(May 14, 2014 at 12:07 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote:(May 14, 2014 at 9:48 am)Godlesspanther Wrote: 3. I agree with the North Korea example. Absolute devotion and blind obedience with or without a theological component is wrong.
Those don't seem to be necessary components of religion. See Unitarian Universalism.
I was raised UU -- both parents are ordained ministers and they performed services for several UU churches years ago. Those who were raised in a strict religious environment often say that being raised UU doesn't count for a religious upbringing at all. "Intellectuals playing church."
When I was a kid, being an atheist and a UU was not a problem for the group as a whole -- so it was not much a leap for me to declare that I am an atheist and NOT a member of the UU church.
Buddhist groups, new age groups, and some others enjoy quite a bit of latitude for individualism while maintaining a theological or spiritual or otherwise woo-woo opinion.
There are varying degrees of authoritarianism too. A group can have some authoritarian leanings without being stark-raving uniforms and marching in lock-step.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste -- don't pollute it with bullshit.