Religion and belief: The case from the study of religion3

Abstract

In this study, I emphasise that beliefs are always inherent in lived spirituality. According to John Hick (1989), a scholar of religion, offering beliefs that address human questions about dealing with the limitations and sufferings of life as well as the human quest for meaning is a central function of religion in human culture. Based on this theory, I explore the importance of studying how religious beliefs are received and appropriated, particularly in our globalised, pluralistic culture where there is a smorgasbord of beliefs.