Difference between revisions of "Religion"

From Conservapedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Undo revision 434094 by Special:Contributions/Wired4jesus (User talk:Wired4jesus) -- Please create article first, with a reference)
m (Replacing page with 'is cruel')
Line 1: Line 1:
−
[[Image:Jesus5.jpg‎|thumb|200px|Artist's depiction of our Lord [[Jesus Christ]]]]
+
is cruel
−
"'''Religion'''" refers to a set of core beliefs upon which people base their lives.  Morality is often based on religion. Beyond this general definition, the word "religion" is used in several ways:
 
−
 
 
−
* '''Formal definition''':  "The service and worship of [[God]] or the [[supernatural]];"<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=religion "Religion"] in Merriam Webster dictionary.</ref>  Under this definition, [[atheism]], [[agnosticism]], and [[secular humanism]] are not "religions."  <ref>Religious Groups Participating in Religious Congregations & Membership Study 2000. [http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/alldenoms.asp]</ref>.
 
−
* '''Functional definition''':  "A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith"<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=religion "Religion"] in Merriam Webster dictionary.</ref>  By this definition, non-theistic belief systems such as [[atheism]], [[humanism]], and [[agnosticism]] could be considered religions. Indeed, the Supreme Court of the [[United States of America]] has acknowledged that "religion" does not need to include a belief in a god or gods, and included Secular Humanism as an example of a non-theistic religion.<ref>"Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God, are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others.".  [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=367&invol=488#t11 Torcaso v. Watkins, (1961)]</ref><ref>"A federal court of appeals ruled ... Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate's rights because they did not treat atheism as a religion."  [http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874 Court rules atheism a religion] WorldNet Daily</ref>
 
−
* '''Organisational definition''':  Under the definition, the term refers to a particular religious organisation or movement, such a [[Roman Catholic|Catholicism]], [[Methodist|Methodism]], or [[Lutheran]]ism.  These groups generally consist of a central creed or body of beliefs, an ethical component (i.e. a code of morals), a body of literature or holy texts or stories, and a set of individual and communal practices.  Under this definition, a person might say, "I'm not religious, because I don't go to church&mdash;but I believe in God."
 
−
* '''Practical definition''':  Under this definition, the term refers to a set of practices, rites, or rituals observed by followers.  Under this definition, a person might say, "I'm not religious, because I'm not into rituals.  My relationship with God is enough."
 
−
 
 
−
== List of religions ==
 
−
Religions can be classified according to how many gods the religion recognises.
 
−
=== Monotheistic religions ===
 
−
 
 
−
Monotheistic ("one god") religions are followed by the vast majority of the world's population.
 
−
 
 
−
* [[Bahá'í]]
 
−
* [[Christianity]]
 
−
* [[Messianic Judaism]]
 
−
* [[Islam]]
 
−
* [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
 
−
* [[Judaism]]
 
−
* [[Rastafari movement]]
 
−
* [[Sikhism]]
 
−
* [[Zoroastrianism]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Polytheistic religions ===
 
−
Polytheistic ("many gods") religions believe in multiple gods or spirits or other supernatural beings needing to be worshipped. Polytheism has declined since the rise of Christianity, but has seen a recent resurgence among pagan cults in developed nations.
 
−
 
 
−
* [[Animism]]
 
−
* [[Cao Dai]]
 
−
* [[Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints|Mormonism]]
 
−
* [[Paganism]]
 
−
* [[Scientology]] {{fact}}
 
−
* [[Shamanism]]
 
−
* [[Shinto]]
 
−
* [[Wicca]]
 
−
*[[Greek Paganism]]
 
−
*[[Irish Paganism]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Pantheistic religions ===
 
−
Pantheistic ("all is god") religions believe that all of creation or nature is a god.
 
−
 
 
−
* [[Hinduism]]
 
−
* [[Jainism]]
 
−
* [[New Age]] beliefs
 
−
 
 
−
=== Non-theistic religions and philosophies===
 
−
Non-theistic religions do not have a belief in God or gods. Some consider the existence of God to be unknown or irrelevant, while (strong) Atheism is the belief that that there is no god or gods.
 
−
* [[Agnostic]]ism
 
−
* [[Atheism]]
 
−
** [[Strong atheism]]
 
−
** [[Weak atheism]]
 
−
* [[Buddhism]] (though with elements of [[Pantheism]])
 
−
* [[Secular Humanism]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Parody and joke religions ===
 
−
Several "religions" have been invented in an effort to denigrate or parody traditional religions.  As a rule, these religions do not have followers who actually believe the tenets of the religions.
 
−
 
 
−
* [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]]
 
−
* [[Discordianism]]
 
−
* [[Jedi]]
 
−
* [[Last Thursdayism]]
 
−
* [[Church of the SubGenius|SubGeniism]]
 
−
 
 
−
== Faith in organised religion ==
 
−
 
 
−
The percentage of respondents answering they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in organised religion has decreased in the [[United States]] according to a [[Gallup]] poll taken in 2007.  Only 46% of respondents selected either of the choices above.  The numbers peaked at 68% in May 1975.<ref>Christian Examiner, Sept. 2007, Vol 25, No 9, Pg. 24</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==References==
 
−
<references/>
 
−
 
 
−
==See Also==
 
−
* [[World Religions by Number of Followers]]
 
−
 
 
−
[[Category:Religion]]
 

Revision as of 21:50, April 24, 2008

is cruel

Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Religion&oldid=438934"