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Religion (view source)

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== Criticism of classifying [[Christianity]] as a species of genus religion ==

[[File:Fra Angelico Lamentacion por la muerte de Cristo.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|[[Jesus Christ]] and his apostles taught a gospel of love.<ref>[http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/Gospel.htm ''The Triumph of the Gospel of Love''] by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)</ref> ]]

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There are scholars like [[Visser't Hooft]] who resist the notion of [[Christianity]] as a ''"species of the [[genus]] religion."'' He argues that Christianity is an ''"adequate and definitive [[Revelation (religion)|revelation]] of [[God]] in history,"'' ~~that~~ classifying Christianity as one expression of ''"a general phenomenon called religion is to set it in a framework which is foreign to its nature."'' In differentiating the world religions from the world of revelation, Jean Danielou says, ''"The worst misunderstanding of Christianity or of [[Judaism]] is to make them religions among other religions — the very error of [[syncretism]]."''<ref name="Christopaganism">{{cite book

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There are scholars like [[Visser't Hooft]] who resist the notion of [[Christianity]] as a ''"species of the [[genus]] religion."'' He argues that Christianity is an ''"adequate and definitive [[Revelation (religion)|revelation]] of [[God]] in history,"'' and objects to classifying Christianity as one expression of ''"a general phenomenon called religion is to set it in a framework which is foreign to its nature."'' In differentiating the world religions from the world of revelation, Jean Danielou says, ''"The worst misunderstanding of Christianity or of [[Judaism]] is to make them religions among other religions — the very error of [[syncretism]]."''<ref name="Christopaganism">{{cite book

|title=Christopaganism or Indigenous Christianity?

|author=Alan R. Tippet

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|isbn=0-87808-423-1

|url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=-zCYUNfxFMvmtQbx_IGwCQ&id=QjYQAQAAIAAJ

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}}</ref> Wilhelm Busch, a member of the Confessing Church during the era of [[Nazism]], maintained that religions are human attempts to find [[God]] and they all have this in common: they have all gone astray in the fog and have not been able to discover God. The Jewish prophet Isaiah, according to Busch, understood that God is a hidden God, and that is why Isaiah cried out: ''"We cannot reach you. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down."'' Busch perceived as an amazing thing that God "heard that cry [and] tore through the blanket of fog and came down to us - in the person of Jesus Christ", thus "Jesus reveals God to us".<ref name="Busch">{{cite book |author=Wilhelm Busch |title=Jesus Our Destiny |publisher=Inter Publishing Services |year=2001 |pages=11 |isbn=0-86347-024-6 |url=http://bitflow.dyndns.org/english/WilhelmBusch/Jesus_Our_Destiny_2007.doc}}</ref> This view is often summarized by saying that "''Religions are men’s unsuccessful attempts to reach God, Christ [or Christianity] is God’s successful attempt to reach men''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspirational Quotes |url=http://jesusalive.cc/quotes.htm |accessdate=31 Jul 2018}}</ref>

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}}</ref> Wilhelm Busch, a member of the Confessing Church during the era of [[Nazism]], maintained that religions are human attempts to find [[God]] and they all have this in common: they have all gone astray in the fog and have not been able to discover God. The Jewish prophet Isaiah, according to Busch, understood that God is a hidden God, and that is why Isaiah cried out: ''"We cannot reach you. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down."'' Busch perceived it as an amazing thing that God "heard that cry [and] tore through the blanket of fog and came down to us - in the person of Jesus Christ", thus "Jesus reveals God to us".<ref name="Busch">{{cite book |author=Wilhelm Busch |title=Jesus Our Destiny |publisher=Inter Publishing Services |year=2001 |pages=11 |isbn=0-86347-024-6 |url=http://bitflow.dyndns.org/english/WilhelmBusch/Jesus_Our_Destiny_2007.doc}}</ref> This view is often summarized by saying that "''Religions are men’s unsuccessful attempts to reach God, Christ [or Christianity] is God’s successful attempt to reach men''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspirational Quotes |url=http://jesusalive.cc/quotes.htm |accessdate=31 Jul 2018}}</ref>

