Is a personal belief a religion?

Is a government a religion? Yes or no?

 

It is best to go to the Bible to understand what Christianity is rather than to a secular definition. You would not use the Bible to define what science is or use the Bible to define what medicine is, would you?

 

It tells me he is an immoral and debased person, because what's nonsensical about loving all people.....including an enemy? What's nonsensical about forgiving others for wrongs they might have done? Is it nonsensical about being a peacemaker? What is nonsensical about being faithful to ones spouse?

 

Is it religious to have love for all people? Is it religious to use one’s ability to heal the sick? Is it religious to tell people about a kingdom? All the above is what Jesus did. So if you consider those things religious then anyone that express some form of love, whether they are an atheist or not is practicing a religion. If you talk about the U.S government then you are religious. If you are a doctor and help to get the sick well, then that doctor you are practicing a religion.

 

If any of those pertains to anything supernatural then yes.

None of the above pertains to supernatural phenomena, so no.

 

I noticed that, in both of your responses above, you reference the word "supernatural". Supernatural is a strange word, in that it has several meanings, and only one synonym at the freedictionary.com . Then again, it also has a legal meaning which references three other words.

I am curious now as to which specific definition you are using, and also why you have elected to use that specific definition when obviously there are other meanings which could apply. Would you please enlighten the readers as to your position on the use of the word supernatural?

 

Supernatural is most often used to reference things outside of the natural word that are unobservable or referencing events where something occurs and is "unexplainable".

 

"is most often used" clearly does not require 'supernatural' to have ONLY that one application. So, if one were to use a differing definition, how would such a person be viewed by those that are categorized as "most often" users of the term "supernatural"?

 

All definitions of supernatural are essentially the same and refer to something unexplainable because it is "outside" of the Universe, so, I don't see why you constantly have to nitpick at everything especially considering the context of this thread should very well be enough to know what definition of supernatural is being used.

 

Yes, except a government isn't a religion. A government, however, could follow rules set BY a religion and therefore have religious teachings implemented through laws.

 

Admittedly the governments of the secular world are not Theocratic governments. However, God does have a Government. A government wherein the ONLY Potentate is Christ. Just because you and others do not recognize that government, does not mean that it does not exist. So in that sense, a government can be a 'religion'.

 

How can a government be a religion and not a religion at the same time? A government following some religious rule does not make the government a religion. Is love a religion? What about forgiving others, is that a religion? You show me anything that Jesus taught that is religious and I will show you that everybody is religious…..including the person who does not believe in any god.

 

When did I ever say it did?

 

Oh, so it's a dictatorship, good analogy. Especially since governments are created by people.

 

No! Secular governments are created by people. A Theocratic government is established by God. Don't confuse the distinction there. That is why there is no perfect government established by 'people'.

 

No, not really. There are theocracies across the world and they were all started by men and women. Do you have a source for your claim that God came down and established a government then went back up to heaven?

 

Do you have a source which says that "God came down and established a government and then went back up to heaven"?

Who specifically said that 'God came down' or that God "then went back up to heaven"? What is your source for those two claims?


Name one of those 'theocracies' that can be said to be "are" (meaning existing) and are recognized by the United Nations.

 

You said that God establishes theocracies.

Iran.

 

Well, you did speak out of both sides of your mouth when you said this: Yes, except a government isn't a religion. And that was in response to this:Is a government a religion? Yes or no?

So make up your mind.

 

About what? I never once said that a government was a religion and specifically said otherwise.

 

Your word games are so not interesting, Incorporeal.

As Ozymandias points out there is essentially no other meaning of the word than the address of powers that violate or otherwise go beyond natural forces. So all you're doing here is to reveal the purpose of your word games as a subterfuge.

 

A theocratic government is established by God?? Too much egg nog this christmas?

 

You said yes, then you said except it’s not. So either I’m talking to a mad man or I am talking to someone with multi personality disorder.

 

On the contrary. Because a portion of the context was related to a 'kingdom', then it can also involve the legal definition of the word "supernatural", to wit:

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/supernatural
"See: mysterious, peculiar, uncanny"


Now which one of those definitions do we use to maintain a continuity of the context which was varied? Take your pick.

 

Sorry for the confusion, I didn't realize I said "yes". I meant "yes" to mean that I understand where you're going with your example because we follow "tenets" of government. Again, sorry for not realizing this sooner.