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Thread: Is Christianity something other than a religion?

  1. #31
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    pjohns's Avatar Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trish View Post
    Religion is presented as all that is good and if you follow what religion preaches and teaches you will be welcomed into heaven.
    "Religion"--which you seem to equate with Christianity--emphatically does not teach that following what it "preaches and teaches" will lead to a happy afterlife.

    Rather, it teaches that faith in Jesus Christ, plus repentance of one's sins, plus (it seems to me) water baptism (Acts 2:37,38) is the formula that leads to heaven--not good works (no matter just how good, or how many).

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    Quote Originally Posted by Green Arrow View Post
    I don't know what definition you're using, but Merriam-Webster says the definition is "the belief in god; an organized system of beliefs; an important interest or belief," all of which apply to Christianity 100%.
    Well, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary says that it means the following:

    "1 :sleight of hand

    "2 :nonsense or sham used especially to cloak deception"

    And to define it as "nonsense" or "sham" is to beg the question.

    By the way, Dictionary.com says the following, in defining the word:

    "1. a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.

    "2. a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.

    "3. trickery; deception.

    "4. unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc."

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    Quote Originally Posted by pjohns View Post
    Well, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary says that it means the following:

    "1 :sleight of hand

    "2 :nonsense or sham used especially to cloak deception"

    And to define it as "nonsense" or "sham" is to beg the question.

    By the way, Dictionary.com says the following, in defining the word:

    "1. a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.

    "2. a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.

    "3. trickery; deception.

    "4. unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc."
    Do you have a link?
    "Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most — that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most menial tasks, have the least."
    - Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926), five-time Socialist Party candidate for U.S. President

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    Captdon's Avatar Senior Member
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    I don't much care what people believe about God.

    Blaise Pascal's famous wager was that even if the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

    I have nothing to gain by not believing and everything to gain by believing.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Captdon View Post
    I don't much care what people believe about God.

    Blaise Pascal's famous wager was that even if the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

    I have nothing to gain by not believing and everything to gain by believing.




    Logic is not the way to faith.
    Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. ― Gustav Mahler

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    Quote Originally Posted by Green Arrow View Post
    Do you have a link?
    Yes.

    Here are both:

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hocus-pocus

    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hocus-pocus?s=t

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    Well, there's your problem. I defined religion, you defined hocus pocus.
    "Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most — that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most menial tasks, have the least."
    - Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926), five-time Socialist Party candidate for U.S. President

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  10. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by Green Arrow View Post
    Well, there's your problem. I defined religion, you defined hocus pocus.
    Well, pardon me, please; I simply misread your desire.

    On "religion," this is from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:

    "1 a: the state of a religious [person; e.g.] a nun in her 20th year of religion
    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

    Here is the link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

    And now, from Dictionary.com, on "religion":

    "1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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."

    And the link: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/religion?s=t

    Note: This does, indeed, give Christianity as an example of a religion. But I do not think that it fits the description--except, of course, for the "high" denominations that actually do have "ritual observances" (which make no sense to me).

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    Christianity is certainly a religion.
    Is fear of the Lord a religion?

    Proverbs 1:7

    New American Standard
    Bible

    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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    Quote Originally Posted by pjohns View Post
    My former pastor (and please do not read anything into this; we are just attending a much closer church now) once said that he does not believe in any religion.

    By this, I assume that he means that he does not consider Christianity to be a religion, but an objective truth.

    On this, I am with him.

    (My favorite apostle has always been Thomas--"Doubting" Thomas--as I will simply not take anything on blind faith. No exceptions.)

    Comments?
    I'm not sure I understand the argument, pjohns. Can't Christianity be both a religion and true at the same time?
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


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