Some versions of the [[Bible]] (e.g. Contemporary English Version, GOD's WORD Translation, Good News Translation, Slovak Lutheran Translation) translate the Hebrew word חֻקּ֥וֹת (Transliteration: ''chuqqah'', meaning: ''statute, of special ritual laws, figurative of a firmly established custom'') from Jeremiah Chapter 10 as "religion"; and then the Bible claims such religions of nations are "worthless" (or, meaningless vanity) and compares them to idols "like scarecrows in a cucumber field". Then, further in verse 5, people are advised: "''Don’t be afraid of them because they can do no harm, nor can they do any good''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeremiah 10:3 |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+10%3A3&version=GNT |accessdate=31 Jul 2018}}</ref>

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English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>[http://www.helium.com/items/1227784-atheism-religion-naturalism-morally-relative "Atheism vs Religion"], Daniel Smartt</ref>

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*''Narrative'' - this dimension is concerned with stories which explain the origin of the universe and ~~the~~ human life. For Christians, there is the Book of Genesis.

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*''Narrative'' - this dimension is concerned with stories which explain the origin of the universe and human life. For Christians, there is the Book of Genesis.

*''Experiential'' - this dimension is concerned with personal or spiritual experiences. Many religious believers report experiences of being near to God.

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''See also:'' [[Big Five personality traits]]

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The [[Big Five personality traits]] change due to a person becoming more mature, efforts to change the [[personality]] traits or a major life change (See: [[Neuroplasticity and the ability of individuals to change their personality]]).

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The [[Big Five personality traits]] can change due to a person becoming more mature, efforts to change the [[personality]] traits or a major life change (See: [[Neuroplasticity and the ability of individuals to change their personality]]).

Personality changes due to [[conversion|religious conversion]]:

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[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>]]

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From a global perspective, and not necessarily in every region, religion is seeing a resurgence and scholars of religious [[demographics]] frequently use the term "global resurgence of religion" to describe the process of desecularization which began in the late portion of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2005/november-december/the-return-of-religion The return of religion]</ref>

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From a global perspective, and not necessarily in every region, religion is seeing a resurgence and scholars of religious [[demographics]] frequently use the term "global resurgence of religion" to describe the process of desecularization, which began in the late portion of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2005/november-december/the-return-of-religion The return of religion]</ref>

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The [[theology|theologian]] and [[Harvard University]] academic Harvey Cox asserted that [[grassroots]] movements such as [[fundamentalism]] and the [[Charismatic movement]]/[[pentecostalism]] are significant religious forces that are resistant to secularization forces.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8028-4691-4 Publisher's Weekly Review of'' The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics'' by Peter L. Berger]</ref><ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harvey-cox/fire-from-heaven/ Kirkus Reviews- ''FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century'' by Harvey Cox]</ref> In her book ''The Battle for God'', Karen Armstrong wrote: "One of the most startling developments of the late 20th century has been the emergence within every major religious tradition of a militant piety known as 'fundamentalism'… this religious resurgence has taken many observers by surprise."<ref>Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9</ref>

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The [[theology|theologian]] and [[Harvard University]] academic, Harvey Cox, asserted that [[grassroots]] movements such as [[fundamentalism]] and the [[Charismatic movement]]/[[pentecostalism]] are significant religious forces that are resistant to secularization forces.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8028-4691-4 Publisher's Weekly Review of'' The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics'' by Peter L. Berger]</ref><ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harvey-cox/fire-from-heaven/ Kirkus Reviews- ''FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century'' by Harvey Cox]</ref> In her book ''The Battle for God'', Karen Armstrong wrote: "One of the most startling developments of the late 20th century has been the emergence within every major religious tradition of a militant piety known as 'fundamentalism'… this religious resurgence has taken many observers by surprise."<ref>Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9</ref>

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On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:

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On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London, wrote:

{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

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** [[Strong atheism]]

** [[Weak atheism]]

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* [[Buddhism]] (though with elements of [[Polytheism]]. The ''devas'' that are found in a supporting role in the Tipitika are not strictly comparable to gods, as they are ultimately mortal.)

