My definition of religion...

Well, I am not trying to bash you, but you sound as if you want to be your own god. It's about looking within one's soul to find your true self, and live your life within the rule's and expectations of one's own soul.

In this instance, you are right one can fashion a religion around one's own belief but then if there are no rules to follow, no commandments to good faith, you allow people like Charlie Manson in the mix who looked into his soul and found murder. You allow for dictators like Hitler who committed mass genocide in the name of his religion. Of course, when I bring this up, I am sure that others will say wait a minute, look at what christainity as birthed in the name of its religion and it is true that murder and genocide is a part of the bible as well and you could go so far as to say that God himself is a evil dictator who has lead his follows to their doom.

In fact, democracy itself was a response against a monarchy and so our founding fathers instituted as set of checks and balances as a way to curb one man rule, because they believed no one could be trusted and that everyone acts out of his or her own interest, which is an interesting dilemma to say the least because they were all god fearing men and the bible is a document which favors monarchy.

What it comes down to is submission to a higer power but you must first feel that the higher power is greater than you. It is tremendously egotistical for someone to believe that they have all the answers to life. Wjat is strange is that people readily yield to say newton when it comes to calculus, because I suppose it has been tested and found without flaw, but in the case of religion one thinks that they can go it alone. No one would go it alone to create their own calculus. So Christians yield to the bible for matters of religion and people often sneer. They sneer for many reason, not least of all because it is seen as unlearned or without intelectual understanding, primarily because religion isn't seen by them as being an absolute like calculus and because people generally scoff at dictatorship when it comes to what is seen by them as objectionable at best.

I think when people will wise up is when they finally see god for themselves which will be as absolute and without objection as Netwons calculus.

 

Religion was put onto the earth by an evil God who wanted to divide people and nations.

 

I think what you are describing is more of an ethos or a way of life than a religion. Religions have ethoses and proscribe ways of life but those are bound by a belief system in something greater than human existence. This is why some don't consider Buddhism a religion since original Buddhism doesn't deal with a power but instead with an ethos.

You've set up a dichotomy between what you see vs. traditional religions but I don't see why you can't live life the way you describe and also believe in a higher power.

 

Religion is man's attempts to know, acheive or receive

What only God can reveal, create, or give.

Getting the right religion is not nearly important as getting the right God.

A belief in creeds, divinity, supernatural, or diety is religion but not necessarily truth.

Truth is truth.

God is truth.

A moral belief system is a religion but not a relationship. Man has sought relationship with the divine since early recorded history either by appeasement, bargain, ceremony, practice, fear, faith, communication, control, manipulation, secrecy, honesty, sacrament, creed, rules, intellect, belief, tradition, emotion and/or common ground etc etc.

If man's soul is eternal and immortal then life after death is more important than religion on earth.

What happens before death is religion. What happens after death is truth.

Religion is a belief system inside an individual- it can come with the divine or without the divine. The most popular religion today is the belief in one's self. The 'divine' within, or the man is truth.

Religion is what we trust and worship.

Just look at the average American and you will see most have placed ones self as the focus of religion (as far as trust and worship go).

 

Religion is collectivism, a sly technique for deceptive power-junkies to enslave the populace.

 

IMHO.

Religion is man's attempt to explain the unknown. To help ease the pain of the living by telling stories of a glorious afterlife.

It is about community and like minded people coming together and worshiping with each other.

There is a lot to like about religion, charity, community, forgiveness.

But...there is a darkside as well.

Control, division, political power, and seperation from others.

I like your original description, this is pretty much how I feel as well.

Intellectually I have a very hard time accepting any religion as there is no proof they were created by anyone other than man, and to me that does nothing to distinguish today's religions, Christianity, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, etc...from the Roman Gods, or the Greek Gods, or the Egyptian Gods...or the Aztec...well you get the idea.

Again, IMHO, today's religions are tomorrows mythos.

DD

 

It think god gave everybody everything they need to serve their purpose. He definitely didn't write a manual over 2000 years ago that only a few people got to read.

 

Having an opinion about religion and an opinion about God are two very different things.

