Challenge, What is your dictionary's definition of "religion"?

Question

Please tell us which part of your dictionary's definition applies to you.

(you may be shocked.)

Dear Dave, Now, do see why you will never be able to spread the "good message" of Jesus? Yes, "Gospel" as spoken by Jesus meant "Good Message" not "Good news". If you ignore a person, they will ignore you. Can you read between the lines?

Dear Ms Taurus, You know I love you, and Thanks for telling what you believe. But, Is that the only definition of religion in your dictionary?

Dear "aliz" - thanks for that accurate and complete transcription of your dictionary. It answers the question "Why are Atheists part of the R&S group?"

They fit in to your dictionary's definition.

Dear "weas" - your transcription was even more complete.

Dear "Heron" - Wow! "Now that's a one spicy meatball" -- Thanks

Dear "MsTaurus" - That's the spirit. It is refreshing to know someone who expresses his or her beliefs. (in a civil manner)

Dear "NH" - I knew you would give us the intellectual input. Of course, "Heron" did pretty good too, eh?

Dear "cass" - you might read the other posts that reflect their dictionary's definition. The next time you are at a library, you might look in an unabridged dictionary. -

"Love is not exclusive, it is inclusive." -

"If you love only one person, you probably don't really love anyone."

These are my copyrighted expressions. So they may sound rather corny to some folks.

Answer 1

FROM AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY
1.----a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
-------b. 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.

Number 3 fits me best, although I wouldn't focus so much on a spiritual leader, more like a spiritual dialogue with others, which is generally what Buddhism in the West is becoming.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 2

I used http://www.answers.com/religion to obtain the definition (it's from the American Heritage Dictionary):

1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

Yes, this applies to me. I believe in God, and in some sense, I think he is the creator (maybe not in the Christian sense however).

b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

Yes, this one also applies to me. My religion has established practices and scriptures, so you could call this a "system" and of course, it is grounded in the beliefs and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.

Hmmm, I'm not even sure I totally get this one. I'm not in a "religious order" if that means like a convent or something. But my religion does in many ways structure my life. So I don't know.

3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

Well, Hinduism does not have a founder. But we do have many sages who we believe discerned the truth and conveyed that in the Scriptures, or by their oral teachings.

4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

To me, this definition can be applied to anything, and is too loose of a usage of "religion" for what I myself mean when I describe myself as a religious person.

In my personal opinion, there is no totally correct definition of religion either here, nor in any dictionary that I am aware of. Words have usages, not definitions. So you have to consider all the things which people normally call "religions" and try to see what they have in common. Often, it is difficult to find what they ALL have in common, and yet common sense says that yes, they are religions. So, the best attempt at a definition I have heard is to make a list of all the POSSIBLE things that a religion might entail. And then qualify it by saying that to be called a "religion" a particular thing does not have to necessarily have ALL of those things in the list, but merely a certain percentage of them.

So for example, "belief in God" is often included as a definition of religion. But that is not accurate, because there are religions that do not believe in God. But if "belief in God" is merely one thing on a list of possible things which a religion might include, then it makes more sense. So Buddhism, even if it does not include a belief in God, will probably have a good amount of the other items on the list, and so can be classified as a religion.

This is similar to the way in which doctors diagnose illnesses. For example, I am quite familiar with the symptoms of depression. In order for a doctor to diagnose me with depression, they see if I have those symptoms. I may have 7 out of 10 of them, which is enough to qualify. I don't have to have ALL of the symptoms to have the illness.

And no, I don't believe religion is an illness. Just thought I'd clarify. ;-)

Answer 3

American Heritage Dictionary
re·li·gion (rĭ-lĭj'ən) n.
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
1. b. 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.

Answer 4

Religion: 1. belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator and ruler of the universe ( expression of such a beleif in conduct and ritual)
2. any specific system of belief, worship, conduct etc. often involving a code of conduct
3. the state or way of life in a monastic order
4. any object of conscience regard and pursuit


I total agree with the first definition.. i am Christian and my life if a journey of becoming closer to Christ ..but my faith is not a system or routine...one person said that he couldn't tell the difference between his work and play of his walk with the Lord...it was all that same to him.

Answer 5

My dictionary has 2 meanings Both are correct but i dont beleive the supernatural has control on destiny but it does exist. and i belive in a God a divine power and i express this belief.

1)A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

2)An institution to express belief in a divine power


What was this excercise supposed to proove?

Answer 6

1 a : the state of a religious b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
- re·li·gion·less adjective

Sounds like atheism fits that definition too. Talking about poking holes....

Answer 7

"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

This is my definition of religion: Man's attempt to reach God.

Answer 8

Websters...

"belief in, acceptance of God or gods, with the emotion and morality connected therewith; rites or worship."

Nope, doesn't seem that an atheist fits in there.

There is nothing in "Weasel's" post that I fit into, but I guess he wouldn't actually know since he's not one of us...therefor he shouldn't try to speak for us.

Yup... smaller computer-side edition, probably why.

Answer 9

My Spanish dictionary say : " impreso en Barcelona ".
Yes, my favorite city.

Answer 10

I do not use the dictionary to guide me.

I use the BIBLE , GOD's True WORD.

dave