"Practice" religion?

[Brian37]

No, humans need to accept we are not a separate species. "Practice" isn't the same as admitting you merely like something. "Practice" is the theist trying to treat a mere like as if it is a tool, and not a mere like. "Follow" is an honest admission.

Saying the same thing over and over doesn't make it so, Brian.  One can follow a religion.  One can practice a religion. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Boru

No, you follow a religion.

It takes no practice to swallow something with no evidence. It can certainly take time to rehearse a play, but it is still a play. It can take time to learn a false pattern of regurgitating what prior people sold you sure. That is how a good used car salesmen convinces you to buy a rust bucket. That is not the same as getting good at anything universal.

[Drich]

I really hate use of the word "Practice" when it comes to religion, ANY RELIGION in the world.

You practice medicine. You practice music. You practice a sport. You practice law. The only thing you are doing with a religion is following it.

Repeating words in a book or rituals is following. The psychology is for the individual to justify why they are good. 

Sorry, but what is to "practice" about being non violent and not steeling from others and having empathy for others? That should be a no brainer. 

I don't need a god, or holy person, or old book to refrain form doing harm to others. Refraining from harming others requires no practice at all.

What a closed minded statement.

I am not a fan of any religion either but at the same time the act of worship or the art of exegetical study (answering bible based questions) takes a tremendous amount of time. Look at how bothered you would be if asked to sit through a two hour church service. never mind the weeks worth of prep that goes into a hour lesson.. Do you do that without be told? can you even sit through that if you were told? could you devote a week's worth of time to God and still do everything expected of you in the real world?

Don't trivialize what you don't understand, next time just ask the question.

Because all you described is a practiced 'morality' which has nothing to do with practice of worship or religion.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I really hate use of the word "Practice" when it comes to religion, ANY RELIGION in the world.

You practice medicine. You practice music. You practice a sport. You practice law. The only thing you are doing with a religion is following it.

Repeating words in a book or rituals is following. The psychology is for the individual to justify why they are good. 

Sorry, but what is to "practice" about being non violent and not steeling from others and having empathy for others? That should be a no brainer. 

I don't need a god, or holy person, or old book to refrain form doing harm to others. Refraining from harming others requires no practice at all.

What a closed minded statement.

I am not a fan of any religion either but at the same time the act of worship or the art of exegetical study (answering bible based questions) takes a tremendous amount of time. Look at how bothered you would be if asked to sit through a two hour church service. never mind the weeks worth of prep that goes into a hour lesson.. Do you do that without be told? can you even sit through that if you were told? could you devote a week's worth of time to God and still do everything expected of you in the real world?

Don't trivialize what you don't understand, next time just ask the question.

Because all you described is a practiced 'morality' which has nothing to do with practice of worship or religion.

Dammit, Drich!  I JUST got Brian down for his nap!!

Boru

[Cod]

I like to practice safe sex. Have I become an authority? You're having a laugh.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

'Safe sex' - that's making sure her husband's out of town, right?

Boru

[Cod]

'Safe sex' - that's making sure her husband's out of town, right?

Boru

Or at least down the pub

[HappySkeptic]

I really hate use of the word "Practice" when it comes to religion, ANY RELIGION in the world.

You practice medicine. You practice music. You practice a sport. You practice law. The only thing you are doing with a religion is following it.

Repeating words in a book or rituals is following. The psychology is for the individual to justify why they are good. 

Sorry, but what is to "practice" about being non violent and not steeling from others and having empathy for others? That should be a no brainer. 

I don't need a god, or holy person, or old book to refrain form doing harm to others. Refraining from harming others requires no practice at all.

I actually disagree.  I am an atheist, but also a U.U.  I have friends who "practice" their various beliefs, be it humanism, buddhism, treat-people-nice-ism, or Jesus-was-a-nice-guy-or-myth-ism.

Not all religion is about belief.  Belief is nothing to brag about (whether a belief in a god, or belief in naturalism).  What matters is how one puts belief into action. 

You don't need religion or gods to live a good life, but you need something.

You need a set of personal beliefs, a set of personal values, and a set of personal ethics, and a framework for personal meaning.  The "practice" part is acting on them.

If you don't consciously decide how your life embodies your values, you probably won't actually achieve the type of meaningful things you could.  Buddhists call their religion a practice, because theirs isn't about belief -- it is about living, experiencing, and being.

To some like me, finding answers to existential and epistemological questions, and consciously thinking about my life choices,  is important ... even when not believing in woo or gods.