EM TORNO DA PROBLEMÁTICA DE DEFINIR RELIGIÃO

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the problems of defining and classifying explicitly the concept of religion. We agree with the criteria of extensional accuracy, neutrality, phenomenology and non-circularity established by Mark Owen Webb (2009) as suitable for a good philosophical definition of religion. However, all attempts to establish an explicit definition that satisfies these criteria were unsuccessful. We propose a definition of religion less demanding, sustained by Morris Weitz (1956) for literature and applied mutatis mutandis to the concept of religion. Also, the definition can be refined by the prototypical theory as developed by Benson Saler (2000).