Wednesday, August 4, 2010

What religion is supposed to be.


I shall be treading on very dangerous ground  :  religion.

So I shall not give any opinion. 

One of the dictionary sites @
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

gives the following definitions:



re·li·gion   /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled[ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA


–noun

1. 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.

2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

7. religions, Archaic . religious rites.

8. Archaic . strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

—Idiom

9. get religion, Informal .

a. to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.

b. to resolve to mend one's errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin:

1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion ) < L religiōn- (s. of religiō ) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig ( āre ) to tie, fasten ( re- re- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. ligament) + -iōn- -ion; cf. rely

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I wonder what freedom of religion means?

Please do not comment on this post.  All comments on this post will be deleted by me.

12 comments:

A true Malaysian said...

Imagine if there is no religion.

A true Malaysian said...

Haha!!! Justin, my comment is still there, not deleted yet.

Justin Choo said...

ATM,

Since your comment is not "sensitive", okay lah.

bow said...

"sensitive" is a word commonly associate itself with 'religion' If you can't accept "sensitive" , then don't talk about religion issue. You can't really discuss this issue civilly without the association of both with an open mind and forgiven heart. Welcome to Malaysia!

Justin Choo said...

Bow,

That's why we can't discuss "religion" here. People are too uptight and always defensive and aggrasive, when we don't agree with them.

bow said...

Justin, apart from just defensive and aggressive, there is also this high possibility of all 'hell' break loose immediately 'herd' type mentality among some, discussion of religion is only for the matured and open minded people not everyone in this earthly world, let alone in your blog unless you want to waste time to argue whole day with extremists.

A true Malaysian said...

If religious people can be angry, suicide bombing, tell other people "don't question my religion" all because of 'sensitivity', this reflects how good is the religious people or the religion he / she carries?

Imagine if there is no religion, then logically one can get angry because of sensitivity without relating his / her anger on 'religion'.

How nice if there is no religion, I can imagine that.

bow said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bow said...

let give you an example from personal past observation, if two persons with no religion belief in them had a discussion on 'religion ' matter, both can disagreed without feeling 'sensitive' about it, lack of 'sensitivity' will not lead to angry upon disagreement hence will not turn to violent confrontation, both persons will just laugh it off and call it a day. But scenario like that will seldom take place between both believers or one believer among both party.
That is why religion discussion is not for everyone or childish individual with narrow mindset and can't 'IMAGINE', if not all hell will break loose. Think about it what i say!!

A true Malaysian said...

Bow, you have the point here, but why should 'sensitivity' be linked to 'religion'?

Justin posed a very pertinent question here, "What religion is supposed to be"? Is religion supposed to be 'sensitive'?

My answer to that is a big "NO". Religion is NOT supposed to be 'sensitive'.

Sensitivity is what political leaders impose on people, to put fear in people not to discuss religion in matured / civilized way.

True religious leaders will not relate 'sensitivity' to religion but instead tell followers to 'respect' others' beliefs, as all religion supposed to be the same, only differences of course centered around 'God vs no God', 'with Holy Book vs no Holy Book'.

But, problems cropped up when people who don't believe the existence of 'God' present their view that their religion believe in no God, and God believers can't accept that.

Even among religions which are God-based (i.e. Abrahamic religions) can't argue in matured / civilized manner and historically continue to be in loggerhead.

So, in essence, God or no God, Holy Book or without Holy Book, are not the problem. 'Sensitivity' of the respective followers is the problem.

The question is, are religious people supposed to be 'sensitive'? If yes, then why religion? Will it be better for humanity without 'religion'?

We can find the answer in John Lennon's song, 'IMAGINE' as what I posted in Justin's previous posting.

I would like to conclude here, to answer the question "What religion is supposed to be?",

Religion is supposed to be "non-sensitive" if you can't do without religion.

Like it or not, Universal Law of Nature precede all religions, and to realise the truths in it, just "Imagine if there is no religion", you should get the truths if you can imagine that. If can't, then I can't help you to imagine, folks.

bow said...

ATM, i concurred with whatever you say, for your information, only in Malaysia that religion discussion is a 'sensitive' issue. I believe 'imagine' also can get you into big trouble with government and religion department alike if you are a believer of official religion. It is better to avoid 'sensitivity' and 'imagination' here in Malaysia. hahaha....

bow said...

All worldly religions are supposed to be the same if they worship God and spread the true words of God, but often men refuse to acknowledge that 'truth'. Sadly, earthly men like sectarianism and division for personal satisfaction and hidden agenda which is the reason there are so many names bestowed upon God by so many so called 'messengers'(prophet) of him and make 'sentivity' issue out of non-sensitive religion matter.

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