Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
An ongoing and lively discussion in comparative religious studies today is in fact the precise definition of "religion". It is really not nearly as simple or generic as standard dictionary definitions, and because of its divergent and incredibly varied appearance through time and from place to place, it remains exceedingly difficult to provide an acceptable definition that adequately captures the essence of what religion is and how it functions. This is why I tend to "fudge" a bit when the topic comes up: in actual fact, religion is probably too complicated to properly define.
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Absolutely.
Look at a typical, everyday activity as an example. I faithfully subscribe to the ultimate reality that if I don't take care of my teeth, any number of bad things can happen. Therefore, I religiously brush my teeth three to four times per day, and use both mouthwash and floss in accordance to the wishes of my dentist who, in this matter, is very much a "deity" of sorts.
A tad flippant I suppose, but based on textbook definitions, I could argue that just the fact that I brush my teeth in the morning makes me a "religious" person.
Sometimes it seems we waste so much energy on this stuff, when the thing we're arguing isn't even the thing we're arguing.