A while ago, I started putting together a theory of religious typology which is rather different from the norm. Most people who talk about what defines a religion look at what the belief-system consists of: monotheism, polytheism, animism, etc. I find that to be rather limiting though, and my understanding of it has more to do with religions as being stories that people live out, personally and socially.

I identified three main drives or directions which religions usually seem to take: orthodox, syncretic & mystical. The differences have to do with how people understand the central story of the religion. In orthodoxy, its generally a literal understanding, and social cohesion is derived from the fact that a uniformity of understanding is thus possible. Syncretic religions, on the other hand foment cohesions by fusing together mutliple orthodoxies at points of overlap. Mystical movements are less concerned with extraverted social cohesion, and more with introverted personal experience or connection with the story.

These three drives are central to the book that I’m trying to write, but I’ve been hitting substantial roadblocks with it in the past few days. I guess I’m looking for the best metaphorical vehicle for delivering these ideas - some kind of framing device. I’m leaning right now towards this idea about religion’s main purpose is not to answer questions for us, but to help us articulate questions and then follow the trails of other people who have asked similar questions.

With that in mind, I started thinking about what types of questions each of the above three drives in religion allow people to ask.

1. Fundamentalism (Orthodox) - How is our story unique, and how can we celebrate and maintain that uniqueness?
2. Syncretism - How is our story similar to other stories, and what can we gain through comparison?
3. Mysticism - What does this story mean to me personally?

My own approach to understanding and explaining religion is decidedly mystic, but I’m trying not to denigrate other paths or turn people off. Rather I’m trying to turn people on to possibilities. I like the direction this is going now, but it still needs further development.