What makes a religion?

[robvalue]

Religions are tricky things to nail down. I've been thinking about what makes a set of beliefs into a religion. What is the minimum requirement? Of course religions tend to make claims about the origin and/or nature of reality, but is that necessary?

The best I can come up with is that a religion must include firmly held beliefs that are speculative: beyond what can demonstrated to be (most likely) true.

If there is no speculation, then all you have is a set of evidence based beliefs. It would seem ridiculous to call that a religion.

[FatAndFaithless]

Rituals are an important part of a religion. Certain motions, actions, words, songs, poses (kneeling, etc).

[robvalue]

Indeed, those are very common. But are they a necessity?

If I came up with my own new religion, what must it include to be counted as such?

[FatAndFaithless]

Indeed, those are very common. But are they a necessity?

If I came up with my own new religion, what must it include to be counted as such?

Well.. I would say so, yeah.  I mean even praying or meditating is a ritual, or reciting a creed or something as simple as that.  Or wearing specific clothes, even.

[mlmooney89]

I'm about to say summin that I know just about every one of you will disagree with and I am sure in time and with more socialization with other atheists I will change my mind but here it is...

I know that the actual definition of religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. That being said I personally feel it is just a belief system. It doesn't have to be a god or directed at anything. My -belief- is there is no god, no afterlife, no such thing as souls etc. I believe this 100% but I will not straight forward tell someone that their beliefs are wrong. To me this is my belief system and that is all that it takes to make it 'a religion'. I mean they have that Jedi religion but that isn't directed at a god or anything is it? I honestly don't know please tell me lol

[Spirian]

Government is a religion. Laws = commandments. Police = authority. Politicians = preachers. Elections and voting = ritual worship. Belief in a benevolent leader = belief in god.

[FatAndFaithless]

I'm about to say summin that I know just about every one of you will disagree with and I am sure in time and with more socialization with other atheists I will change my mind but here it is...

I know that the actual definition of religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. That being said I personally feel it is just a belief system. It doesn't have to be a god or directed at anything. My -belief- is there is no god, no afterlife, no such thing as souls etc. I believe this 100% but I will not straight forward tell someone that their beliefs are wrong. To me this is my belief system and that is all that it takes to make it 'a religion'. I mean they have that Jedi religion but that isn't directed at a god or anything is it? I honestly don't know please tell me lol

Here's the definition from Wikipedia.

Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices, world views,sacred texts, holy places, ethics, and societal organisation that relate humanity to what an anthropologist has called "an order of existence".Different religions may or may not contain various elements, ranging from the "divine", "sacred things", "", a "supernatural being or supernatural beings" or "...some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life."

Believing that there are no gods and no afterlife isn't a 'belief system.'  Those are just a few disparate beliefs you hold.  They don't proscribe actions or prohibit actions, they don't tell you how to live your life or set up some framework within which to view your place in the universe.  They don't have attendant practices or rituals or texts or places or organizations.

And religions don't have to be theistic (eg. Buddhism.) And the reason that Jedi is technically a religion (though many places don't consider it a religion in legal discussions much like they don't consider FSM), is because it does have prescriptive ideas and ways to live your life and rituals and texts and a way to view your place in the universe. Jedi isn't that much more ludicrous than a lot of Eastern religions.

[FatAndFaithless]

Government is a religion. Laws = commandments. Police = authority. Politicians = preachers. Elections and voting = ritual worship. Belief in a benevolent leader = belief in god.

Ugh...

[Cyberman]

[robvalue]

Hmm...

I can see what FaF is saying. If you just have a load of weird beliefs but don't actually do anything with them, I suppose that wouldn't be considered a religion by most people.

So if I believe the Earth is constantly in imminent danger of turning into a grape, and I have to do this weird dance every day to stop it happening, can that be a religion?