What is a Religion?

[Curious Inquiry]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31664340/ns/us_news-faith/
Faith healing? Meh. But this caught my eye . . .
"The Supreme Court has adopted a very broad definition of religion," Dwyer said. "But ... you have to show sincere religious beliefs. Some judges might be skeptical of sincerity if it's something they've never heard of, if the person says, 'I don't belong to a certain church. I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,' or 'In our own home, we've developed this set of beliefs.'"
Okay, “I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,” ROFL, ROFL!
But it makes me wonder, what is a religion? What does it take to be recognized as such? And how do I get ordained on line?

[Khadgar]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

[Maurepas]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

And I believe Katganistan is really the only authority able to judge it as such...

[Curious Inquiry]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

Got a specific number in mind? A percentage, perhaps? Is the number in people, or dollars?

[Colonic Immigration]

For me religion is a pile of shit that is well left alone, but others may need it.

[Secruss]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

Actually, yes.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Brace yourself for a Hell of a lot of spam.

[Maurepas]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

Got a specific number in mind? A percentage, perhaps? Is the number in people, or dollars?

I dont think there is a specific number, Id say that when random passerby call it a religion instead of a cult, thats when it has become so...

[Curious Inquiry]

Brace yourself for a Hell of a lot of spam.

But only from the Devil-worshippers

[Buffett and Colbert]

Brace yourself for a Hell of a lot of spam.

But only from the Devil-worshippers

*nods

[Charlotte Ryberg]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31664340/ns/us_news-faith/
Faith healing? Meh. But this caught my eye . . .
"The Supreme Court has adopted a very broad definition of religion," Dwyer said. "But ... you have to show sincere religious beliefs. Some judges might be skeptical of sincerity if it's something they've never heard of, if the person says, 'I don't belong to a certain church. I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,' or 'In our own home, we've developed this set of beliefs.'"
Okay, “I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,” ROFL, ROFL!
But it makes me wonder, what is a religion? What does it take to be recognized as such? And how do I get ordained on line?

Religion has a kind of a myriad definition depending on how you view it. For me also, it is a trait that should not be used to discriminate anyone.

[Curious Inquiry]

Religion has a kind of a myriad definition depending on how you view it. For me also, it is a trait that should not be used to discriminate anyone.

I get the sentiment, and it is an admirable one, but what, then, would distinguish religion from skin colour or gender?

[Maurepas]

Religion has a kind of a myriad definition depending on how you view it. For me also, it is a trait that should not be used to discriminate anyone.

I get the sentiment, and it is an admirable one, but what, then, would distinguish religion from skin colour or gender?

One is a Concept the others are Biological Traits,

[Curious Inquiry]

Religion has a kind of a myriad definition depending on how you view it. For me also, it is a trait that should not be used to discriminate anyone.

I get the sentiment, and it is an admirable one, but what, then, would distinguish religion from skin colour or gender?

One is a Concept the others are Biological Traits,

Why is religion not neccessarily a biological trait? What is it turns out it's genetic?

[Treznor]

Why is religion not neccessarily a biological trait? What is it turns out it's genetic?

More cultural than genetic. If you're raised in Saudi Arabia, you're far more likely to be Muslim than Christian or Buddhist.

[Maurepas]

One is a Concept the others are Biological Traits,

Why is religion not neccessarily a biological trait? What is it turns out it's genetic?

The susceptibility to religion or other group activities and beliefs, could very well be a biological trait...

However, religion itself will always be a concept, and does not have an actual gene associated with it...

[The Naacal]

Just my opinion.

Religion is what one gets when a philosophy becomes weighted down with dogma.

[Conservatives states]

I think religion has typically been looked upon as a god fearing group (such as christianity, islam, judaism). I think it should be considered strictly actions of worshiping. Religious people should be considered acting out these actions. So in a general sense anyone who consumes themselves with actions would be a religious person.

Edit: extra insight, religion really isn't the belief in a god, but actually act of acting upon beliefs.

[Sorgan]

A religion is a group of people using there "Leader/God" as an excuse for things they don't know such as why are diseases here? Why does this happen? Why shouldn't we go into space?

[Truly Blessed]

The definition of spirituality, "life and consciousness away from the body," implies the existence of spirit or soul.


Religion on the other hand

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

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

There does not seem to be an exact number


I did however find this online. I am not sure it can be quanitifed but here is a good start...maybe.

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Parameters of this List
In order to rank religions by size, two parameters must be defined:
1.What constitutes a "religion"?
2.How is "size" determined?
With a working definition of "a religion" and a method for measuring size, criteria for what constitutes a "major" religion must be determined, otherwise this list could be impractically inclusive and long.

