Does saying you are religious make you religious?

[Panda]

I read a study here which got me wondering what makes someone religious?

Often people will say I am X religion but do not follow it's practises. Does this mean they are said religion or not? Should you have to meet certain standards to be called a member of a particular faith instead of just being able to say you are?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I'd want to know what they really believe and their purposes in labeling themselves as such.

I suppose that if an individual upholds the particular religion in some way, even if it's just boosting numbers, then they are in some way supporting that religion, and make themselves a viable member.

 

[Green Gaia]

My minister reminded me this morning that everyone has two religions; the one they claim to follow and the one they actually follow. The point is to try to make the distance between the two as small as possible.

 

[S-word]

I read a study

here which got me wondering what makes someone religious?

Often people will say I am X religion but do not follow it's practises. Does this mean they are said religion or not? Should you have to meet certain standards to be called a member of a particular faith instead of just being able to say you are?

If you were to stand before the body of Jesus, you might say, "He is perfect." The fact that no two groups of cells within that body behave in the same manner, does not deter from the fact that the overall body is working precisely in the manner that it should. Of course you could say the same of the body of Satan, which body works precisely in the manner that is expected of it. As to the actual question itself, "Does simply stating that you are religious make you religious?" Not if they are not religious, I say that I am a famous surgeon, but unless you know who I am, then you cannot prove otherwise, unless you put to me questions that any famous surgeon should know, and I cannot give to the correct answers.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Does saying you're religious make you religous?

I am religious.

Nope. It doesn't.

 

[Charity]

Calling yourself religious doesn't mean anything. You may be able to fool yourself but not other people. Religious to me is professing a faith but denying the principal on which it is based. It's like the difference in liking a particular sport and actually participating in it....It doesn't make you an athlete if you sit on the sidelines or stay in the bleachers......Your just a bystander or maybe a you cheer loud enough to be at least called a fan...but not a "pro".

 

[tomspug]

Yes. If you consider yourself 'religious', that would certainly make you 'religious'. Is that really a good thing?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

My minister reminded me this morning that everyone has two religions; the one they claim to follow and the one they actually follow. The point is to try to make the distance between the two as small as possible.

I like that!

 

[Elessar]

I would say, if someone self-identifies as something, it makes them that thing, unless they are consciously trying to deceive you for whatever reason.

 

[ChristineES]

If someone says he or she is a theist but doesn't truly believe in God, then he can fool other people but he can't fool God.

Besides if someone says he is a rock star but doesn't play an instrument, doesn't sing, and never played in front of anyone- then he is not a rock star.

 

[DallasApple]

AHH..Religion smigeon!

Love

Dallas

 

[Beaudreaux]

My minister reminded me this morning that everyone has two religions; the one they claim to follow and the one they actually follow. The point is to try to make the distance between the two as small as possible.

Why would there be any distance at all?

 

[Beaudreaux]

Originally Posted by Green Gaia
My minister reminded me this morning that everyone has two religions; the one they claim to follow and the one they actually follow. The point is to try to make the distance between the two as small as possible.

I like that!

Seriously? How can you guys like that? Gaia is basically saying that everyone's a hypocrite; that not a single person holds to the ideals of their religion. What does that say about religious people? About the religion they profess?

 

[BucephalusBB]

Seriously? How can you guys like that? Gaia is basically saying that everyone's a hypocrite; that not a single person holds to the ideals of their religion. What does that say about religious people? About the religion they profess?

Did you not get this?
unless you make your lifework of it, it is impossible to know your entire religion as it is. It does not end with one book for example..
And even when you do make it your lifework, it would still be impossible to know all.

What gaia is really saying is that everybody follows a (best suited) religion as example and tries to get as close as possible (either by life or will).

(There I am, making asumptions.. Please correct when wrong )

 

[DallasApple]

I agree..part of most religions that I know anything about is realizing you are a work in process.

Love

Dallas

 

[Green Gaia]

Seriously? How can you guys like that? Gaia is basically saying that everyone's a hypocrite; that not a single person holds to the ideals of their religion. What does that say about religious people? About the religion they profess?

That's not what I''m saying at all. Everyone falls short of their ideal; no one is perfect. That is the point. That we all have things we can work on within ourselves to be more close to that ideal, even if no one else sees it. I am an Unitarian Universalist. I try as hard as I can to live up to the ideals of my religion all the time, but I do fail. The important thing is to recognize that failure and do better next time.

 

[Charity]

Seriously? How can you guys like that? Gaia is basically saying that everyone's a hypocrite; that not a single person holds to the ideals of their religion. What does that say about religious people? About the religion they profess?

Holding to an ideal of a religion and actually upholding it are two separate things.
Just saying I'm religious can be misleading.....I can be religious about doing my exercise daily but that doens't mean that I am....It's when people can see the results that define how religious I am.......Even if I progress slowly at least I'm moving religiously.......

 

[Charity]

That's not what I''m saying at all. Everyone falls short of their ideal; no one is perfect. That is the point. That we all have things we can work on within ourselves to be more close to that ideal, even if no one else sees it. I am an Unitarian Universalist. I try as hard as I can to live up to the ideals of my religion all the time, but I do fail. The important thing is to recognize that failure and do better next time.

You got it....we can only strive to be perfect and then we will probably still fall short of our goal....But God knows we are trying......

 

[tomspug]

Seriously? How can you guys like that? Gaia is basically saying that everyone's a hypocrite; that not a single person holds to the ideals of their religion. What does that say about religious people? About the religion they profess?

It says that they are human and that a religion isn't supposed to be full of perfect people but people that do their best to emulate perfection for God's glory.

 

[doppelganger]

My minister reminded me this morning that everyone has two religions; the one they claim to follow and the one they actually follow. The point is to try to make the distance between the two as small as possible.

Well, depending on what they "claim to follow," that's not necessarily a good idea.