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* [[Buddhism]] (though with elements of [[Polytheism]]. The ''devas'' that are found in a supporting role in the Tipitika are not strictly comparable to gods, as they are ultimately mortal.)

* [[Secular Humanism]]

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* [[Scientology]] Has stories containing extraterrestrials though none are claimed to be divine.

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* [[Scientology]] Has stories containing extraterrestrials, though none are claimed to be divine.

* The [[Raelism|Raëlian Church]], based on the [[Ancient astronaut theory]].

=== Parody and joke religions ===

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Several "religions" have been invented in an effort to denigrate or parody traditional religions. While most adherents of these "religions" are not serious believers, there are inevitably a few people who take the tenets seriously.

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Several "religions" have been invented in an effort to denigrate or parody traditional religions. While most adherents of these "religions" are not serious believers, there are inevitably a few people who take the tenets seriously.

* [[Flying Spaghetti Monster|The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]] - A joke religion created to parody Christianity

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== Faith in organized religion ==

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The percentage of respondents answering they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of [[confidence]] in organized religion has decreased in the [[United States]] according to a [[Gallup]] poll taken in 2007. Only 46% of respondents selected either of the choices above. The numbers peaked at 68% in May 1975.<ref>Christian Examiner, Sept. 2007, Vol 25, No 9, Pg. 24</ref>

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The percentage of respondents answering they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of [[confidence]] in organized religion has decreased in the [[United States]] according to a [[Gallup]] poll taken in 2007. Only 46% of respondents selected either of the choices above. The numbers peaked at 68% in May 1975.<ref>Christian Examiner, Sept. 2007, Vol 25, No 9, Pg. 24</ref>

== Development of religion ==

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Secular scholars and [[liberal]]s, in order to justify their own postmodernist ideal that religious faith is a [[Subjectivism|subjective]] issue, all religions are equally valid, there are no absolutes and consequently morality is relative, tend to take an [[evolution]]ary approach to the development of religion in human societies.

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Secular scholars and [[liberal]]s, in order to justify their own postmodernist ideal that religious faith is a [[Subjectivism|subjective]] issue (that all religions are equally valid, there are no absolutes and consequently morality is relative), tend to take an [[evolution]]ary approach to the development of religion in human societies.

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They usually ~~suscribe~~ to the idea that religion first started off as a primitive form of Animism or Spirit Worship, then evolved into polytheistic tribal/national religions, and then from one of these religions emerged Zoroastrianism which saw a gradual decrease in its number of gods until it eventually was transformed into a monotheistic religion, which in turn evolved into the well organized, theologically complex and philosophically deep monotheistic faiths of today such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

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They usually subscribe to the idea that religion first started off as a primitive form of Animism or Spirit Worship, then evolved into polytheistic tribal/national religions, and then from one of these religions emerged Zoroastrianism, which saw a gradual decrease in its number of gods until it eventually was transformed into a monotheistic religion, which in turn evolved into the well organized, theologically complex and philosophically deep monotheistic faiths of today such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

This idea regarding the development of religion continues to appear in liberal publications, despite the fact that it has little real substantiation and is merely an assumption by liberal scholars, who often hold a certain kind of prejudice towards organized religion.

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In reality, the exact opposite viewpoint has more substantiating anthropological evidence. Namely, the viewpoint that Monotheism (faith in one sole creator deity) was the original form of religion, but gradually corrupted until it fragmented into various polytheistic religions, which in turn decayed further giving rise to pantheistic and atheistic religions.

