Religion

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)

20. Religion is in fact often defined as belonging to a specific group

Fri Oct 20, 2017, 11:17 AM

Oct 2017

People who believe in God or spirits but are not affiliated with any group often describe themselves as "spiritual" rather than religious. I do think there is a distinction to be made between organized religion and individual spiritual practice. Organized religion is trending down. I haven't seen any surveys on individual spiritual practice.

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The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion [View all] trotsky Oct 2017 OP

Well, since we're heading towards becoming a theocracy AJT Oct 2017 #1

We have the power. We have the numbers. trotsky Oct 2017 #2

Another meaningless graph? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #3

Not necessarily marylandblue Oct 2017 #4

True, but the title is somewhat misleading. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #7

Nowhere near as misleading as this title: trotsky Oct 2017 #10

Please remember that you are not everyone. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #11

Nope. But everyone is still waiting for you to prove your claim. trotsky Oct 2017 #13

2 unproven statements, guillaumeb Oct 2017 #14

You're not a Christian? trotsky Oct 2017 #16

Read from the top of your last response. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #19

So you're wrong, wrong, and wrong. trotsky Oct 2017 #23

1-2-3 still apply. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #24

Then show me what proof looks like. trotsky Oct 2017 #31

I already did. We both know it. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #38

You think it's "silly" that you're being held to the same standard? trotsky Oct 2017 #42

I'm Sparticus! NeoGreen Oct 2017 #30

This is gonna hang around his neck like an albatross. trotsky Oct 2017 #32

There's a Firefly quote about not taking someone seriously. Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #33

Ha, and it's a good one. n/t trotsky Oct 2017 #34

Religion is in fact often defined as belonging to a specific group marylandblue Oct 2017 #20

"a particular system of faith and worship" muriel_volestrangler Oct 2017 #83

Hi, when are you going to prove your claims? trotsky Oct 2017 #5

When you finally prove yours. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #6

Already did. trotsky Oct 2017 #9

We are still waiting snooper2 Oct 2017 #73

What are you, or we, waiting for? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #76

tick tock AtheistCrusader Oct 2017 #80

Meaningless? Not at all. MineralMan Oct 2017 #81

A positive sign Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #8

"Cure theism"? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #12

How about disorder? Cartoonist Oct 2017 #15

Are you saying that theists have a mental disorder? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #17

Or maybe there's nothing wrong with them being christians Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #21

How does someone "practice Christianity"? Mariana Oct 2017 #28

I suppose the way that being homosexual without "practicing homosexuality" is a thing? Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #29

As the man said: Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #18

Does your act play well at the comedy club? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #22

Well what do you call people marylandblue Oct 2017 #25

Confused? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #35

winners marylandblue Oct 2017 #37

Mass murder is winning? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #40

In war, it can be. marylandblue Oct 2017 #41

Is mass killing of civilians a war crime? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #44

War is a terrible thing marylandblue Oct 2017 #46

War is a terrible thing. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #47

I don't view patriotism as a belief system marylandblue Oct 2017 #48

So people do not believe that the US was founded for certain reasons? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #49

Believing the US was founded for certain reasons marylandblue Oct 2017 #50

Patriotism is a belief system, guillaumeb Oct 2017 #54

What is your definition of a belief system? marylandblue Oct 2017 #56

Where we should have started: guillaumeb Oct 2017 #57

What are the set of beliefs required to be a patriot? marylandblue Oct 2017 #59

The exact composition of beliefs varies. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #61

Ok, now we need a definition of belief marylandblue Oct 2017 #65

Explain how love fits into the concept of patriotism. eom guillaumeb Oct 2017 #67

You said love of country is part of patriotism marylandblue Oct 2017 #68

This is awesome. trotsky Oct 2017 #63

Another victory for t. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #70

Thanks! trotsky Oct 2017 #71

You have indeed lost track. An excellent observation. eom guillaumeb Oct 2017 #72

I appreciate you keeping a tally of all your losses! That's very considerate of you. trotsky Oct 2017 #75

I got an observation about "patriotism"... NeoGreen Oct 2017 #64

Yes, it is an observation. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #79

It's been a while since I did either of those Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #27

If only your insight were matched with your sense of superiority. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #36

Why would I make the mistake of agreeing with you? Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #52

Framing quite a bit, are you not? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #55

Carpenters and religion are a terrible combination Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #58

So, when you said: guillaumeb Oct 2017 #60

Certain religious beliefs are, clearly. Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #62

Why then did you choose to talk of curing theism? guillaumeb Oct 2017 #66

Someday we'll have reached every sane human being who can be reached Pope George Ringo II Oct 2017 #69

jesus was a carpenter, but few people know he was actaully really crappy at it snooper2 Oct 2017 #74

He was not a union carpenter. guillaumeb Oct 2017 #77

And a religious war going on right here in the above posts SonofDonald Oct 2017 #26

Ooohh, I like this statement from the report: "and among the youngest adults, there may already... NeoGreen Oct 2017 #39

Shocking, isn't it? trotsky Oct 2017 #43

IKR? I can almost hear someone proclaiming... NeoGreen Oct 2017 #45

Perhaps a lot of religion is retreating from God Turbineguy Oct 2017 #51

Thank God Ohiya Oct 2017 #53

You wouldn't know it to look at what the government is doing daily CanonRay Oct 2017 #78

Islam is growing :) samir.g Oct 2017 #82