"Major religions", for the purposes of this list, are:
•Large - at least 500,000 adherents
•Widespread - appreciable numbers of members live and worship in more than just one country or limited region
•Independent - the religion is clearly independent and distinct from a broader religion
But since everyone is hung up on numbers.


1.Christianity: 2.1 billion
2.Islam: 1.5 billion
3.Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
4.Hinduism: 900 million
5.Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
6.Buddhism: 376 million
7.primal-indigenous: 300 million
8.African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
9.Sikhism: 23 million
10.Juche: 19 million
11.Spiritism: 15 million
12.Judaism: 14 million
13.Baha'i: 7 million
14.Jainism: 4.2 million
15.Shinto: 4 million
16.Cao Dai: 4 million
17.Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
18.Tenrikyo: 2 million
19.Neo-Paganism: 1 million
20.Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
21.Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
22.Scientology: 500 thousand


I personally think it becomes a religion when it crosses over to another country from which it started. So for example Christianity would have became a religion when it grew out Israel. Before it did that it would have been consider a “sect” of Judaism, I think.

[Kirav]

For my own purposes, I define a religion as an entity with the following characteristics:

Belief- It must maintain a belief in a a deity, higher power, spirit, life force, or extraphysical or paraphysical phenomenon.

Practice- In addition to maintaining a belief system, a religion must also have a practitional element, such as prayer services, sacraments, rituals, or meditation practices.

Community- A religion must have a community that follows it. If I believe in God, and have a shrine where I worship Him alone in my home, I have both belief and practice, but not religion. Belief and practice by one person is individual spirituality, but not a fully formed religion.

So, if classified by the above characteristics, most cults are, in my definition, religions. An exception is the Creativity Chuch(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity_Movement)

[Altergo]

Religion is the belief of beginning, middle, and end. And I'm taking into account every religion there has ever been, Norse mythology, Islam, Judaism, etc.

[New Limacon]

It's only a religion if it's grown large enough to no longer be thought of as a cult.

I don't think size matters as much as sustainability. When a cult no longer depends on a a charismatic leader but can continue anyway, it's a religion. For example, very early Christianity could be classified as a cult. Christianity after Jesus died or ascended or went to Buffalo would be a religion. A small denomination of Christianity that believes in the divinity of its leader would be a cult.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31664340/ns/us_news-faith/
Faith healing? Meh. But this caught my eye . . .
"The Supreme Court has adopted a very broad definition of religion," Dwyer said. "But ... you have to show sincere religious beliefs. Some judges might be skeptical of sincerity if it's something they've never heard of, if the person says, 'I don't belong to a certain church. I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,' or 'In our own home, we've developed this set of beliefs.'"
Okay, “I just have some beliefs that I saw on the Internet,” ROFL, ROFL!
But it makes me wonder, what is a religion? What does it take to be recognized as such? And how do I get ordained on line?

Religion is when a number of different cultural norms come into play for one goal.
So for example in Tibet Buddhist Monks would typically wear robes of a certain colour, spend a certain amount of time per day meditating, perhaps in a special kind of temple/building.
For for example when a large sports event occurs, large numbers of supporters or enthusiasts would wear clothing of a certain colour or pattern, spend a certain amount of time per day watching their favourite team or event, perhaps in a pub/home or other building.
That's just the larger congregations of people, for smaller events such as a funeral, or even starting a new business you would have special circumstances to bring people together.

Of course this is my own interpretation, there are many different ideas of what makes a religion, but i find it counter-productive to say you believe or disbelieve a certain religion or custom, i mean it would be like saying, "hi there Arsenal supporter, i don't believe in your team because they have mean players so i'm going to write several books explaining why i think other people should not believe in you".
For me religion isn't about rules its about how people do things and deal with things in their culture, saying you're a believer or non believer is not necessary, as i said above, it's like saying "i find your belief in school dinners distressing stop that at once or you shall be cast out of our social group".
I mean some people might fight for their beliefs and if a certain part of their daily lives is disrupted then I can understand why they would want to fight, but it would be pointless fighting someone directly because of their beliefs.

[Cameroi]

anything two or more people feel better about believing in, then they would were they to not do so.

i fully recognize this definition has some potentially dyer consequences, but then so have had many actual beliefs.

trouble with saying anything simple a majority of people can understand, it that whatever it is, someone somewhere will use it as an excuse for fanaticism, egged on and encouraged by those exploiting their doing so.

i believe there are many good positive beliefs that real people actually benefit from.
there are also many things commonly believed that cause a great deal of harm.