(July 25, 2009 at 3:26 pm)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: I agree. It's basically a 'religion'. A cult religion, and the fact they don't like calling it one (because they don't like 'religion'), doesn't stop it from basically being one does it?
EvF
I guess that means all sports teams are religions, all political parties are religions, in fact every social organisation is a religion by you're definition.
Quote:that father-and-son thing
Don't confuse Nepotism with the doctrine of the Trinity.
Quote:worship of a charismatic leader even beyond his death
Michael Jordan, Barack Obama, Michael Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington etc.
Don't confuse the celebration of human accomplishment with worship of a divine being (who doesn't "lead" as you define) I had no idea that God was charismatic, or a leader.
Quote:dogmatic doctrine
One man's dogma is another man's......well you know what I'm getting at. Again, this could apply to anything, and if that's the case then anything can be a religion as you define it.
Quote:denial of other religions, fierce suppresion of critique.
Sounds like Atheism to me.
From what I can recall, Jesus said "If they are not against us, they are for us" in reference to a rival holy man who the disciples thought was a false prophet, Jesus rebuked them thereby stating once and for all; that he isn't the only source of salvation.
By the way, good luck criticizing your boss at work or a police officer, and see how fiercely you get suppressed.
