NationStates Jolt Archive

Wars are fought for it. Essays are written about it. People die for it. Life is explained by it... but how would you personally define the term "religion?"

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

Religion is a system or preserving one's moral values as well as explaining the unknowns in life. Such as, "what happens when we die?" It is a rulebook for life, providing moral guidance as well as an anchor in rough seas.

"As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side."

In a very broad sense, one's religion is the attitude with which one approaches life. It may be structured or vague, 'organized' or chaotic, but I think we all face the world from a particular framework.

Religion is everything sock puppets aren't. And vice-versa. *nod*

Religion is everything sock puppets aren't. And vice-versa. *nod*

*makes a sock puppet that looks like the pope

You were saying?

Religion is initially a group of people with similar beliefs, concerned with living by those beliefs for a higher purpose. All too often this higher purpose is forgotten and people become more concerned with living strictly by those beliefs and often attempting to force others to do so.

Or what LG said about sockpuppets, whatever.

Wars are fought for it. Essays are written about it. People die for it. Life is explained by it... but how would you personally define the term "religion?"

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

duh, isnt it obvious?

look it up in wikipedia ;)

A religion is a group of people who all get together, and decide to agree on what they believe.

"Todays low....52 degrees.
Todays high.....whenever I get up."
-GC.

I think here in britain we have a legal definition of what makes a religion (its 10,000 or 100,000 people putting it on their census I think) if its less than that but branched off somthing that is classified as a religion its a sect and if it is by itself its a cult I think...

A shared delusion.

Wars are fought for it. Essays are written about it. People die for it. Life is explained by it... but how would you personally define the term "religion?"

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

what is the difference between a political opinion and a religion?

what is the difference between a political opinion and a religion?

Political opinion is dictated by a persons religion, if any is present.

Political opinion is dictated by a persons religion, if any is present.

...and vice versa. But is there any difference?

...and vice versa. But is there any difference?

Hmmm, not too sure about it being vice versa.

religion is either your outlook on life or it's a set of rules and regulations.....

I suppose it depends on the person

Religion, from the latin "religio (religionis)", meaning the outer, social, ritual aspects of faith in one or more divinities; meaning also "superstition".
Different and sometimes opposed to "pietas (pietatis)", meaning being pious, that is, following the tenets of the faith and generally showing respect for the divinities.

Since the times of the Romans, things have changed so much that you'd need about 500 GB for a very basical essay about religions.

A shared delusion.

Truth! Preach it brother (or sister as the case may be)!

A shared delusion.


Nope. A delusion is a belief that is demonstrably untrue, that is to say, falsified. Because (at least some of) a religion's beliefs are unfalsifiable it cannot be a delusion. Freud, who thought as little of religion as anyone you might care to name, on these grounds determined it an illusion rather than a delusion.

Religion, as I was taught in World Religions is, a belief system based around creation myths, stories, morals and a central god-like figure. It helps to provide a sense of community for those involved.

Religion is a comprehensive set of shared beliefs centered around a central guiding principle. It can be either supernatural or natural in origin; belief in Gods or the supernatural is not required for something to be considered a religion. It's not a spiritual belief system, but it is a religion. For example, secular humanism is considered a religion even though it has no belief in the supernatural.

Really, the defining mark of religion is the fact that it is a comprehensive life stance and it is shared with others in a community.

Religion, as I was taught in World Religions is, a belief system based around creation myths, stories, morals and a central god-like figure. It helps to provide a sense of community for those involved.
Must there be a central goddish figure?

what is the difference between a political opinion and a religion?

Religion would be the underlying principle that your political beliefs are based upon. It's a more fundamental part of your life stance than political views.

Must there be a central goddish figure?

No.

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.

religion." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1). Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. 30 Nov. 2006. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion>

Religion would be the underlying principle that your political beliefs are based upon. It's a more fundamental part of your life stance than political views.

If your political views are very strong, and a fundamental part of your life stance, are they then religion?

Religion, as I was taught in World Religions is, a belief system based around creation myths, stories, morals and a central god-like figure. It helps to provide a sense of community for those involved.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9414/kidsmeetgod2zp6.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_miyamoto)

If your political views are very strong, and a fundamental part of your life stance, are they then religion?

I would definitely say that they are, and most extremists do fall under that umbrella; if you look at Christian or Muslim extremists their goals are fundamentally political in that they want to destroy the West or secular government and build their own theocracy. The same is true with extreme Communists or Nazis, or any extremist political group; they all pursue their goals with religious zeal, and their ideology permeated all aspects of their lives even moreso than any of their private spiritual beliefs.

Wars are fought for it. Essays are written about it. People die for it. Life is explained by it... but how would you personally define the term "religion?"

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

At its most basic: belief in god.

More nuanced:

Belief in and reverence for a supreme being or beings regarded as creator or governor of the universe; a system founded in such belief.

At its most basic: belief in god.

More nuanced:

Belief in and reverence for a supreme being or beings regarded as creator or governor of the universe; a system founded in such belief.

I have to disagree. I think you're defining "conventional" religion. There are many other kinds of religion. Wiki it.