Why can't religion be more like an art?

[amorphous_constellation]

The key thing that makes a religion a religion is that a religion is a community of shared belief.

It's a key thing if everyone in a community depends on the revelation of one individual. And belief is effort, how could it not be? A religion is often also composed of practices, also effort. Now what is debatable, is whether or not the belief and practice associated with religion are the same as a working connection to the divine

I feel as though this is getting slightly off topic, unless you can prove otherwise. Are we getting off topic? How are you disproving that religion can't be an art, or are we just sort of debating the general static about all this stuff that you don't believe any of

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It's a key thing if everyone in a community depends on the revelation of one individual.

They're still using that revelation as the foundation of their shared belief.

And belief is effort, how could it not be?

Well, no. "Belief" and "effort" certainly aren't synonymous.

I don't think it's even true to say that belief takes effort. Belief is involuntary; it happens without us making an effort at all.

A religion is often also composed of practices, also effort.

Yes... in the context of a community of shared belief.

Now what is debatable, is whether or not the belief and practice associated with religion are the same as a working connection to the divine

They aren't the same. A religion is still a religion even if it isn't successful at creating a "connection with the divine." Religions don't have to be true to be religions.

I feel as though this is getting slightly off topic, unless you can prove otherwise. Are we getting off topic?

I can't follow you down any of your arguments in the thread because I don't accept your very first premise. Is that off topic?

How are you disproving that religion can't be an art, or are we just sort of debating the general static about all this stuff that you don't believe any of

I'm not. I'm just pointing out that to get to this conclusion, you had to start at a starting point that I don't think is correct.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Well, no. "Belief" and "effort" certainly aren't synonymous.

I don't think it's even true to say that belief takes effort. Belief is involuntary; it happens without us making an effort at all.

Belief requires faith. Now faith is obviously based on effort. Now if I know something, then it ceases to require effort as an attribute I have. I can know the flower is orange, I don't have believe that it is through efforts of faith

They're still using that revelation as the foundation of their shared belief.

Yeah, but I'm pointing out that it can be more particulate than that. Not all religions have revelation limited to only a handful of ancient people who had them

I can't follow you down any of your arguments in the thread because I don't accept your very first premise. Is that off topic?

Well, it's kind of like me making arguments for how someone can use avocados. But you don't like avocados at all