The general focus of this thread, perhaps, is the tension between what it means for religion to be just another language community and religion as a locus for the discussion of things of ultimate concern. — Ennui Elucidator
In the good old days, the rituals of the Catholic Church were conducted in Latin, and incomprehensible to almost all the congregation -Kyrie Eleison and all that. — unenlightened
religion as a locus for the discussion of things of ultimate concern. — Ennui Elucidator
As for Jim deciding for herself whether or not her conduct is religious, I wonder what Jim's opinion ads to our understanding. For instance, in the case referenced, the chaplain is a member of religious order, but there still seems to be quite the debate as to whether his atheism precludes his religiosity regardless of his views on the matter. If meaning is use and Jim calls herself religious, I suppose it is one more piece of evidence in favor of Jim being so, but as participants in the language community (or at least this forum), don't we get to evaluate Jim's conduct for ourselves? — Ennui Elucidator
"Lord, please situate a table between me and my enemies." — Valentinus
The things of ultimate concern, Ciceronianus? I believe they include Epicureanism, Eudaimonia, and cats on mats, no? Or maybe it is desire is the root of all suffering and self-abnegation is the way out. I never can remember. — Ennui Elucidator
Banno. Heeellllllp! — TheMadFool
Far too big a knot to try to untie. — Banno
a group of people stand around a dead body and engage in pre-established pattens of behavior — Ennui Elucidator
If not a religion, what do we call a group of people engaged in meaning making regarding areas of ultimate concern? — Ennui Elucidator
One might say that existential meaning is what we orient to while symbols are what we use to convey meaning. Symbols (or words) do not merely refer (i.e. point) - they can (and often) do something.
So yes, we can mean different things by the symbols we employ, but it isn’t equivocation to treat what meaning we convey with symbols as the same sort of thing that we mean by orienting (or living, if you prefer). — Ennui Elucidator
The idea of “spiritual” is really a major problem. It is the biggest bunch of non-sense one can imagine wrapped in a bit of anti-establishmentarianism. — Ennui Elucidator
Someone is born, you want to celebrate. Someone dies, you want to mourn. — Ennui Elucidator
If god is dead and religion is god talk, I don’t see where we are going. — Ennui Elucidator
Modern usages tend to refer to a subjective experience of a sacred dimension and the "deepest values and meanings by which people live", often in a context separate from organized religious institutions. This may involve belief in a supernatural realm beyond the ordinarily observable world, personal growth, a quest for an ultimate or sacred meaning, religious experience, or an encounter with one's own "inner dimension." — “Wiki on Spirituality”
A striking resemblance, no? — TheMadFool
...religion provided one of the most satisfying answers to that existential query. — TheMadFool
If meaning is use, then the meaning of your life is what you do. — Banno
It's for folk who want a prefabricated answer, one that avoids having to be critical or think for oneself. — Banno
feel free to disagree with yourself privately — Ennui Elucidator
The idea of “spiritual” is really a major problem. It is the biggest bunch of non-sense one can imagine wrapped in a bit of anti-establishmentarianism — Ennui Elucidator
You could do so publicly, but then Banno would think you missed the joke.Only privately? — Prishon
Well, I won't agree with that. Religion perhaps provides a cookie-cutter replacement for meaning. It's for folk who want a prefabricated answer, one that avoids having to be critical or think for oneself. that may be satisfactory for you, but not for me. — Banno
In any “serious” conversation in contemporary philosophy, can you point me to where god is actually alive? — Ennui Elucidator
I would point to my earlier posts and suggest that it is a pretty obvious extension that any communal spiritual activity is inherently religious and calling it non-religious is reactionary rather than descriptive. — Ennui Elucidator
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