Religion: What is it?

[FunctionalAtheist]

Religion is socialization of humans to a higher cause.

Higher than...what? What does this mean?

It allows humans to cope with the day to day challenges through socialization

What if you're isolated and have no opportunity to socialize? Is religion than beyond your reach?

and belief. It uses rituals, music and symbols to create a meditative state of being.

Is this universal in religion? Is this part of the definition of religion?

I n It allows humans to mitigate problems and collectively solve problems through religion enabling them to concentrate on immediate challenges.

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!

 

[allfoak]

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!

Yes, the way in which we express ourselves tells the world if we are connected to our source or not.
No need to get so upset.

 

[bobhikes]

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!

Higher cause could be going to the moon, world peace sonething beyond the skill set of a individual, family or small group.

If you are isolated religion would not be beyond your reach but not necessary.

This is my definition of all religions looked at as whole.

This is a definition of what religion is and why. It is not breaking down the good or bad in it. Everything created by humans is good and bad

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Religion is like porn or obscenity: I can't quite define it, but I know it when I see it.

 

[Quintessence]

Given there is no consensus for some singular definition of what "religion" is, I find it more productive for various peoples to speak of what their religion is and avoid externalizing that to other peoples and cultures. If you mash all those different understandings of what "religion" is, that's about as close as we're going to get to a definition. Or more properly, definitions. It'd take books to cover it.

One entry in said book could read as follows:

• The foundation upon which a person approaches, understands, and relates to the world around them. Put another way, the central axis around which the meaningfulness of their lives and the tales they tell are woven. As this impacts all areas of life, it can be said to be a way of life or a worldview. This means it includes ideas and behaviors.

 

[allfoak]

Given there is no consensus for some singular definition of what "religion" is, I find it more productive for various peoples to speak of what their religion is and avoid externalizing that to other peoples and cultures. If you mash all those different understandings of what "religion" is, that's about as close as we're going to get to a definition. Or more properly, definitions. It'd take books to cover it.

One entry in said book could read as follows:

• The foundation upon which a person approaches, understands, and relates to the world around them. Put another way, the central axis around which the meaningfulness of their lives and the tales they tell are woven. As this impacts all areas of life, it can be said to be a way of life or a worldview. This means it includes ideas and behaviors.

I was hoping to achieve a little bit of that here.
i figure if people see all of the differences, they can also see that other ways of thinking are not so scary.

 

[Quintessence]

I was hoping to achieve a little bit of that here.
i figure if people see all of the differences, they can also see that other ways of thinking are not so scary.

Kudos to that!

It occurs to me I left out something important in the earlier entry. At heart, I tend to see religion as an articulation of values. The things that are the focus of religion are the things one values.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Yes, the way in which we express ourselves tells the world if we are connected to our source or not.
No need to get so upset.

Your source? I've seen thousands of people express themselves and never once have I been informed about any of these person's 'source.' Am I not apart of the world which is supposedly so informed?

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Higher cause could be going to the moon, world peace sonething beyond the skill set of a individual, family or small group.

That's reasonable.

If you are isolated religion would not be beyond your reach but not necessary.

Then would religion be only one of several possible ways human socialization might be regulated?

This is my definition of all religions looked at as whole.

This is a definition of what religion is and why. It is not breaking down the good or bad in it. Everything created by humans is good and bad

 

[MonkeyFire]

I know I truly believe, and it came to fruition. Faith creates Wish, and Hope out of his ribs. He also personifies the universe as a ground hog mayor of eternal hope. Faith is the angel of fire. Paradise is singular.

 

[allfoak]

Your source? I've seen thousands of people express themselves and never once have I been informed about any of these person's 'source.' Am I not apart of the world which is supposedly so informed?

The one observing the observer is the source.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

The one observing the observer is the source.

What? LOL that is poetry, not reason or logic. It makes no sense at all.. If the one observing is the source, then what if someone is observing him? At it's best your statement is a silly allusion to infinite regression.

Even then what the heck does observation have to do with being the source? I come from my mother and father. I'm observed by dozens of people during the week, my supervisors, my direct reports, people in walmart observe me observing pickles. lol

 

[allfoak]

What? LOL that is poetry, not reason or logic. It makes no sense at all.. If the one observing is the source, then what if someone is observing him? At it's best your statement is a silly allusion to infinite regression.

Even then what the heck does observation have to do with being the source? I come from my mother and father. I'm observed by dozens of people during the week, my supervisors, my direct reports, people in walmart observe me observing pickles. lol

Very good.
Carry on observing the one observing the pickles.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

Very good.
Carry on observing the one observing the pickles.

Will do! And I'm perfectly happy for you to continue to use many many words to convey very little meaning.

 

[Cobol]

Religion is merely the biggest mistake of mankind.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Yes, the way in which we express ourselves tells the world if we are connected to our source or not.
No need to get so upset.

Your source? I've seen thousands of people express themselves and never once have I been informed about any of these person's 'source.' Am I not apart of the world which is supposedly so informed?

The one observing the observer is the source.

What? LOL that is poetry, not reason or logic. It makes no sense at all.. If the one observing is the source, then what if someone is observing him? At it's best your statement is a silly allusion to infinite regression.

Even then what the heck does observation have to do with being the source? I come from my mother and father. I'm observed by dozens of people during the week, my supervisors, my direct reports, people in walmart observe me observing pickles. lol

Very good.
Carry on observing the one observing the pickles.

Will do! And I'm perfectly happy for you to continue to use many many words to convey very little meaning.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

 

[Quintessence]

Religion is merely the biggest mistake of mankind.

I don't follow. You're saying that all religion - a universal cultural phenomena that inspires great works of art and literature, that brings people together in celebration and gratitude, that brings meaningfulness to people's lives, and that helps guide people on their life paths - is the biggest mistake of humanity? You might as well say that the failure of humanity to render itself extinct is the biggest mistake of it.

If you're going to pick a "biggest mistake" at least name something that is generally considered to have made no positive contributions to human civilization. You know... like genocide.

 

[Notanumber]

I had a visit this morning from two young men. One spoke and other remained silent.

As the talker reached into his satchel for a leaflet I asked if the call was religious related. He replied yes and when I told him that I am an atheist his eyes lit up (he obviously likes a challenge) and said that I am just the sort of person they were looking for. I told him to go and find somebody else.

I should have asked him what was the religion that they were peddling, so I have just been round to ask my neighbour if he had been converted and to what religion. He said that when he saw them coming up the drive he hid in the bedroom.

I presume they were Mormons because of their modus operandi, but other than Islam, I do not give a damn about people’s religion so long they do not try to force it onto me.

What is it with religious types that they seem think that everyone else needs saving!

 

[Quintessence]

What is it with religious types that they seem think that everyone else needs saving!

Most of us "religious types" don't think that, fortunately. Although, I'm not really sure what a "religious type" is, given there are tens of thousands of religions. It'd be pretty hard for them all to be compressed into a single type.

Funny story - I actually invited Mormon ware-hawkers to speak with me once. Scheduled an appointment and everything. They were a no-show. They appeared later, apologized, and we re-scheduled. The were a no-show again. The third time they came to re-schedule, I didn't answer the door. Proselytizing fail... lol.