allfoak
Alchemist
I suppose you could relate the idea to most anything.
Such as addiction for instance.
The the tie that binds may not be the same for everyone.
An addiction is a religion like no other.
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Religion: What is it?
- Thread starter allfoak
- Start date
Such as addiction for instance.
The the tie that binds may not be the same for everyone.
An addiction is a religion like no other.
allfoak
Alchemist
What if religious institutions didn't exist?
Would religion cease as well?
Do youthink a family can be a social organization of their own using all of the things which you mentioned to grow individually, for the purpose of being able to collectively solve problems?
They could then take those skills into the community without ever entering a "church" or professing a belief in any god.
siti
Well-Known Member
Certainly not a god - I agree. To call it anything at all might be "stretching it" - that's kinda the point - but Lao Tzu called it "Tao" immediately after acknowledging that it couldn't be named not because that's what it is but because we need a label to express the notion linguistically - but certainly Tao is supernatural - primordial and external (to every 'thing') - that's what I meant by "Higher Power" - its hard for us westerners to get our heads around it - we're so conditioned to thinking in terms of objects, maybe a "Higher Way" is better way of looking at it. But I think it still falls under my definition of religion whilst Buddhism doesn't - so the question is, is that right? I don't know. I have a feeling that both Taoism and Buddhism should be considered religions which means my definition was wrong.
I took a class that was literally called "What Is Religion?" where we spent the entire semester just trying to define religion. Apparently this is a big topic in religious studies.
Personally I'm a fan or Geertz's definition, which is "a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing those conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic."
Personally I'm a fan or Geertz's definition, which is "a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing those conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic."
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
More like....
religion
noun re·li·gion \ri-ˈli-jən\
Popularity: Top 1% of lookups
Examples: religion in a sentence
Definition of religion
- 1a : the state of a religious a nun in her 20th year of religionb (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
- 2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
- 3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
- 4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
In short: A Practice
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allfoak
Alchemist
Sounds like mind control.
allfoak
Alchemist
Like medicine or a discipline like martial arts.
Cush
New Member
May I suggest that Religion is chiefly the study of a certain kind of human behavior, be it under the rubric of anthropology, sociology, or psychology. The study of Theology, on the other hand, is the study of God. Religion is anthropocentric; theology is theocentric. The difference between religion and theology is ultimately the difference between God and man - hardly a small difference.
Again, it is a difference of subject matter. The subject of Theology proper is God; the subject matter of Religion is man.
God bless,
Cush
Again, it is a difference of subject matter. The subject of Theology proper is God; the subject matter of Religion is man.
God bless,
Cush
Not surprisingly I offer a Baha'i perspective on this question:
"True religion is the source of love and agreement amongst men, the cause of the development of praiseworthy qualities, but the people are holding to the counterfeit and imitation, negligent of the reality which unifies, so they are bereft and deprived of the radiance of religion. . . That which was meant to be conducive to life has become the cause of death; that which should have been an evidence of knowledge is now a proof of ignorance; that which was a factor in the sublimity of human nature has proved to be its degradation. Therefore, the realm of the religionist has gradually narrowed and darkened, and the sphere of the materialist has widened and advanced; for the religionist has held to imitation and counterfeit, neglecting and discarding holiness and the sacred reality of religion." – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 179.
Best Wishes
Religions don't have to exist. A belief system in something greater for the community has to exist. We need the ability to work together outside of blood family without governance. We do it today with many activist groups. The fall if religion is not due to science but because of alternative social networks and the failure of religion to modernize. These new social networks all use and do the same thing religion does without god for the most part. Like religions they also have similar negatives. Beware crossing a Peta supporter. Expected to be challenged if you dont agree with LBGT rights and etc. It is unfortunately easier to socially agree in a supernatural God then a Human Right.
allfoak
Alchemist
Organized religion is no longer able to deliver anything more than a social organization.
It is a shame.
If there is no God thats all they ever did. Social organizations have expanded into what were religious activities.
allfoak
Alchemist
So then religion without a god is nothing more than a social organization.
In my opinion like todays social orginazations which are broader. Religion encompasses a much larger slice of humanity and the goals are even broader but morally restrictive.
This one does not work. Way too theocentric, and therefore vague, as well as unadvisably restrictive.
It is interesting to note that those synonyms have quite divergent meanings themselves.
Almost there. Religion is about pursuit and interest in values. Not necessarily "supreme", and not always involving worship or even faith, though.
Milton Platt
Well-Known Member
Most Buddhists are not theistic. Also, deists are not theistic.
FunctionalAtheist
Hammer of Reason
Religion = acceptance, adherence, faith and loyalty to a belief system or set of dogmatic facts...irrespective of, or prior to, asking any questions or obtaining any answers!
FunctionalAtheist
Hammer of Reason
So what is art?
What if I express myself by murder?
If I yell at my mom, is that religion?
If I beat my child, that's religion?
Geez!! For christ sake!
FunctionalAtheist
Hammer of Reason
Higher than...what? What does this mean?
What if you're isolated and have no opportunity to socialize? Is religion than beyond your reach?
Is this universal in religion? Is this part of the definition of religion?
I thought that was politics and law. It appears to me that most religions DICTATE solutions rather than mitigate.
In all seriousness, you might be confusing all the positive value judgements you've made (and they are good) with what you'd like to think is your religion. Check out humanism!