The difference between a man's opinions and his belief is the former changes often and the latter slowly hardens like wet cement.

Again, isn't religion based upon what man believes?

If there is a divine God would man's own beliefs change that?

IF there is a divine God then that one truth is far more important than man's opinion.

I think everyone is religious about their beliefs. So religion cannot be defined with the same definition of God or truth.

 

I always hated at funerals, near the end the pastor, preacher, or whatever would always say something like is there anybody here who wants to be saved today, anybody at all don't be afraid to raise your hand or stand up. Then they say by nobody raising your hand I am going to take that as your word that you have given your life to Jesus Christ.

We're sitting here trying to honor and remember this individual who is gone and they're on a recruitng mission.

 

I've never been to a funeral that had that. That's up to the individual who's giving the service at that time.

 

I haven't been to many luckily but there's only been one where the preacher didn't do it. I just thought it was common.

 

My definition: Religion is man's way of dealing with man's fear of the unknown.

 

I'm Catholic and have been raised Catholic practically since birth. My parents would drag me to mass even when I didn't want to as a kid. I'm 23 now and the moment I became 18, I went through this rebellious phase where I realized I was legally an adult and could make own decisions about when I want to go to mass. Over the years I've developed an appreciation for mass and don't feel obligated or dragged to go because of it. Anyhow I bring all of this up, because I've come up with my own philosophy on what religion is, no matter how heretical it may be to Catholicism.

I think religion itself is God's way to reach the different cultures people practice to come and find peace in worshiping Him. Now this doesn't necessarily cover polytheistic religions or those involve cannibalistic or human sacrifice and suffering. I think those are definitely wrong no matter how much it may be appreciated to a certain sect of people's culture. Catholicism has branched out all over the world and found its place in people's hearts despite the cultural differences from all walks of life.

Here's an example. I think the Romans, Greeks, Celtics, and Native Americans who had polytheistic beliefs (Sun, Love, Water, Air, etc gods) were merely one God that Catholics, Islamic, Jewish, etc. believe in, but God could not reach those people without the religious institute those people prefer to practice. Certainly there are clashing differences among all religions. Some do not believe Jesus as God, nor do they believe in the Holy Trinity that I do, and their lack of belief that Jesus is God goes against my belief that we practice our beliefs in worshiping the same God, but I see that as human error that God accepts knowing God is merely trying to offer a peace to all humans who suffer and seek guidance.

So under most circumstances (Ones that do not involve human suffering like human sacrifice) do I believe no religion is truly wrong, and it's simply the same God trying to reach out to others through religion since it appeals to their cultural practices. I hope I worded all of this right and gave a sound explanation.

 

I haven't been to many luckily but there's only been one where the preacher didn't do it. I just thought it was common.




Happened at one I went to last year. I felt like everyone had their eyes on me.

 

Some quotes...

Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one.

and

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

--Thomas Jefferson

To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong to the rank of devoutly religious men.

--Albert Einstein

What do I believe? As an American I believe in generosity, in liberty, in the rights of man. These are social and political faiths that are part of me, as they are, I suppose, part of all of us. Such beliefs are easy to express. But part of me too is my relation to all life, my religion. And this is not so easy to talk about. Religious experience is highly intimate and, for me, ready words are not at hand.

--Adlai Stevenson

It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.

--Gandhi

Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.

--Paul Tillich

I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of humans; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy.

--Thomas Paine

 

My "religion" (even though I run like hell from that term):

Isaiah 1:16-17

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds otu of my sight! Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow


James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

I think we Mix spirituality and religion

Religion *is* a Man Made Social Construct
sadly it is more of a control tool than anything else

Religion is *suppose* to be a conduit of marrying out physical life
with our divine spirit

It is often difficult to align our spirit with out mind and body
Religion is suppose to facilitate that

Religion is a practice . . methods. . .ceremony . ..
it is the suppose to be the physical part of spirituality
It is a reenforcement of those ideals and thought of the divine
ino concrete action [books, songs, etc]

Rocket River

 

Exactly. And that is waht the bible teaching is all about.

 

I wish all these humanists would quit trying to push their religion on me. Can't they see that I'm not interested?