Re: Re: Re: Religion in the Monastery.

[petesmiley]

in reply to Re: Re: Religion in the Monastery.
in thread Religion in the Monastery.

Religion:

1. • Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
   • A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Hmm, no, atheists don't fit definition 1. And I've never met an order of atheists, but I have found plenty of loners. So that eliminates definition 2. 3 is automatically eliminated, I've never met an atheist pope/messiah/prophet. And frankly, if they are number 4 I'd like to know how that works. Do you go out killing other religions screaming, "I punish thee in the name of all that does not exist!!!"

No sir....I would categorize atheism as a belief, not a religion.

smiles

[Anonymous Monk]

I find it amusing that you try and disprove my implied definition of religion simply by quoting a book. My post was just a little flame-bait thrown into the mix with the purpose of observing that both athiesm and organized religions share many of the same qualities. The most dominant of these qualities being the unsupported belief in (or against) something.

I really don't care to concern myself with such a debate, especially on a programming website. I hope a few people have found it thought-provoking.

[Anonymous Monk]

Religion: Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. The life or condition of a person in a religious order. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion Although I do agree with your definition of religion I (being an Atheist) must disagree with Atheism being a belief. Because what could it possibly be considered a belife in? So I put forth that Atheism is not a belief bu an idea.

[zengargoyle]

how about an atheist believes the religious are wrong?

[Anonymous Monk]

how about an atheist believes the religious are wrong?

a lack of belief in X does not equal nor imply an active belief in NOT X.