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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Professor Wagstaff)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Different sets of assumptions - response to Laura
Message-ID: <630@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Mar-85 09:59:14 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.630
Posted: Tue Mar  5 09:59:14 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Mar-85 05:06:31 EST
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Organization: Huxley College
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>>And I've repeatedly stated that the understood definition of the word religion
>>implies (as all definitions in my dictionary do) a "belief in and reverence
>>for a superhuman power recognized as the creator ... of the universe".  Other
>>life-philosophies and/or belief systems (like Ubizmatism) get *labelled* as
>>religions, but they are not.  (Just as certain disciplines get called sciences
>>when they hardly qualify for the term.)  We've been through this before.[RLR]

> From the Pocket Edition of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:   [WALLACE]

> 	religion (n) 1: the service and worship of God or the supernatural,

I'd guess that's a point in favor of my definition.

> 	2: devotion to a religious faith, 3: an organized system of faith
> 	and worship; also: a personal set of religious beliefs and practices,

Obviously this is a cross-referential definition, pointing to 'religious'.
We'll have to look below.  Also, the word "worship" directly implies worship
of SOMETHING, presumably being a supreme existing entity.

> 	4: a cause, principle, or belief held to with faith and ardor.

e.g.,  "It seems like posting to the net is his religion."

> 	religious (adj) 1: relating or devoted to the divine or that which
> 	is held to be of ultimate importance,

I'd call that a pointer to a divine entity.

> 	2: of or relating to religious beliefs or observances,

Well, obviously that relates back to (1).

> 	3: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful,
> 	4: FERVENT, ZEALOUS.

These, admittedly, have nothing to do with a deity.  However, these are
definitions of "religious" and not of religion.

> Sorry, Rich.  Maybe all the definitions of religion in your dictionary imply
> a "belief in and reverence for a superhuman power recognized as the creator
> ...  of the universe," but not all the definitions in my dictionary (above)
> seem to.  Include, yes, but imply, no.  I'd say Laura wins this round.

I'd say that 1) the primary definitions of both religion and religious
support my point, and 2) I was wrong to say "all".  Still, given the direct
implication of the primary definitions I'd say that my point is still valid.
-- 
Otology recapitulates phonology.
					Rich Rosen    ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr
-- 
Anything's possible, but only a few things actually happen.
					Rich Rosen    pyuxd!rlr