What is religion.

[HappyPuppy]

This is not a religious thread, but a thread dedicated to defining what religion is. It is open to believers and, well, believers, as you all shall soon understand.

I am posing this question as there are quite a few threads that involve religion, and yet I have never seen a definitive explanation of what this 'religion' thing is.

Does religion require a deity or a higher power, or is it merely the beliefs of a group of people sitting around bullshitting and hating on some other group, whatever that group may be. If this is true then religion might be defined as a congregation of two or more people who hat another group. That encompasses a lot of territory.

It could also be a congregation that doesn't like those of another color or race. We could define religion as the belief that one group is superior to another.

I am curious. I have my beliefs and disbeliefs, but I can't find a definition of religion that is satisfying.

 

[OCGuy]

If this is your atheism = religion troll, I really hope no one takes the bait.

 

[Scionix]

Dictionary.com says: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

I however, as a christian, focus on the fact that Having God in my heart is the way (I believe) to heaven.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: Scionix
Dictionary.com says: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

I however, as a christian, focus on the fact that Having God in my heart is the way (I believe) to heaven.

Does a religion need to have a belief in an afterlife?

 

[RESmonkey]

I view religion as practice/belief , whether organized or not, of some sort of truth that isn't backed up by science. Ex: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Scientology, Magic, etc.

 

[Cheeseplug]

I posted the following a while ago. The only responses were LOLTARD and the like. Most people only like bashing on Christianity, and not actually having a decent discussion I guess.

What is religion? And what does something have to have in order to be called a religion?

Does there need to be traditionalism for it to be considered a religion? In the seven major religions in the world today (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism) you find strong tradition present.

Does there have to be mythology for it to be a religion? Does there have to be some kind of crazy story with miracles and supernatural things? Does there have to be a creation story? The Abrahmic tradition is full of it. Hinduism has mythology, but not nearly on the scale of the western religions. Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism do not have mythology like the others.

Does there need to be a concept of salvation? In Judaism, Christianity and Islam there is heaven. In Hinduism there is Moksha, the radical liberation to the ultimate truth, Brahman. In Buddhism there is nirvana, where desires are ?blown out? and there is a release. In Confucianism and Daoism there is no salvation.

Do there need to be sacred places or objects? Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism have sacred places and objects. Confucianism and Daoism don't.

Do there have to be sacred actions or rituals to be performed? All of the major seven include rituals. From attending church, meditating, practicing one of the four yogas or going to worshiping your ancestors at their shrine, rituals are present.

Does there have to be a community? The word religion itself comes from the latin ?religare ? to bind.? Does there have to be a binding of a community of people for it to be a religion? Christianity started with Christ and his 12 disciples. Buddhism started with one man, Siddhartha Gautama. Is the sense of one-ness with a community of people essential, or is it optional?

And finally, does there have to be a god? For the Abrahamic tradition there is a single god, and it is scary as shit. Hinduism is very pluralistic, but the gods aren't really gods like in the western religions. They are simply manifestations of Brahman, the ultimate truth, that make it easier for people to grasp the concept. Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism do not have a god at all.

How is it that scholars agree that all seven are religions, but they don't fulfill all the same criteria? Are there any other things you think are needed for a religion to be a religion?

 

[NiKeFiDO]

I hereby begin the "i hat happypuppy" religion. although there's only one of me. If I have a split personality, have I created a religion? Can I go around creating my own religions as I please?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO
I hereby begin the "i hat happypuppy" religion. although there's only one of me. If I have a split personality, have I created a religion? Can I go around creating my own religions as I please?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

You wear happypuppy as a hat?

 

[NiKeFiDO]

that's like, your interpretation, man.

 

[ccblazer44]

belief and worship in supernatural being/beings?

 

[Crusty]

It's whatever you want it to be.

 

[meltdown75]

lol

 

[Dirigible]

You're just mad because he peed on your rug.

That rug really tied the room together. I'll grant you that. But you gotta at least try to housebreak him before you hat him.

 

[CRXican]

religion is a crutch for the weak

 

[Kadarin]

Same thing as a cult, but with more followers.

 

[Nik]

Considering the poster, this thread is almost certainly nothing more than trolling flamebait.

That being said, I like it :evil:

Down with religion! Down with religious people!

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: CRXican
religion is a crutch for the weak

How so? This intrigues me and would like you to expound on your theory. Many famous and wealthy people have been devoutly 'religious'. Of course, the question of what religion is has not yet been defined.

You reply reminds me of pimply faced adolescents who have yet to have their first orgasm. Give examples of how religion is a crutch, but first define religion.

 

[MrWizzard]

Originally posted by: CRXican
religion is a crutch for the weak

LOL, oh that post is so full of the loose.

 

[videogames101]

Definitions are by their nature subjective.

 

[Nik]

A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

The life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard

Originally posted by: CRXican
religion is a crutch for the weak

LOL, oh that post is so full of the loose.

If he said religion were the best thing since slice bread, would you consider his post more tight?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO
I hereby begin the "i hat happypuppy" religion. although there's only one of me. If I have a split personality, have I created a religion? Can I go around creating my own religions as I please?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

Not a legally recognized one, unless you can get your other personalities their own legal identities and SSNs. And that's just a tax nightmare.
Not that I've looked into it or anything.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: CRXican
religion is a crutch for the weak

How so? This intrigues me and would like you to expound on your theory. Many famous and wealthy people have been devoutly 'religious'. Of course, the question of what religion is has not yet been defined.

You reply reminds me of pimply faced adolescents who have yet to have their first orgasm. Give examples of how religion is a crutch, but first define religion.

First, lets avoid ad hominems here.

For this purpose, lets use the structure of Judaism as a broad definition of religion.

One example of religion as a crutch is how it relieves people of the fear of death. Heaven is a great alternative to just being dead and gone.

 

[videogames101]

My definition of religion is:

A system of beliefs which involves the supernatural.





(Interestingly enough, anything supernatural isn't observed, because the definition of natural changes to include anything we observe, ever.)

 

[amdhunter]

Religion is something for the weak-minded and ignorant to believe in.