Atheists & Agnostics

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)

24. Similarly, I reject the idea that theism (ON ITS OWN) is a religion.

Sun Feb 1, 2015, 07:24 PM

Feb 2015

Indeed.

There must be some "rules" that distinguish it from other religions.

I think it's ancient government. It's a set of rules to live by, that gain their authority from the fact that our brains anthropomorphize nature and everything else and thus imagined the most useful tool of "the supernatural".... which of course can be moulded and changed any way (unlike the actual laws of physics) that is convenient for making the masses do whatever it is you want them to do.

But just believing in the supernatural is not enough for a religion. There must be rules.... and rituals to reinforce them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

31 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

What is religion? [View all] Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 OP

The one thing they all have in common... truebrit71 Jan 2015 #1

It seems to me that it isn't just the newer religions, Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #5

Religion is a belief in an all-powerful entity or spirit Panich52 Jan 2015 #2

The point is..... Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #4

But only Christians of a particular 'flavor' Panich52 Jan 2015 #18

eh its a living olddots Jan 2015 #3

Yep. bvf Jan 2015 #7

I tend to think of it as a doctrine of stupidity by committee. AtheistCrusader Jan 2015 #6

Religious beliefs don't have to be skepticscott Jan 2015 #8

And who is to say what is sincere? Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #11

It seems to me, that if I look up the term religion in five different sources LostOne4Ever Jan 2015 #9

You make some excellent points Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #12

Similarly, I reject the idea that theism (ON ITS OWN) is a religion. AlbertCat Feb 2015 #24

It seems that being a pastafarian is unacceptable to our religiously afflicted friends. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #10

That is the point.... Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #13

It is too bad that religions that are not mainstream are always being ridiculed by others of faith. AlbertCat Feb 2015 #25

I like Ambrose Bierce's definition. onager Jan 2015 #14

So..... Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #15

is Pastafarianism a religion AlbertCat Feb 2015 #28

what is faith guillaumeb Jan 2015 #16

It would be a wonderful world Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #17

agreed guillaumeb Jan 2015 #19

That was why I struggled for the right word Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #20

Original intent guillaumeb Jan 2015 #21

Welcome from me, too. mr blur Jan 2015 #22

Politicians or religious leaders? guillaumeb Jan 2015 #23

and for some reason, they often do. AlbertCat Feb 2015 #27

Do you really think it is inevitable? Curmudgeoness Feb 2015 #29

Didn't our founding fathers decide that this was not something that would happen here? AlbertCat Feb 2015 #30

Yes, AlbertCat, that is true. Curmudgeoness Feb 2015 #31

can we not all be right for ourselves alone? AlbertCat Feb 2015 #26