Religion, what is one?

[jt1012751]

Me and some friends were debating religion and we stumbled across a question we all had very different opinions on. What constitutes a religion? Nobody could come up with the same answer. I was wondering if you guys had any input on what makes a religion.

The only thing we could agree on is it has to do with belief so, anything more would be appraiciated. Thanks.

[Osborn F Enready]

A pretty story that shows good and bad, sprinkled with blind faith, false promises and a healthy dose of dogma.

I don't know if there is such a thing as a description of what "conststitutes" a religion as far as being a "valid" religion.

I know somebody whose dad started one, but I don't know ANYTHING about it, and they like it that way. (so do I truly.)

[G. Adams]

Quote by: jt1012751 Me and some friends were debating religion and we stumbled across a question we all had very different opinions on. What constitutes a religion? Nobody could come up with the same answer. I was wondering if you guys had any input on what makes a religion. The only thing we could agree on is it has to do with belief so, anything more would be appraiciated. Thanks.

A set of assumptions that cannot be proved (the moment they are proved it is no longer religion, but fact and science), but are held because of faith. They are expression of the culture that creates it, and to an extent, the contemporary culture that sustains it. Religions always, on some level, explain our situations. By that that I mean, they answer that whiney baby question "why me???". They may suggest that the situations you find yourself are tests, karma, destiny or wyrd.

Organised religion (well, long established) however is a whole different bag, full of baggage. Times change, but religion, which is essentially a cultural expression of a particular period, attempts to stay the same. At that point, it becomes dogmatic and forces splinter heresies. No religion is immune from it, though some appear more susceptible than others.

[Rave7pt0]

So cynical... there are definitions, and I know them but it's too late to think, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

[jt1012751]

A pretty story that shows good and bad, sprinkled with blind faith, false promises and a healthy dose of dogma.

I may be wrong, but I do beleive their are religions, such as Wicca, Buddhism, and Satanism(CoS), that have no story behind them. However, the peice about morals and the like is probably true.

[underbear1]

Religion is whatever the village shaman tells you it is,and you better accept it on faith.

[samsara15]

As soon as you have heresies, I suppose you have religion.