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What is your definition of religion?

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
Inspired by @Conscious thoughts 's thread. Mine? I'm not even gonna touch a definition. Too hard to come up with one that encompasses all religions. If you say your belief system is a religion then it is one. I'm not gonna argue. Most atheists don't say they are a religion. Thus I don't believe they are a religion. Some Satanists say they are others say they are just a philosophy rather then a religion. I consider my beliefs religious tho some dont. I might have a definition but I find it hard to word it.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I meaning of words, that way my definitions are constant and global. Some people seem to make their own definitions uonto suit their ego, i find this very confusing in discussion when using the same word but in completely different ways.

That said, i define religion as...
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.
A system of faith in a superhuman powers
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
I believe my path is religious cuz of the belief in gods. And in the supernatural and in magick. I believe it is cuz it is a system of belief of a spiritual realm namely the spiritual realm is the here and now. And is part of a larger spiritual realm.
 
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VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
That said, i define religion as...
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.
This one kinda excludes some atheistic religions such as raelism, and left handed paths. But overall is a nice definition. Most of the time a religion does have the belief in a supernatural controlling power.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
Perhaps thinking on it longer it is necessary to have many definitions of religion. There's probably no way to define the word so all religions are included
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
This one kinda excludes some atheistic religions such as raelism, and left handed paths. But overall is a nice definition. Most of the time a religion does have the belief in a supernatural controlling power.

I would not call raelism an atheist religion as such, its more a movement or a school of thought and has members from different religions as well as atheism
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
I would not call raelism an atheist religion as such, its more a movement or a school of thought and has members from different religions as well as atheism
Ah well it's not a belief system I know much about to be honest.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Ah well it's not a belief system I know much about to be honest.

Just been checking it out. It seems that some media sources call it a religion. Without the supernatural element I don't see how ir can be
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Inspired by @Conscious thoughts 's thread. Mine? I'm not even gonna touch a definition. Too hard to come up with one that encompasses all religions. If you say your belief system is a religion then it is one. I'm not gonna argue. Most atheists don't say they are a religion. Thus I don't believe they are a religion. Some Satanists say they are others say they are just a philosophy rather then a religion. I consider my beliefs religious tho some dont. I might have a definition but I find it hard to word it.

This is very similar to how I see it.

Religion: By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

Spirituality: Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Or as Christina Puchalski, MD (leader in trying to incorporate spirituality into healthcare), puts it, “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred."
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
One thing to notice with not just religion. When it comes to humans understanding humans we all use subjective standards in some sense. Of course, not you, if you want to believe that. :)
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Inspired by @Conscious thoughts 's thread. Mine? I'm not even gonna touch a definition. Too hard to come up with one that encompasses all religions. If you say your belief system is a religion then it is one. I'm not gonna argue. Most atheists don't say they are a religion. Thus I don't believe they are a religion. Some Satanists say they are others say they are just a philosophy rather then a religion. I consider my beliefs religious tho some dont. I might have a definition but I find it hard to word it.
I prefer asking "what is your faith", which translates into "what do you believe?" That actually includes atheists.
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
I prefer asking "what is your faith", which translates into "what do you believe?" That actually includes atheists.

Well, so do I. I just differentiate between personal and universal beliefs. For both sides there are both kinds. Personal and universal.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I prefer asking "what is your faith", which translates into "what do you believe?" That actually includes atheists.

I believe my kids will go to school tomorrow,. I believe it will be close to freezing tonight. As an atheist i disbelieve gods exist in the same way i disbelieve not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Is disbelieve a belief?
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
I believe my kids will go to school tomorrow,. I believe it will be close to freezing tonight. As an atheist i disbelieve gods exist in the same way i disbelieve not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Is disbelieve a belief?

We are entering debate now. I can't answer without debating you. In practice we believe differently about how beliefs work.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I As an atheist i disbelieve gods exist
Is disbelieve a belief?

yes... because you can only say that based on faith. You don't know all that there is to know in all of creation.

You can disbelieve there is a person on a mountain but it would be a statement of faith (of belief or non "belief) - it still is a statement of faith.
 
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