Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Even starting from the essential statement of one god and his son jesus is religious.

There is an awesome book written in the 30's called the Sixteen Crucified Saviors which catalogues various religions/mythologies around the world that had saviors who were killed by the people.

Much of the essential christian texts can be traced directly back to religions that existed at the time christianity began to evolve. The basic tenet that we are somehow flawed and need to be saved by anything or anyone is a man made construct laid out fairly clearly in early judaic readings and documents. All of these basic world views can be called into question as having been man's attempt to make sense of a world that he does not understand.

We still don't, but acknowledging that we do not beats the daylights out of inventing causality where it does not exist.

 

[deb1]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Even starting from the essential statement of one god and his son jesus is religious.

There is an awesome book written in the 30's called the Sixteen Crucified Saviors which catalogues various religions/mythologies around the world that had saviors who were killed by the people.

Much of the essential christian texts can be traced directly back to religions that existed at the time christianity began to evolve. The basic tenet that we are somehow flawed and need to be saved by anything or anyone is a man made construct laid out fairly clearly in early judaic readings and documents. All of these basic world views can be called into question as having been man's attempt to make sense of a world that he does not understand.

We still don't, but acknowledging that we do not beats the daylights out of inventing causality where it does not exist.

I am going to look that book up. It sounds amazing.​

 

[juniper8209]

I was born & raised as a Christian. Several years ago, for various reasons, I decided not to claim a religion and was basically Agnostic. Each person is different, and while my husband needs no religion to be spiritual, I needed something, so I decided on Wicca back in 2008 after months of reading and research, and it's been the best decision I've ever made. I absolutely love it. My dad, on the other hand, isn't too happy and I've been told on more than one occasion that I'm going to hell...I kinda saw that one coming though. lol I've also been called a horrible mother by him since I don't take my daughter to church. Actually I take her to "church" every time I let her light a candle or walk in the woods or let her appreciate a hidden creek...but anyhoo...that's my religion to non-religion back to religion story! lol

Blessed Be!

 

[redux]

thanks Juniper, for sharing your personal journey.

 

[deb1]

Quote:

 

[mom'sfolly]

From my dictionary (Websters New Collegiate Dictionary)

Religious: 1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity. 2: or, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances

Religion: 1 a (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to a religious faith or observance


By these definitions, anyone who self-identifies as a Christian and says they have a faith based relationship with God is religious. Unless there is a new definition of religious that I am unaware of. I also am curious why many Christians seem to distancing themselves from the terms religion and religious.

 

[redux]

I think they are confusing the word "religion" with the word "denomination". Many people who are Christian in their beliefs don't consider themselves religious because they do not belong to any particular sect or denomination. I think it really is just a matter of semantics.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

The following is an excerpt from a website that I think explains "what is religion?" well. For me, I am a monotheistic believer and follower of The Way. I also believe that everyone has a "religious belief" of some sort, including atheism.




Origin of Religion - Ancient Foundations
The origin of religion can generally be traced to the ancient Near East and classified in three basic categories: polytheistic, pantheistic and monotheistic. Atheism is really a modern belief that resulted from the "Enlightenment" period of the 18th century.

Origin of Religion - Polytheism
The origin of religion and polytheistic systems: Polytheism (a belief in many gods) is thought to have originated with Hinduism in about 2500 BC. Hindu beliefs were recorded in the Bhagavad Gita, which revealed that many gods were subject to a supreme Brahman god. Polytheism was also the religion of many other ancient cultures, including Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. The ancient polytheistic belief systems viewed gods as being in control of all natural events such as rainfall, harvests and fertility. Generally, polytheistic cultures believed in sacrifices to appease their gods. For instance, the Canaanites sacrificed to the male god, Baal, and his female counterpart, Ashteroth. Baal controlled the rain and the harvest, while Ashteroth controlled fertility and reproduction. The Greeks and Romans developed polytheism to a highly structured pantheon of gods and goddesses.

Origin of Religion - Pantheism
The origin of religions and pantheistic systems: Pantheism (a belief that all is God) prevailed in numerous ancient cultures. The belief that the universe itself was divine was typified in the Animism beliefs of the African and American Indian cultures, the later Egyptian religion under the Pharoahs, and Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism in the cultures of the Far East. Pantheistic beliefs are also finding resurgence among various New Age movements. Generally, pantheism is the principle that god is everything, and everything is god. Therefore, nature is also part of god. We must be in harmony with nature. We must nurture it and be nurtured by it. Mankind is no different than any other animal. We must live in harmony with them, understand them, and learn from them, focusing on the relationship between mankind and the elements of nature.

Origin of Religion - Monotheism
The origin of religion and monotheistic systems: Monotheism (a belief in one God) is the foundation of the Judeo-christian-muslim line of religions, which began with a man named Abraham in about 2000 BC. From this point in history, God began revealing Himself to the world through the nation of Israel. The Jewish Scriptures record the journey of the Israelites from slaves in Egypt to the "promised land" in Canaan under the leadership of Moses. During a period of about 1500 years, God revealed what became the Old Testament of the Bible, relating the history of Israel with the character and laws of God. During the period of the Roman Empire, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as the long-awaited Messiah. The ministry of Jesus ended in about 32 AD with His crucifixion and resurrection. After Christ's ascension into heaven, the Christian church grew in His name and the New Testament was written. About 600 years later, Muhammad began preaching in Mecca. Muhammad believed he was the ultimate prophet of God, and his teachings became the precepts of Islam as recorded in the Qur'an.

Origin of Religion - Important Dates in History:
c. 2000 BC: Time of Abraham, the patriarch of Israel.
c. 1200 BC: Time of Moses, the Hebrew leader of the Exodus.
c. 1100 - 500 BC: Hindus compile their holy texts, the Vedas.
c. 563 - 483 BC: Time of Buddha, founder of Buddhism.
c. 551 - 479 BC: Time of Confucius, founder of Confucianism.
c. 200 BC: The Hindu book, Bhagavad Gita, is written.
c. 2 to 4 BC - 32 AD: Time of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and founder of Christianity.
c. 32 AD: The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
c. 40 - 90 AD: The New Testament is written by the followers of Jesus Christ.
c. 570 - 632 AD: Time of Muhammad, who records the Qur'an as the basis of Islam.

 

[deb1]

mom'sfolly :

From my dictionary (Websters New Collegiate Dictionary)

Religious: 1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity. 2: or, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances

Religion: 1 a (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to a religious faith or observance


By these definitions, anyone who self-identifies as a Christian and says they have a faith based relationship with God is religious. Unless there is a new definition of religious that I am unaware of. I also am curious why many Christians seem to distancing themselves from the terms religion and religious.

I don't know. It would be interesting if someone would explain a bit further why the dictionary definition does not fit them. Obviously the official definition does speak about having a relationship with the divine.​

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I also am curious why many Christians seem to distancing themselves from the terms religion and religious.

I am not Christian but I do distance myself from those terms because, to me, they mean something--canon, bible, SOMETHING--organized and formal. Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Jewish, Muslim--people organized into formal groups with a formal code of beliefs that everyone must adhere to in order to belong. That is what religion and religious mean to me.

Formal religions leave a bad taste in my mouth no matter which one they are. I consider myself spiritual but I go my own way. No one stands between me and my Creator.

Rusty​