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question:
what's the difference between religion and ideology?
when an ideology becomes a religion?
is being an atheist (or maybe anti-theist) a religion?
is it possible to have ones own religion?

Corran Horn wrote:question:
is it possible to have ones own religion?

Yes. It's quite easy, actually.

The others I won't touch so easily, since I know little of the subjects, but you forgot Theology (I think? I normally don't like religious subjects, too much dogma...).

theology is the study of religion.


What's the difference between a cult and a religion?[spoiler]about a hundred years! [/spoiler]

HairyMehoff wrote:theology is the study of religion.


What's the difference between a cult and a religion?[spoiler]about a hundred years! [/spoiler]

wiki wrote:The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to "knowledge of the hidden".[1]

The term occult is also used as a label given to a number of magical organizations or orders, and the teachings and practices as taught by them. The name also extends to a large body of literature and spiritual philosophy.

The occult has been around just as long as your "real" religions, if not longer. Since your religions are supremacist and try to crush and destroy anyone that believes anything but them, because they can never be wrong, and we are mere sinners and heretics and deserve to die (if not tortured into conversion), and all that...

He wasn't saying the occult hadn't been around that long. He was referring to cults. Such as "The Heaven's Gate" cult. or Jim Jones and Jonesboro. Most often cults end in mass suicides and are only around because of charismatic leaders and directionless, low self-esteem people. There was a SG episode where some gould was a cult leader. Don't remember episode number though. The occult is something complete different.

Since your religions are supremacist and try to crush and destroy anyone that believes anything but them, because they can never be wrong, and we are mere sinners and heretics and deserve to die (if not tortured into conversion), and all that...

Actually, within Christianity at least (I'm not quite as familiar with Judaism though I believe this holds true for them, and I have not read the Quran so I can't state yes or no for the religion of Islam), the idea is simply to spread the word of God, not to crush and obliterate all others, and definitely not to torture into belief. Yes, the Crusades happened, yes the Spanish Inquisition happened, they were even sanctioned by the Pope at times. However, those examples do not follow the Christian ideal as laid out in the Bible by the words of Christ. Christians are simply to preach, both through words and through exemplary living. Does Christian believe it is the only way? Well yes, but a Christian isn't supposed to kill you, or torture you, so that you come to believe that too.

Hm...OK then, but my point still stands. Religionists are too arrogant and supremacist...I know, I live with 5 of them.

There is a vast difference between a believer and a fundamentalist. The divisions within churches and religions creates a convoluted internal issue that exponentially exacerbates the problem of not only defining what religion is but also in pinning down exactly what any one religion believes. My interpretations are going to be different from a Southern Baptist, a Methodist, or a Catholic. Now to address a point that I just saw from earlier in the postings.

The main point of any religion,in my opinion, is to instill some level of fear into the populace. By doing this it creates a society whos acts will be mainly moral so as to prevent serious sociological breakdown. However as the conciousness evolves we are beginning (ever so slightly) to see religion as pointless or without real consequence hence the gradual breakdown of civil society so strict laws are now inplace to discourage violence and the concept of crime.

Perhaps there are some religions that started this way. However, Christianity actually defies your theory. The idea of forgiveness, even on one's deathbed if one is truly repentant, is not aimed at instilling fear but rather allowing us to be human and strive for something better. Also, though it may sound a bit too humanistic, I'd much rather believe that there is a purpose to life and that everything was created for some reason, rather than omg this was all one big frakking accident. I'm so glad that primordial ooze decided to evolve into single cellular bacteria and continue to evolve over billions of years. I'm a big arrogant in thinking my life has meaning I know. But I can't help it, I'm a flawed human who hasn't achieved the highest level of evolution yet. As to the gradual breakdown of civil society...how is this a good thing? A lack of morals and simply a law governed society means that people will simply weigh the options more before deciding if they can get away with a crime or if committing the crime is worth it. Within a moral society you have people telling themselves not to kill because it is wrong to take another life, regardless of what punishment the state would inflict. A moral society is much preferred to one in which a government attempts to legislate morals.

then they are kinda not being very religious in the fact that it sounds like they aren't following the basic concepts of whatever religion it is that they are following.



if you didn't get that spoiler.... it was meant to be a light hearted joke

Thade wrote:I'm a big arrogant in thinking my life has meaning I know. But I can't help it, I'm a flawed human who hasn't achieved the highest level of evolution yet.

That's not arrogance. That's ego, which is only slightly different...but still.

But besides that, we all ARE here for a purpose. What ever that may be, or however it may be.

HairyMehoff wrote:then they are kinda not being very religious in the fact that it sounds like they aren't following the basic concepts of whatever religion it is that they are following.

They are being religious. They're all non-denominational christians with a heaven or hell "old skool" belief...If you've ever been around the type, you know who I'm talking about.

HairyMehoff wrote:if you didn't get that spoiler.... it was meant to be a light hearted joke

Light hearted jokes don't belong here. If you want a serious debate, then debate seriously.

Though, it was a bad joke anyway, and only served to demonstrate my point of Christians being supremacist. And as you saw, I displayed my point of view after finding the fuel to feed the fires of my soul.

As I said earlier, what is the point to any belief if not to find enlightenment? And if that is the goal, enlightenment has many paths. Some people decide to build walls around they're paths though, so they can only see the path they walk. These people believe that they're path is the only path, and that everyone else is doomed, since they can no longer see the other paths due to being blinded by dogma and arrogance. I don't like these people, or those paths, if you haven't noticed...

