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the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
That is the dictionary definition, yes.
Is Religion internal to you, or it is external?
Is it different from the way you think of politics, economics, or sociology?
How so and why?
Do you believe it has an essential quality?
Or would you define it as how it functions, either in your own life or life in general.
Is it part of your everyday life? How so?
Please note, this is not about your religion. It is about Religion, in general. What is it?
If one does not worship a superhuman controlling power, can one still be religious?
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
Except that god-optional (or in certain sects, godless) religions like Buddhism and Taoism, break this pattern. Also the post-Christian Unitarian/Universalist church certainly considers themselves a religion, yet accept atheists into their congregations.
I guess you are making room for these outliers with the phrase "especially a god or gods" but I think a core definition of religion has to leave god(s) out altogether in order to get to the central truth of what religion is. My definition would be "a practice that emphasizes personal spirituality as a means to transcending the human condition; also, a community that provides belonging, refuge, structure and ritual in the service of this spirituality".
That doesn't exclude a god (or demigod or dead people or angels or demons) being venerated or interacted with in the service of all that, but it doesn't demand it, either. It also doesn't exclude heavens, hells, or afterlives or whatever, either, even while not making them a necessary part of the basic definition.
Religion is a Big Tent and a definition of religion has to reflect that and should assume an absolute minimum concerning particulars. All too often, specific theists assume that True Religion is their flavor, and must necessarily involve elements of their belief and practice. In particular, they assume at least some sort of god(s) must be involved or it can't be religious.
Another way of comparing religion and spirituality would be to use the example of patriotism. The "religious" patriot could be satisfied with just waving flags as sufficient to express patriotism. The "spiritual" patriot would have no use or desire for superficial symbols and expression, and would only seek actionable ways to support for his/her country (exposing problems that weaken us, try to bring people together, encourage voting and participation, etc.) Too many choose the easier approach, which really does nothing, and just stop there, as though they've accomplished something. Many of the churches and the religious fail along those lines.
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
It's already come dude, with red-faced idiots of one of the two parties. The presence of a flag or cross would just be more components of their traitorous ways (traitors to our country, sacrilege to Jesus). When they screw up, they do it on many levels.
I'm not buying for one moment the cross being used. I know what the cross represents, while they don't, and they don't give a damn. If you know the authentic, then you can catch the bogus, and avoid getting confused by these depraved dramas.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 10-28-2022 at 11:49 AM..
Dont make claims without quoting those posts in full. That is dishonest.
Baloney, you often refer to such yourself.
But to the issue:
What does it say on the federal government's money? "In God we trust".
What does the Pledge Of Allegiance say? "One nation under god".
What do sessions of the Senate and House begin with? A prayer by a religious figure.
What do presidents often say at the end of speeches? "God bless the United States Of America".
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