Final answer:
The minimal category of religion refers to a system of beliefs that includes acknowledgment and interaction with the supernatural, manifesting in diverse practices across cultures but sharing common elements such as cosmologies, rituals, and moral codes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defining the Minimal Category of Religion
The minimal category of religion that captures the customary way of addressing the supernatural in every religious system in the world can be broadly defined as a system of beliefs that acknowledges and interacts with the supernatural. This can encompass a wide range of beliefs in supernatural phenomena such as gods, spirits, or undefined forces that are beyond the scope of natural laws. Such beliefs may manifest in various ways, including rituals, reverence towards nature, or the acknowledgement of supernatural forces in daily life.
Across different cultures, this inherent belief in the supernatural is expressed through methods like ancestor veneration, nature worship, or invoking spiritual support through ritualistic practices. These approaches to the supernatural are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of societies, and are influenced by the surrounding natural and social environments. Whether adherents follow monotheistic, polytheistic, or animistic belief systems, the fundamental recognition of the supernatural serves as a universal aspect of religion.
Furthermore, common elements are found within these religious systems, including cosmologies, rules governing behavior, rituals, and sometimes a distinction of sacred spaces or objects. These elements together formulate the structure of a religion, traditionally involving practices that maintain a connection between the natural world and the supernatural realm.