(March 19, 2013 at 8:39 pm)apophenia Wrote:
There may be other frameworks that I'm unaware of, but seven part definition is probably one of the best and least controversial, but it's still very difficult to come to agreement on where on these seven criterion atheism actually lies.
Have to admit I don't see quite how to take those categories as offering a definition of religion, though they do suggest some signs to look for.
Would loyalty to clan or family count as a religion? How about a belief in the progress of science and its eventual ability to answer all questions? Nationalism? Valuation of the unconscious and creativity? Devotion to health and fitness?
Surely gods, personal or otherwise, aren't central to religion. Perhaps an intuition of purpose? I really do not know.
