Exaltist Ethan
Bridging the Gap Between Believers and Skeptics
i recently discovered a little bit more about @Kharisym 's faith and it appeared to me to be almost identical to a religion that existed briefly in the 19th century. The Religion of Humanity. Auguste Comte invented that religion, established a few temples in France and Brazil, but never really did much with it and now it doesn't really exist anymore. Comte's ideas carried on as general Humanism, but Humanism by itself seems to lack of religious structure or organization towards it.
It seems to me that @Kharisym 's highest ideal is altruism, and Comte literally invented that word, altruisme, in French. And Comte's religion was literally described as, "Catholicism minus the Christianity." If you were in this organization, it was apparent that you were also atheist too - but not secular, or without religion. And there are other religious organizations, both past and present, that claim no God. Such as Confucianism and certain types of Satanism would fall into that category. Some Hindus are also atheist and Buddhism is a religion typically viewed without God.
However, while I do not speak for all Baha'is by a longshot, I think they would tend to think that religion and particularly, monotheism, are synonymous or nearly identical. And it appears apparent to most people that most people who believe in God also have a religion, and that most people who have a religion also believe in God. And it seems now more than ever with various restorationist movements in Christianity that God and religion are the same. Although, there are the "non-theist Quakers", which never made any sense to me given how spiritual Quakers tend to be.
I am creating a poll on this and intend on having three options. Religion can exist without God, Religion cannot exist without God, or somehow a combination of the two. I am interested in hearing what people have to say about this topic. Many people assume if you are atheist you are also not religious or spiritual in anyway, but there seems to be glaring evidence of faiths that had no God and are still considered religions to most people. So I would argue on the side that religion can exist without God. Someone can be important enough to follow with conviction without calling that person divinely-inspired, although placing divinity towards them might help place a certain degree of importance to them.
What do you think about this topic? Can you belong to a religion without the need for God? Or is God and religion inseparable? I am purposely putting this in RELIGIOUS DEBATES so you guys can debate amongst yourselves about this. Let us know what you think below!
It seems to me that @Kharisym 's highest ideal is altruism, and Comte literally invented that word, altruisme, in French. And Comte's religion was literally described as, "Catholicism minus the Christianity." If you were in this organization, it was apparent that you were also atheist too - but not secular, or without religion. And there are other religious organizations, both past and present, that claim no God. Such as Confucianism and certain types of Satanism would fall into that category. Some Hindus are also atheist and Buddhism is a religion typically viewed without God.
However, while I do not speak for all Baha'is by a longshot, I think they would tend to think that religion and particularly, monotheism, are synonymous or nearly identical. And it appears apparent to most people that most people who believe in God also have a religion, and that most people who have a religion also believe in God. And it seems now more than ever with various restorationist movements in Christianity that God and religion are the same. Although, there are the "non-theist Quakers", which never made any sense to me given how spiritual Quakers tend to be.
I am creating a poll on this and intend on having three options. Religion can exist without God, Religion cannot exist without God, or somehow a combination of the two. I am interested in hearing what people have to say about this topic. Many people assume if you are atheist you are also not religious or spiritual in anyway, but there seems to be glaring evidence of faiths that had no God and are still considered religions to most people. So I would argue on the side that religion can exist without God. Someone can be important enough to follow with conviction without calling that person divinely-inspired, although placing divinity towards them might help place a certain degree of importance to them.
What do you think about this topic? Can you belong to a religion without the need for God? Or is God and religion inseparable? I am purposely putting this in RELIGIOUS DEBATES so you guys can debate amongst yourselves about this. Let us know what you think below!
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