THE ROBERT BELLAH READER: NOTES


RELIGION AS A SYMBOL SYSTEM

Like Greeley, Bellah defines religion as a symbol system. Here both are following Geertz. Citing Lienhardt (28-29), Bellah grounds religious symbolism in experience. Symbolism is a means by which experience is "imaged"; this imaging differentiates subject and object

What does Bellah add to the research? 

1. He provides a definition of religion
2. He provides information about symbolism