(Though, I don't hate them either. Since, that would cause me to fall into the trap and become arrogant and supremacist myself. )

They are being religious. They're all non-denominational christians with a heaven or hell "old skool" belief...If you've ever been around the type, you know who I'm talking about.

Non-Denominational Christian....hmm...honestly I detest that phrase. That's like saying I believe in something but I have no idea what nor do I have any particular views on sacraments. However, I have recently been drinking and that's all I'm going to say for tonight. I'll put forth an intelligent thought tomorrow and everyone should ignore this bigoted statement.

i dont say non-denominational.

i go to a methodist church. but i dont call myself a methodist. i call myself a christian. i despise people saying "I'm a Catholic...I'm a Lutheran"


People who act in the way you describe are not following their religion very well. especially if they claim to be christians. tomorrow i might actually put together a full post but as for now... sleep time

The funny thing is, I somewhat I agree with you. But they would only end up saying you weren't following your religion...

Then again, they would send me to hell in half a nano-second for being what I am...sooo. Yeah.

doesnt everyone liek all Religions base thier thign on the Bible like really

like when i search a religion like jaohvas witnesses or soemthign it says the church was created by _______ someone

but for example

the church of jesus christ of latter day saint (k well not many poeple know the full name so i say Mormon)

say it was restored to earth

an i for one am a mormon an proud to be a mormon my family is a Mormon family an it will continue

i dont argue about what is truie or not but we all believe in the same things an that most religions do

so im not saying anymore about it

an plus how can u think your church is the true church aswell liek most poeple rejoice for christ because he went on the cross an died an another thing y do u keep a cross an christ on it u know well i kinda remember what it looks like..... but it is very disturbing have a cross with christ on it

k i have said to much

i am off now good bye

whats a religion? two cave men sit by the fire. they respect it and live by it and eventually they worship it. they name it. they build temples to it. its not hard for religion to be born.

i define a religion as any belief that cannot be proven. a religion doesnt have to worship one god. not at all. i have my own religious beliefs and no one will tell me what they are. its my right to choose as it is the right of every person (in a perfect world ) to choose. jus because someone thinks differently doesnt make their religion invalid.

the origins of religions are lost in antiquity. chances are no one will ever know how they came about and were warped and changed into what we have today. for example christianity is mostly made up and pieced together from other religions (dont know as much about other religions but its safe to assume they take heavy influence from those that came before them aswel. the bible has been rewritten and changed so many times over the years id be surprised if theres any truth left in it. its not hard for generations of monks or whoever to slightly alter the copies they made (by hand). i believe there was a jesus and that he was a good man who helped people. thats the important thing along with the fact that the bible preaches good deeds. the abilities and miracles of jesus are far to common in myraid religions to be credited to him alone though. they were added over the centuries from ancient (imagine 50 x ascended ) pagan beliefs. which leads to this next part:

many christian beliefs are taken from pagen religions. thats how christianity conquered the world, by adapting. jesus is common in many religions, under different names, in different times and places. many christian events celebrated/remembered now are absorbed from other beliefs. christianity broadened its appeal to capture more followers.

christianity has also damaged the reputations of other religious traditions. voodoo for example was demonised, making native people fear the evil magic (voodoo dolls etc) and therefore be more likely to convert. i cant comment with any authority on all religions but id imagine adaptation and alteration of beliefs is common to all systems.

if these 'real' religions you talk of were correct and worthy of worship there wouldnt have been thousands of years of crusades, wars, extermination, torture, scientific hinderance and GOD (whichever one you want lol) only knows what else. think of islam now for example and the conflict between it and the other 2 'real' religions. fanatics blowing things up for GOD is insanity. extremists are always drawn to a structured belief. then again if there were no religion there would probably be terrorism for some other reason. all gods draw retards to them who go to far.

religion does many good things though. think of the aid and charity work which it champions. a true religion prooves itself so by its actions and the way it makes its followers feel. its a shame humanity corrupts something with so much potential so terribly. in the end it all comes down to what one man or woman believes within themselves. thats whats important, not whether they believe in an official, organised belief. and if their feelings towards their faith help them to do good then thats the measure of what religion should be, of what a true religion should be. ancient writings arent true, the actions of followers are. and gods/God/spaghetti monster thing willing there will be alot more good coming from religion than the bad of late.

yeh its like 3am an i ramble like a . . .er would feel weird using bad language in this so like a brother trucker. peaceout all and may ganeesh grant you much joy

If there is a god or gods, do you realy think they would care whether you had a beard or not???

Whether you wore Black or not?????

All religions believe in a Deity thats greater than we mortals.

Women and Women are the ones that say "This is wrong" or that is "Right"

It all boiles down to a few basic rules of society.

1. Respect your parents (where possible) (wher you haven't been abused,etc)
2.Respect your neighbour and vice versa (50% of all problems are with bad neighbours)
3. Don't kill people (would you like someone trying to kill you??)

etc,etc

All commonsence rules but there are always exceptions made by greedy self serving people

REligions are made by man to control the people and the origin of religions come from before the stone age when men worshiped what they didn't understand.

Sun God RA: The sun gave light to help life.
Diverse WAter Gods: need I say more
Gaia: Goddess of earth and fertility.

If there is a god you won't be judged at the end of your life on how much you pray or how many you kill in the name of your god, you will be judged on how you have treated your brothers and sisters (no matter what their beliefes) and the state you have left the world in for your children.