Religion as recreation: an anthropological approach

Religious activities religion can be a part of reducing tension, alleviating anxiety, and creating the hope that the performance will resolve them (Malefijt, 1968; Geertz, 1966; Glazier, 1997). Similarly, people often engage in recreation for reducing stress, improving moods, and enhancing mental and physical health. As such, religion and recreation share common social and communal functions and travel motivations. Despite their varying religious/secular implications, for example, religious holidays like Christmas and Easter share recreational characteristics, especially in a contemporary society. However, it should be acknowledged that there are still some differences: the effects of religion may last longer than those from recreation. This paper, using anthropological theories and methods based on thorough fieldwork focused on how religion may serve as a kind of recreation to people and how an understanding of this relationship might assist the field of recreational studies.