RELIGION AS AN IDENTIFIABLE TRADITIONAL BEHAVIOR SUBJECT TO NATURAL-SELECTION

This article puts forth a definition of religion that refers only to i dentifiable elements. Previous definitions typically refer to beliefs in supernatural--i.e., unidentifiable-phenomena. These definitions neg lect the fact that beliefs in general may be just as difficult to iden tify with the senses as the content of religious beliefs, i.e., allege d supernatural beings and powers. This article thus argues that the on ly thing identifiable that is distinctly religious is a certain type o f behavior, more specifically, a certain type of talk. Further, althou gh a statement about the existence of something supernatural is necess ary for talk to be considered religious, such a claim by itself is not identifiably religious. Religious behavior can rather be defined as t he communicated acceptance of a supernatural claim, a claim whose accu racy cannot be demonstrated by the senses. The accuracy of this defini tion can be tested by examining whether it is consistent with the way the words ''religion'' and ''religious'' are actually used. If this de finition is found to be consistent with the use of these words, the st udy of religion becomes subject to the scientific principles used to s tudy other forms of behavior. These principles include the theory of e volution by natural selection.