Changes

The term ''organized religion'' is frequently used in the mass [[media]] to refer to the world's largest religious [[groups]], especially those known by name internationally, and also refers to [[organizations]] to which one can legally or officially [[affiliate]] oneself with or not.

The term ''organized religion'' is frequently used in the mass [[media]] to refer to the world's largest religious [[groups]], especially those known by name internationally, and also refers to [[organizations]] to which one can legally or officially [[affiliate]] oneself with or not.

Organized religion is distinguished from the broader [[idea]] of [[religion]] especially in [[anthropology]], [[sociology]], and [[philosophy]]. American philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James William James] describes that

Organized religion is distinguished from the broader [[idea]] of [[religion]] especially in [[anthropology]], [[sociology]], and [[philosophy]]. American philosopher [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James William James] describes that

<blockquote>Religion... shall mean for us the [[feelings]], [[acts]], and [[experiences]] of individual men in their [[solitude]]... in relation to whatever they may consider the [[divine]]. Since the relation may be either [[moral]], [[physical]], or [[ritual]], it is evident that out of religion in the sense in which we take it, theologies, philosophies, and ecclesiastical organizations may secondarily grow.[1]</blockquote>

<blockquote>Religion... shall mean for us the [[feelings]], [[acts]], and [[experiences]] of individual men in their [[solitude]]... in relation to whatever they may consider the [[divine]]. Since the relation may be either [[moral]], [[physical]], or [[ritual]], it is evident that out of religion in the sense in which we take it, theologies, philosophies, and ecclesiastical organizations may secondarily grow.[1]</blockquote>

James further comments that the essential elements of "institutional religion" are "[[worship]] and [[sacrifice]], procedures for working on the dispositions of the [[deity]] [i.e.] [[theology]], and [[ceremony]] and ecclesiastical organization."

James further comments that the essential elements of "institutional religion" are "[[worship]] and [[sacrifice]], procedures for working on the dispositions of the [[deity]] [i.e.] [[theology]], and [[ceremony]] and ecclesiastical organization."

''Organized religion'' seems to have gained prevalence since the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_era Neolithic era] with the rise of wide-scale [[civilization]] and [[agriculture]]. Organized religions may include a [[state]]'s official religion, for example reified by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church state church]; however, most political states have any number of organized religions practiced within their [[jurisdiction]]. Due to their structured, standardized, and so easily proliferated form, organized religions comprise many of the world's major religious groups. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion Abrahamic religions] are all largely considered organized (including [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], [[Judaism]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahai_Faith Bahai Faith]), as well as some schools of thought within Indian religions (for example, some schools of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism]). Religions that are not considered organized, or only loosely so, include many indigenous and folk religions, such as traditional African religions, Native American religions, and prehistoric religions, as well as personal religions.  

''Organized religion'' seems to have gained prevalence since the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic_era Neolithic era] with the rise of wide-scale [[civilization]] and [[agriculture]]. Organized religions may include a [[state]]'s official religion, for example reified by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church state church]; however, most political states have any number of organized religions practiced within their [[jurisdiction]]. Due to their structured, standardized, and so easily proliferated form, organized religions comprise many of the world's major religious groups. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion Abrahamic religions] are all largely considered organized (including [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], [[Judaism]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahai_Faith Bahai Faith]), as well as some schools of thought within Indian religions (for example, some schools of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism]). Religions that are not considered organized, or only loosely so, include many indigenous and folk religions, such as traditional African religions, Native American religions, and prehistoric religions, as well as personal religions.  

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Religion]]'''''

*'''''[[Religion]]'''''