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In reality, the exact opposite viewpoint has more substantiating anthropological evidence. Namely, the viewpoint that Monotheism (faith in one sole creator deity) was the original form of religion, but gradually corrupted until it fragmented into various polytheistic religions, which in turn decayed further, giving rise to pantheistic and atheistic religions.

For example, expert egyptologist Flinders Petrie suggests there is sufficient archaeological evidence to conclude that the religion of the ancient Egyptians, which is normally categorized as a typical polytheistic religion, was not originally polytheistic, but in fact a monotheistic faith, which only in the later years of the Egyptian empire shifted from monotheism to polytheism.

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Similarly, doctor Steven Rangdon of Oxford University, based on his research of ancient Babylonian inscriptions, concludes that the ancient Babylonian religion like the ancient Egyptian religion was also originally monotheistic, and only in the later stages of the Babylonian civilization did it start to transform into a polytheistic and idolatrous religion. Interestingly, this was also the case with the ancient Sumerian religion. The Sumerians believed in over ~~5000~~ gods at the time of the end of their civilization. At the start of their history, however, they only worshiped one god, the god of the sky. It is more than likely that the Sumerian god of the sky is the same God of the heavens of the Hebrew Bible.

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Similarly, doctor Steven Rangdon of Oxford University, based on his research of ancient Babylonian inscriptions, concludes that the ancient Babylonian religion, like the ancient Egyptian religion, was also originally monotheistic, and only in the later stages of the Babylonian civilization did it start to transform into a polytheistic and idolatrous religion. Interestingly, this was also the case with the ancient Sumerian religion. The Sumerians believed in over 5,000 gods at the time of the end of their civilization. At the start of their history, however, they only worshiped one god, the god of the sky. It is more than likely that the Sumerian god of the sky is the same God of the heavens of the Hebrew Bible.

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~~Interestlingly~~, this trend can also be seen in far Eastern religions. Shinto (神道), a native polytheistic religion of Japan which now believes in the existence of thousands of deities, was in fact originally a religion with only three gods. As time passed, however, the religion started to fall into a state of decay as believers started to arbitrarily create more and more new gods of their own. The further one goes back in Japanese history the number of gods in Shinto lessens significantly. In addition, some Japanese scholars, for example evangelical theologian Kubo Arimasa, postulate that it is possible that Shinto was in fact originally monotheistic, and the three ~~originals~~ gods described in the opening of the oldest known Shinto text ''Kojiki'' were, in fact, originally one creator God, identical to the creator of the Old Testament.

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Interestingly, this trend can also be seen in far Eastern religions. Shinto (神道), a native polytheistic religion of Japan, which now believes in the existence of thousands of deities, was in fact originally a religion with only three gods. As time passed, however, the religion started to fall into a state of decay as believers started to arbitrarily create more and more new gods of their own. The further one goes back in Japanese history the number of gods in Shinto lessens significantly. In addition, some Japanese scholars, for example evangelical theologian Kubo Arimasa, postulate that it is possible that Shinto was in fact originally monotheistic, and the three original gods described in the opening of the oldest known Shinto text ''Kojiki'' were, in fact, originally one creator God, identical to the creator of the Old Testament.

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This monotheism → polytheism → pantheism religion ~~curruption~~ hypothesis is also in accordance with the scriptures of the Old Testament which tells explicitly that the origin of polytheistic, idolatrous and pagan religions was the rebellion of sinners who sought to free themselves from the laws of the true creator, the Lord Yahaweh.

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This monotheism → polytheism → pantheism religion corruption hypothesis is also in accordance with the scriptures of the Old Testament, which tells explicitly that the origin of polytheistic, idolatrous and pagan religions was the rebellion of sinners who sought to free themselves from the laws of the true creator, the Lord Yahaweh.

