Five elements of a religion per Herbert

Edward Herbert (1583–1648) proposed five elements that constitute a minimal definition of religion. These elements, which he called “Common Notions,” are:

1. A belief in a supreme deity
2. A belief that the supreme deity must be worshipped
3. A belief that the cultivation of virtue is the most significant element of religious practice
4. A belief that one must seek repentance for wrong-doing
5. A belief that one is punished or rewarded in this life or the afterlife

References

Schilbrack, K. (2022). The Concept of Religion. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2022). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2022/entries/concept-religion/

Herbert identified five “articles” or “elements” that he proposed were found in every religion, which he called the Common Notions, namely: the beliefs that there is a supreme deity, this deity should be worshipped, the most important part of religious practice is the cultivation of virtue, one should seek repentance for wrong-doing, and one is rewarded or punished in this life and the next.