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'''Organized religion''' (or ''organised religion''—see spelling differences), also known as ''institutional religion'', is religion as a [[social]] [[institution]], in which [[belief]] systems and [[rituals]] are systematically arranged and formally established. Organized religion is typically characterized by an official [[doctrine]] (or [[dogma]]), a [[hierarchical]] or [[bureaucratic]] [[leadership]] structure, and a codification of rules and practices.
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
<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."
''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.
==See also==
*'''''[[Religion]]'''''
*'''''[[Tradition]]'''''
==Reference==
*1. James, William (1902). "Lecture II: Circumscription of the Topic". The Varieties of Religious Experience. Arc Manor LLC. p. 31.
[[Category: Religion]]