== Academic studies consistently challenge link between religion and war ==

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''See also:'' [[Religion in the military]] and [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes]]

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~~Encycylopedia~~.com states concerning [[religion in the military]]:

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Encyclopedia.com states concerning [[religion in the military]]:

{{Cquote|Religion in the Military. For more than 220 years, religion and religious leaders have provided a source of strength and faith for a total of 55 million Americans who have served in the military forces of the [[United States]]. The rigorous demands of military duties—separation from friends and family, training in remote locations, battle, and the possibility of violent death—have mandated support for those who serve and who may potentially lay down their lives for their country.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/religion-military Religion in the military], Encylcylopedia.com</ref>}}

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</ref>

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If the view that there is no God (or are no gods) is a religion, it is argued its expression is constitutionally protected in the [[United States]].<ref>The Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. In the 1961 case of [[Torcaso v. Watkins]], the court described "[[secular humanism]]" as a religion. [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874 Court rules atheism is a religion]</ref> The government cannot force [[atheists]] to recant and adopt the opposite belief.

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If the view that there is no God (or are no gods) is a religion, it is argued its expression is constitutionally protected in the [[United States]].<ref>The Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. In the 1961 case of [[Torcaso v. Watkins]], the court described "[[secular humanism]]" as a religion. [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874 Court rules atheism is a religion]</ref> The government cannot force [[atheists]] to recant and adopt the opposite belief.

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In his BBC documentary ''[[The Trouble with Atheism]]'' the award-winning journalist Rod Liddle indicates:

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In his BBC documentary ''[[The Trouble with Atheism]]'', the award-winning journalist Rod Liddle indicates:

{{cquote|Some atheists have become rather dogmatic. Terribly certain in their conviction that there is no God and anyone who thinks there is is a deluded and dangerous fool. ,,,atheists are becoming as intransigent about their own views as the people they so despise.

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If atheism is not a religion, then the expression of atheistic ideas is still covered by the First Amendment, but only by the [[free speech]] and [[free press]] clauses.

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The implications go deeper, affecting [[public education]]. If atheism is a religion, then the atheism adhering to the [[methodological naturalism]] of [[physical science]] cannot be given excessive government support. That would violate the [[establishment of religion]] clause. So, [[evolution]] education would have to allow students freedom to dissent from the "orthodox" [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] view that human beings evolved from earlier forms of life without any intervention from God. It should be noted that biology courses only require knowledge of the theory of evolution, its mechanisms, and the evidence supporting it, rather than belief that evolution occurred.<ref>See [[Kenneth Miller]]'s testimony in ''Selden v. Cobb County', available at [http://ncse.com/files/pub/legal/selman/district_court/20041108_testimony_rogers_mccoy.txt], p. 178</ref>

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The implications go deeper, affecting [[public education]]. If atheism is a religion, then the atheism adhering to the [[methodological naturalism]] of [[physical science]] cannot be given excessive government support. That would violate the [[establishment of religion]] clause. So, [[evolution]] education would have to allow students freedom to dissent from the "orthodox" [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] view that human beings evolved from earlier forms of life without any intervention from God. It should be noted that biology courses only require knowledge of the theory of evolution, its mechanisms, and the evidence supporting it, rather than belief that evolution occurred.<ref>See [[Kenneth Miller]]'s testimony in ''Selden v. Cobb County', available at [http://ncse.com/files/pub/legal/selman/district_court/20041108_testimony_rogers_mccoy.txt], p. 178</ref>

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In 2013, a trend of atheist churches began and atheist church services were reported on in the ''[[New York Times]]'', '' [[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>

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In 2013, a trend of atheist churches began and atheist church services were reported on in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>

*[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home - NY Times, 6/24/2013]

*[Bizarre Trend: Atheist Sunday Morning ‘Worship’ Services Are on the Rise (Minus God, of Course)]

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*[https://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/12/why-religion-matters-even-more-the-impact-of-religious-practice-on-social-stability Why Religion Matters Even More: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability] By Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D.

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*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/religion/ What Liberals Say - Category: Religion], [[Accuracy In Media]]

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*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/religion/ What Liberals Say - Category: Religion] [[Accuracy In Media]]

*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-there-a-god Opposing Views: Is There a God?]

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