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Is religious thinking something all people do?

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.
 
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Earthling

David Henson
Well . . . to me personally spirituality comes from the Greek word pneuma, from which comes the English words pneumatic and pneumonia. An invisible active force. Practical things like wind, breath, mental inclination (the man was mean spirited, for example) but can also include, in a practical sense, subtle unseen influences in our lives. Cultural, traditional, environmental, psychological, chemical, anything really. Music, art, social, economical.

In a practical sense, I think everybody has, whether they are aware of it or not, spiritual influences.

On the other hand there is, for me a Bible believer, also the spirit realm, which includes rebellious angelic as well as righteous spiritual beings that can, either directly in the case of the demonic, or the opposite, Jehovah's holy spirit and his word, the Bible, the latter being indirectly, I suppose, effect my every day life.

Now a lot of damage has been done in the popular concepts of the pagan influenced spirit realm, some of it to do with demonic influence, and some of it to do with trickery, deception, misconception, in my opinion. Faith healers, psychics, astrology and things like that.

In a quixotic sense a lot of people are influenced, whether they are aware of it or not, by spiritual influences of this nature as well.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.

Religion is a spirituality. Ok...

What is a spirituality?

What is a spirit dimension?
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Religion is a spirituality. Ok...

What is a spirituality?

What is a spirit dimension?


The capacity to love, hate, care or be ambivalent towards others and themselves. That there are causes and effects of those choices and responses.

I use the word spirit, and soul to refer to those capacities that people choose based on their experiences, perceptions and understandings that cause them to love, hate, care, or be ambivalent.

Spirit is also inspiration, and wisdom, qualities of character, and virtues
 
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osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Religion is a spirituality. Ok...

What is a spirituality?

What is a spirit dimension?


Yes, and its also a realm of reality unseen, perhaps non physical where life comes from and resides.

That definition lacks all evidence of even being real.
 

Earthling

David Henson
The capacity to love, hate, care or be ambivalent towards others and themselves. That there are causes and effects of those choices and responses.

I use the word spirit, and soul to refer to those capacities that people choose based on their experiences, perceptions and understandings that cause them to love, hate, care, or be ambivalent.

Spirit is also inspiration, and wisdom, qualities of character, and virtues

Okay, and actually, I should point out that the OP inquired about religious thinking, not spirituality. I meant to bring that up later but got sidetracked with spirituality.

Religious, could mean, doing something religiously, doing something with consistent and conscientious regularity. Religious thinking can also be something totally different than spirituality, having nothing to do with it. Though religion can be a spiritual influence in the sense of my previous post, just like tradition and culture.

I guess I would say that I don't think that everyone thinks religiously, but they think in ways that can be similar though separate from religion itself. The dogmatic, the adherence to belief, rituals, etc. aren't necessarily exclusive to religion.
 

siti

Well-Known Member
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.
I don't really think religion is limited to "worship" and "praise" of a superhuman power or being. I dare say there could be religions that don't incorporate worship and praise of a power or being at all and even religions that do incorporate those elements also often include other social, ritualistic and behavioural elements as well - such as meditation, sacrifice, etc...there's more to religion than that.

On the other hand, if there is a superhuman being or power that really exists - why should we assume that it would be supremely "just" and "fair" to anyone - let alone all? If it were superhuman - how would we even know what "just" and "fair" might look like from a superhuman point of view? In that case, I would imagine that praise and worship would be paradoxically both imperative and futile at the same time - we would always need to get ourselves on the "right side" of such an entity and never able to actually do so.

On the other hand (I have three for the purposes of this discussion) - boiling down that last sentence of yours simply means that complex "feelings" and "patterns" of behaviour may emerge from the fact of our physical existence doesn't it? The sense of being "connected" to a bigger reality in which the welfare of other "beings" matters as much as our own? That probably is the reason for religion existing - its a way of binding the members of a society together to common advantage. And if we know that - if we have figured that out - then perhaps religion has served its purpose and now is the time for secular, humanistic, principled reasoning to guide our compassion and empathy - rather than fear of incurring the displeasure of a superhuman deity.
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
I don't really think religion is limited to "worship" and "praise" of a superhuman power or being. I dare say there could be religions that don't incorporate worship and praise of a power or being at all and even religions that do incorporate those elements also often include other social, ritualistic and behavioural elements as well - such as meditation, sacrifice, etc...there's more to religion than that.

On the other hand, if there is a superhuman being or power that really exists - why should we assume that it would be supremely "just" and "fair" to anyone - let alone all? If it were superhuman - how would we even know what "just" and "fair" might look like from a superhuman point of view? In that case, I would imagine that praise and worship would be paradoxically both imperative and futile at the same time - we would always need to get ourselves on the "right side" of such an entity and never able to actually do so.

