Bellah's Definition Of Religion In American Culture

According to Christopher Bader, Joe Baker and Frederick Carson Mencken in Paranormal America: Ghost encounters, UFO sightings, Bigfoot hunts, and other curiosities in religion and culture (2011) research shows that “more than 2/3 of Americans have paranormal beliefs with this being manifested in their penchant for movies with paranormal themes. This statistic is not alarming since evidently the paranormal and the supernatural have been a part of human culture since the beginning of time. In fact, in most religions paranormal experiences are either commonplace, or show up without alarm to the persons practicing that particular religion. While persons without religion, Jews and dedicated Christians are less likely than others to believe
Moreover, Bellah identifies the oral tradition of story-telling, tribal dance and communal ceremonies as crucial in building strong human bonds, unions and communities. Bellah’s definition of religion is “that which gives meaning and order, ritual that enacts order, both of which provide community” (Bellah, Unit 4). Bellah manages these communities by organizing them into five major religious types, within a chronological structure. Among the categories of religions that he identifies, and describes as being within our human cultural framework, are Tribal Culture and Religion, the beginning of religion, Early Modern Religion, which began about 1500 CE, and Late Modern Religion, which began in the 1960’s and continues through
Additionally the Bible sets the tone for paranormal belief with its several references to paranormal activity. An Old Testament prophet can be compared with a Sharman, since they can foretell things and have wisdom and healing abilities. A number of Biblical characters: Saul, at his visit to the medium, Endor, Daniel with his vision of the end time; and Paul and his Damascus road experience. Several Christians have also testified of having near death experiences, and being prayed back to