[lbo-talk] On the Threat from Religion

[Miles Jackson]

Shane Mage wrote:
> 
> On Nov 20, 2008, at 5:54 PM, Chris Doss wrote:
> 
>> I think a problem here may be in people's differing definitions of 
>> religion. I take it to mean something like the unity of the following 
>> three:
>>
>> 1. belief that something exists outside of experience and outside of 
>> possible conceptualization (this is very bad phraseology on my part, 
>> but I hope you get the general idea);
>>
>> 2. belief that relating to this something is important in some way for 
>> human existence;
>>
>> 3. a conceptual system, whether simple or complex, whether formally 
>> organized or not, for relating human existence to that something.
> 
> 
> The absurdity is to believe that what is "outside of experience and 
> outside of possible conceptualization" can possibly be "related" to 
> human (or any other form of) existence.
> 
> 
> Shane Mage

Yes.  As I grow older, I have less and less patience with philosophers 
(sorry, Chris and andie).  Religion is a social practice.  What people 
in a given society define as religion is religion; it need not meet 
any universal standards divined by philosophical oracles.

Miles