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What Do All Religions Have In Common?
- Thread starter rojse
- Start date
Herr Heinrich
Student of Mythology
In my comparative world religion class we defined religion as; containing the belief in a higher power, and ways to relate to that higher power. Obviously not a perfect definition especially with some more modern religions, but that is what usually constitutes a "world religion".
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
There are many attributes that most religions have in common, but if you're talking about all religions, I'd say the only common characteristic is, to quote Leoben from BSG, "this is not all that we are."
Just_me_Mike
Well-Known Member
Simple... Mystery!
CelticRavenwolf
She Who is Lost
They all provide understanding for the mysteries that we do not understand. At the root of all religion - death. What happens when we die. Few are the people who are comforted or at ease with the notion that we cease to exist, our bodies decompose, and it is as though we never were. For the vast majority, that idea is terrifying. It makes us fear our own death, and the death of those whom we love.
Religion provides comfort - an assurance that better things await, that loved ones are in a better place, that the unjust have been punished. Every religion varies on what happens, but every religion has something to explain it.
Religion provides comfort - an assurance that better things await, that loved ones are in a better place, that the unjust have been punished. Every religion varies on what happens, but every religion has something to explain it.
Apex
Somewhere Around Nothing
There is actually a book written about this subject by a famous religious scholar. It was the first book we studied in my Intro to the Study of Religion class.
The sacred and the profane: the ... - Google Books
The sacred and the profane: the ... - Google Books
That's a good book.
rojse
RF Addict
There are hardly any hits for it in Google, either. There's some dude that calls himself Snerkle, and that is about it. There is definitely a conspiracy.
sandandfoam
Veteran Member
I think all religions offer an attempt to allow people reconcile themselves with infinity.
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
Greetings!
Well, for starters, the scriptures of EVERY great religion (as well as a number of other sources) include the Golden Rule!
Peace,
Bruce
Well, for starters, the scriptures of EVERY great religion (as well as a number of other sources) include the Golden Rule!
Peace,
Bruce
rojse
RF Addict
Greetings!
Well, for starters, the scriptures of EVERY great religion (as well as a number of other sources) include the Golden Rule!
Peace,
Bruce
1. What is the Golden Rule?
2. What about organisations that don't feature the golden rule? Are they automatically not a religion? And those that do are automatically a religion?
islam means peace
Member
Quran says in surat 3 verse 64
Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah.s Will).
rojse
RF Addict
Have you even read the OP, or is this just a drive-by post? Because it has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic of the thread.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Religion gives an "answer" as you pass the time, then you die. That's all.
rojse
RF Addict
An answer to what?
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
Greetings!
In its best-known formulation, it's:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"
It's worded in different ways in the various scriptures, but the point remains the same.
And as I trust would be obvious, whether an organization does or doesn't feature the Golden Rule has nothing to do with whether or not it's a religion!
Nonetheless, as I pointed out, ALL the great religions do indeed state this rule in their scriptures! (Quotes upon request.)
Peace,
Bruce
Bruce said:
In its best-known formulation, it's:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"
It's worded in different ways in the various scriptures, but the point remains the same.
And as I trust would be obvious, whether an organization does or doesn't feature the Golden Rule has nothing to do with whether or not it's a religion!
Nonetheless, as I pointed out, ALL the great religions do indeed state this rule in their scriptures! (Quotes upon request.)
Peace,
Bruce
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Morse
To Extinguish
Greetings!
In its best-known formulation, it's:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"
It's worded in different ways in the various scriptures, but the point remains the same.
And as I trust would be obvious, whether an organization does or doesn't feature the Golden Rule has nothing to do with whether or not it's a religion!
Nonetheless, as I pointed out, ALL the great religions do indeed state this rule in their scriptures! (Quotes upon request.)
Peace,
Bruce
That is a poor qualifier for a "great" religion, and that is not the question proposed in the thread in any case. The question was, what makes something a religion. You posted what factor you say is needed by a religion for it to be "Great". Now if you would please list all the "Great" religions out there (All those that are great from your perspective).
I believe that scripture and names have nothing to do with what makes something a religion. Books, Idols, and prayer do not make a religion. The one thing all religions have, even if you call atheism a religion, is faith. Under every documented circumstance, a person is putting their faith into something they cannot fully understand or explain.
If we were discussing this 200 years ago, my definition would be radically different, but as time has progressed, the concept of religion has become less specific and is more ambiguous today than it was a century or so ago.