Lutherans, however, limit the transformation to the celebration of the Eucharistic meal. left over bread and wine revert to their original nature. — Bitter Crank
I'm not clear about Buddhism. Anybody? — Bitter Crank
We ought not to forget that Socrates was put to death for atheism, among other charges, notably his questioning of the civic deity worship of Athens. — Wayfarer
Perhaps I should have typed "Can't it be said that to be considered a religion, a system/institution would have to have supernatural elements? While a philosophy may or may not have supernatural elements?"Can't it be said that religions require a belief in the supernatural, while a belief in the supernatural is not a requirement for philosophy?
Can you give an example of a religion (not people who claim to be followers) that doesn't include supernatural beliefs?Most religions require belief in the central supernatural elements. — Bitter Crank
All that aside, it is the case that what believers actually hold to be true about the supernatural varies a great deal. For instance, not all Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead. Not all Catholics and Lutherans believe in transubstantiation. Not all Christians believe in miracles. Not all Jews believe in God.
How can this be? — Bitter Crank
You're concentrating on the people. I'm talking about the institution and/or belief system. — anonymous66
Can you give an example of a religion (not people who claim to be followers) that doesn't include supernatural beliefs? — anonymous66
I was thinking of some very small groups like 'ethical societies', secular humanist organizations, some unitarian groups that are just about free of supernaturalism, and the like. — Bitter Crank
Can you give an example of a religion (not people who claim to be followers) that doesn't include supernatural beliefs? — anonymous66
There are no disembodied institutions or belief systems apart from people. No matter the institution or the belief system, it is always peopled (or it is dead). — Bitter Crank
Philosophy comes from humans, while religion supposedly comes from some higher source. — Jeremiah
What is it about them that makes you consider them to be religions?
I've been impressed by Alain De Botton. He's written Religion for Atheists, but the gist of his book is that religions have great qualities (like traditions that remind us what is important), he just rejects the idea that God exists. — anonymous66
I was thinking of some very small groups like 'ethical societies', secular humanist organizations, some unitarian groups that are just about free of supernaturalism, and the like. — Bitter Crank
What is it about them that makes you consider them to be religions? — anonymous66
I consider them "religious" because they seem to think they are practicing a religion. — Bitter Crank
Language of reverence
During the presidency of the Rev. William Sinkford, debate within the UU movement has roiled over his call to return to or create an authentic UU "language of reverence." Sinkford has suggested that UUs have abandoned traditional religious language, thereby abandoning words with potential power to others who will then dictate their meanings in the public sphere. He has suggested that Unitarian Universalists regain their proper seat at the interfaith table by making this language their own. Others have reacted to this call by believing it to be part of an effort to return UU congregations to more orthodox Christian worship patterns. Sinkford has denied this, citing the words of UU humanists as examples of what he means by the "language of reverence." The debate seems[original research?] part and parcel of an attendant effort at increasing biblical literacy among Unitarian Universalists, including the publication of a book by the UUA's Beacon Press written by former UUA President John Buehrens.[70] The book is titled Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals,[71] and is meant as a kind of handbook to be read alongside the Bible itself. It provides interpretative strategies, so that UUs (among others) might be able to engage in public debate about what the Bible says from a liberal religious perspective, rather than relinquishing to religious conservatives, and other more literal interpretations, all control over the book's contents and significance in matters of public and civic import. Also an important work by Rev. Buehrens, along with Forrest Church, is A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism,[72] in which the authors explore the many sources of the living tradition of their chosen faith.
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