2007-07-23 15:34:48 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think the "challenge" is making people re-think what truly makes up "religion". Religions include ceremony and dogma (which distinguish them from philosophies) plus codes of conduct and answers in one way or another to cosmic questions like "Who am I?", "What is my purpose?", etc. (which distinguishes religion from purely ceremonial/conduct organizations like, say, the Elks Club). Deity, while a popular component, does not have to be a requirement.
It's kind of like growing up listening to rock music all your life, then suddenly hearing folk music from India for the first time. You then realize that the 12 note system we have for western music isn't so universal, not to mention composition, structure, resolution, etc.. It's very short-sighted to throw the sitar CD in the trash and say "This isn't music; it's noise". Rather, you have to rethink your definitions.
And thank you, nondescript, for proving my point.
2007-07-23 15:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Non-theistic religions are a contradiction. A religion is a set of beliefs in the existence of one or more gods and associated rites. Therefore, all religions are theistic.
Your question does not make sense.
2007-07-23 22:37:22 · answer #2 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
freedom of thought/speech!
2007-07-23 22:39:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