What is religion?

[Sewblon]

Religion threads start many flame wars on The Escapist. This thread http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.134506?page=1 made me wonder what we actually mean when we say "religion." Does merely believing that a god or gods exist substantiate religion? Is the belief that a god or gods want us to do certain things and follow certain codes necessary to constitute religion? Or does religion require an earthly institution specifically devoted to perpetuating its doctrines to be a legitimate religion? If someone set out to codify everything that atheism(or agnosticism) is, and how all atheists(or agnostics) should live, could what ever they came up with be a religion? I think that religion does not necessarily require an earthly institution, but it does need an unchanging, permanent set of doctrines pertaining to the nature of the universe, if a god or gods exists, and how we should act on those doctrines and lead our lives. What do you think?

I looked "religion" up in the dictionary, but lexicographers get their definitions by asking other people what the word means to them in the first place, so I am doing that.

 

[grimsprice]

Spirituality is the belief in supernatural things.

Religion is the belief that a certain group of people have the correct doctrine about spirituality in general, and all others are wrong.

Dictionary definitions if ever i could put them in my own words.

 

[grimsprice]

Spirituality is the belief in supernatural things.

Religion is the belief that a certain group of people have the correct doctrine about spirituality in general, and all others are wrong.

Dictionary definitions if ever i could put them in my own words.

lol, youre such a bastard grim. You just couldnt have this thread competing with you could you? Ha, jokes on you i just found another and this time in not telling you where it is!

OP: Yes what this man said, even though he just copied the dictionary.

I know you'll never trust me, but i assure you if this was a lame topic i wouldn't have posted.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion?r=75

re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
Use religion in a Sentence
See web results for religion
See images of religion
?noun
1. 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.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

There's a dictionary on the internet. Use it.

 

[grimsprice]

Spoiler

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion?r=75

re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
Use religion in a Sentence
See web results for religion
See images of religion
?noun
1. 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.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

There's a dictionary on the internet. Use it.

Thats all fine and good, but people tend to create their own meanings for words. People also tend to interpret certain meanings when they hear the word spoken. The question was what is your definition of religion. If you adhere to the dictionary thats fine but still.

 

[Timotei]

I am tired of seeing the word "religion" in threads.

Putting the word "religion" in a thread for the next week should be punishable by forced feeding of McGriddles. You shall be forcibly fed until Morgan Spurlock mounts a protest. Then he will be sprayed with mace, and the forced feeding shall continue.

Religion and Zombies are the cancer that is killing the Escapist.

 

[grimsprice]

I am tired of seeing the word "religion" in threads.

Putting the word "religion" in a thread for the next week should be punishable by forced feeding of McGriddles.

You shall be forcibly fed until Morgan Spurlock mounts a protest. Then he will be sprayed with mace, and the forced feeding shall continue.

Oh come now its not that bad. What would the escapist be without religious and communist threads? Would we talk about the new wow expansion and the new ZP? That sounds lame to me. Take out the threads that people claim degenerate into flaming and what do you get? A lot of nose picking.

 

[Tempest Fennac]

I tend to see the term religion as refering to a set of organized beliefs which are connected to things like gods and what happens when you die. (I'm not sure if all religions have a behavioural code or not so I don't linclude that in my definition.)

 

[Vimbert]

A religion is a successful cult.

 

[101194]

Cults that get popular.

Edit: Damn, Ninja'd

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

Spoiler

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion?r=75

re⋅li⋅gion
  /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
Use religion in a Sentence
See web results for religion
See images of religion
?noun
1. 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.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

There's a dictionary on the internet. Use it.

Thats all fine and good, but people tend to create their own meanings for words. People also tend to interpret certain meanings when they hear the word spoken. The question was what is your definition of religion. If you adhere to the dictionary thats fine but still.

That is foolishness and vanity. We have words specifically determined so that open lines of communication can commence. Without an understanding of the basic meanings of words you cannot communicate. Unless there is a predetermined meaning for all sets of words encountered no information can be given, neither can it be received.

But maybe all that meant was "I want a purple soda." I'm not certain what different words mean to you. See the problem?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Religion is a tool for controlling and manipulating the ignorant stupid masses, always was and always will be.

 

[grimsprice]

But maybe all that meant was "I want a purple soda." I'm not certain what different words mean to you. See the problem?

yeah, i agree. However, thats why they call it a living language. 1700's English is very different than what we have now. Queer used to mean 'a bit funny or off', now its a very insulting slang for homosexuality. Words change and theres nothing you can do about it. The only logical thing to do is to ask a person what a word means if you get hung up on it. It would be nice if we never had to explain things, but alas, we live amongst mere mortals.

 

[COR 2000]

Oh come now its not that bad. What would the escapist be without religious and communist threads? Would we talk about the new wow expansion and the new ZP? That sounds lame to me. Take out the threads that people claim degenerate into flaming and what do you get? A lot of nose picking.

I agree, to an extent. although these types of forums can be interesting and serious, they also tend to generate controversy and flame wars. And many people tend to want a nice, fun topic to discuss rather than something serious and potentially volatile like religion.

As for the definition of Religion, it was pretty much meant to explain the (then) unexplainable and provide life after death. It can involve anything to a system like Karma/Nirvana(Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism) to a creator like Yahweh(Christianity, Judaism, and Islam).

Religion tends to be like a gremlin: It's all fine and dandy until you add water, by which I mean human nature. Then things tend to go awry....

 

[Vimbert]

Religion tends to be like a gremlin: It's all fine and dandy until you add water, by which I mean human nature. Then things tend to go awry....

Indeed. It's often in the execution of religion where things get... a bit off. I know some religious figures (a minority, but still present) treat religion as a "I SAY WHAT I WANT AND IT IS TRUTH" license. That's sad, because religion can make a positive difference, through charity work/helping people find meaning in their lives, etc.

 

[Dark42]

A state of mind a said amount of people perceive as truth and reality, containing the basic principals of how said people are to live their daily lives.

Very vague but the closes definition to a religion I can think of.
(Not from a dictionary from the top of my head)

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

But maybe all that meant was "I want a purple soda." I'm not certain what different words mean to you. See the problem?

yeah, i agree. However, thats why they call it a living language. 1700's English is very different than what we have now. Queer used to mean 'a bit funny or off', now its a very insulting slang for homosexuality. Words change and theres nothing you can do about it. The only logical thing to do is to ask a person what a word means if you get hung up on it. It would be nice if we never had to explain things, but alas, we live amongst mere mortals.

No, the logical thing is to demand that people adhere to previously set rules and guidelines in order to maintain order in speech. I don't care what you think religion means as it has no bearing on what the accepted term means. If you persist in misusing words I will think you nothing more than a fool with no ability to communicate.

If people want to remain not understood then they may continue being stupid and ignoring dictionary definitions. But they will never grow as human beings, which may just be the saddest thing I've ever had to say.

That's what stupid does, though.

 

[grimsprice]

That's what stupid does, though.

Stupid is as stupid does. I'm with you. Its just hard to deal with them, and convince them to be on your side when you act all high and mighty on your throne de dictionary. After all you need these ignorant masses if you want to progress human kind. Dealing with the devil to bring us one step closer to Zion.

 

[Kriptonite]

Oh goodness! How many religion threads will there be?? Actually I think this one is a good one but still, my point stands. Anyway, to me religion, is whatever you believe. Wow, vague. I guess I don't know.