On the other hand (I have three for the purposes of this discussion) - boiling down that last sentence of yours simply means that complex "feelings" and "patterns" of behaviour may emerge from the fact of our physical existence doesn't it? The sense of being "connected" to a bigger reality in which the welfare of other "beings" matters as much as our own? That probably is the reason for religion existing - its a way of binding the members of a society together to common advantage. And if we know that - if we have figured that out - then perhaps religion has served its purpose and now is the time for secular, humanistic, principled reasoning to guide our compassion and empathy - rather than fear of incurring the displeasure of a superhuman deity.

I agree with Rothschild on the point that dogmas, and beliefs are not solely exclusive to religion. Secular reality has their share of this as well.

I myself do not want to do away with your first description of religion. And i find spirituality holds a lot of meaning as well.

Philosophy to me doesnt cover the same ground as religion and spirituality do.
 
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URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.
But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.
I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.

Somehow I find it hard to think of a sociopath having religious thinking, but I suppose at some point it is possible.
Jesus said to be conscious (alert) of having a spiritual need.
So, we are Not born with faith, but can develop faith in God.
To develop the 'fruit of God's spirit' as listed at Galatians 5:22-23 is Not a physical dimension in origin.
James 1:27 says real religion takes care of widows and orphans in their tribulation and to keep one's self without spot from the world.
 
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PureX

Veteran Member
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.
That was a very weak definition of religion. And a lot of people confuse religion with theological belief. Religions are a collection of myths, traditions, icons, rituals and practices that people use to help them express and maintain a theological belief. As such, there are lots of people who engage in religion, and lots of people who do not.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.
Religion is an optional hobby, usually centered around a god or gods, usually involving communal rituals and ceremonies.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Yes, and its also a realm of reality unseen, perhaps non physical where life comes from and resides.

That definition lacks all evidence of even being real.

Uh, yeah, I'd say that "realm of reality unseen" stuff is dewy-eyed nonsense.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
I agree with Rothschild on the point that dogmas, and beliefs are not solely exclusive to religion. Secular reality has their share of this as well.

I myself do not want to do away with your first description of religion. And i find spirituality holds a lot of meaning as well.

Philosophy to me doesnt cover the same ground as religion and spirituality do.

So. "spirituality" covers ground, and is not religion.

What is "spirituality" and what ground does it cover?
What meaning does it hold?

I am genuinely puzzled, I have never understood what
people were talking about when they say "spiritual".
 

Audie

Veteran Member
The capacity to love, hate, care or be ambivalent towards others and themselves. That there are causes and effects of those choices and responses.

I use the word spirit, and soul to refer to those capacities that people choose based on their experiences, perceptions and understandings that cause them to love, hate, care, or be ambivalent.

Spirit is also inspiration, and wisdom, qualities of character, and virtues

I get the impression that nobody knows what the
word is supposed to mean. From the range of things
you, let alone others toss in, it seems to mean whatever
one wants it to mean, hence, meaning nothing at all.

A bit of a parallel is the bible itself, which is interpreted
by each to mean whatever they think they see, or want
to see.
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.
I agree
I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
I see religion as a knee jerk to believing in Something Greater
the practice could spring up from any event
and the confused observer will later report.....I saw God

ok.....I'm not opposed to such report

but to then tell me I need to kill an animal to have my sins removed from me.....
nah
not buying it
 

Audie

Veteran Member
There is a cleaning lady that I see
from time to time, and, I usually stop
to speak to her. I kind of hate to
breeze past, the spoiled rich b.....,
and treat someone as being invisible.

So anyway-she told me her husband
got badly hurt, falling down the stairs.
I know from her earlier complaints that
he is an alcoholic.

His explanation was that a ghost pushed him.

She made some comment about how they
are both "very spiritual".

Yep.
 

chinu

chinu
I looked up the word religion, and all it said is that it is the worship and praise of a superhuman power,and/or being. If that being is supremely just and fair to all then fine, so be it.

But If thats all religion is then i dont see any use for it whatsoever.

I see religion as a spirituality that embraces love, and compassion for all as is fitting.
Religion is That there is a spirit dimension to reality even if it only turns out to be physical in origin.
I have slight different definition for that.

Religion = Re+legion
or
Religion = Re=union

Hence, religion means re-union with from where we all started the journey of life in the beginning.

Now, do you see any use of its whatsoever ?
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Yeah, religion is a "hobby" like marriage is a "hobby".
Just because someone feels passionate about something they do doesn't mean that it's akin to a marriage.

The only commitment in a person's religious affiliation comes from the importance they assign to it themselves. If they decide to give up on it - or switch to some other religion - there's nothing to stop them. Don't try doing that with a marriage.
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
So. "spirituality" covers ground, and is not religion.

What is "spirituality" and what ground does it cover?
What meaning does it hold?

I am genuinely puzzled, I have never understood what
people were talking about when they say "spiritual".

There is spiritual teachers out there like Eckhart Tolle, and Gary Zukav. Oprah Winfrey interviews a lot of these people on her Super Soul Sunday show. These teachers often dont subscribe to a spirit realm, but rather they give practical advice and wisdom and share insights about attitudes, and experiences to increase understanding of how one can be more self aware, and empowered. They cover ground on emotions and the effects things have on the heart, and mind. Generally speaking.
 
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