

Naturally, the hoity toities in my class affirmed their disbelief in a sufficient definition for the term religion. And then the circle came around to me. My cheeks already started to seep into the redness of premature, anticipated embarrassment.

Nevertheless, I articulated well and with swan-like resolve, I said:

"Religion is the manifestation and articulation of human toil to give order to everything we subscribe to internally and externally."

Bam.

My professor's area of expertise is in Nepalese cultural diversity in the 21st century, specifically in regards to women's modern Christian conversion and evangelical underground church leadership roles. All that to say, she has intellectual authority over us on all aggregate religious topics.

She approved and chalked my definition onto the board in its own category.

I considered it a minor victory in a vast world of postmodern relativity and pompous academics.

The problem, the foundation-cracking issue, with my definition is that mechanistic regurgitation will not solve human toil. Some display of our brokenness exists in that definition. But what comfort do we have in life in death?

"That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him." 

Heidelberg Catechism