Is Evolution a Religion?

[CJK]

Simple question.

Is Evolution a Religion?

[perfessor]

I share your religious faith and belief in electromagnetism.

You see, by your definition, the term "religion" has become so broad as to be almost meaningless. I am imagining a conversation with, say, John Doe:

Me: "So what is your religion?"
JD: "I'm a Christian."
Me: "Yes I knew that, but what about your other religions?"
JD: (scratches head, gives me a funny look)...

By your definition, I am not only a Humanist and an Evolutionist, but also an Electromagnetist, a Gravitist, a Hygienist, a Matrimonyist, and especially on cold winter mornings, a Die-Hard-Batteryist. I probably have other religions as well, but they are of a lesser importance than those mentioned.

What about you, jcrawford? What are your religions? I already know about the Christianity one.

[jcrawford]

I share your religious faith and belief in electromagnetism.

You see, by your definition, the term "religion" has become so broad as to be almost meaningless. I am imagining a conversation with, say, John Doe:

Me: "So what is your religion?"
JD: "I'm a Christian."
Me: "Yes I knew that, but what about your other religions?"
JD: (scratches head, gives me a funny look)...

By your definition, I am not only a Humanist and an Evolutionist, but also an Electromagnetist, a Gravitist, a Hygienist, a Matrimonyist, and especially on cold winter mornings, a Die-Hard-Batteryist. I probably have other religions as well, but they are of a lesser importance than those mentioned.

What about you, jcrawford? What are your religions? I already know about the Christianity one.

As a Christian, a Humanist or an Evolutionist, one may include their beliefs and knowledge about all those other categories as part and parcel of their religion since beliefs in natural phenomena are as much a part of religion as beliefs in anything else is.

All human thoughts, behavior and actions are fundamentally religious because we have to believe and have faith in the knowledge that what we are doing makes sense and is morally right and justified in the eyes of whoever we choose to designate as the supreme authority over our daily actions, even if that authority is ultimately none other than ourselves.

[Chimp]

All human thoughts, behavior and actions are fundamentally religious because we have to believe and have faith in the knowledge that what we are doing makes sense and is morally right and justified in the eyes of whoever we choose to designate as the supreme authority over our daily actions, even if that authority is ultimately none other than ourselves.

Emphasis mine...

This is false...breathing is an action and does not fit your requirements,
in fact no reflex does, nor do any of the other autonomous functions
of the human body.

As I stand in the shower...do I wonder if showering is moral? No, I wonder
why my wife started a load of laundry when she knew I was in the shower.

[jcrawford]

All human thoughts, behavior and actions are fundamentally religious because we have to believe and have faith in the knowledge that what we are doing makes sense and is morally right and justified in the eyes of whoever we choose to designate as the supreme authority over our daily actions, even if that authority is ultimately none other than ourselves.

This is false...breathing is an action and does not fit your requirements,
in fact no reflex does, nor do any of the other autonomous functions
of the human body.

Deciding whether to go on breathing or not is a religious choice though.

As I stand in the shower...do I wonder if showering is moral?

No, you already made the moral choice that showering was the right thing to do before you stood under the shower.

No, I wonder why my wife started a load of laundry when she knew I was in the shower.

She was religiously inspired to do so upon learning of your moral decision to shower.

[Cathar1950]

No, I wonder why my wife started a load of laundry when she knew I was in the shower.

You better take her to dinner and get her flowers. I am not saying you did anything to make her mad but don't take any chances.

[QED]

All human thoughts, behavior and actions are fundamentally religious because we have to believe and have faith in the knowledge that what we are doing makes sense and is morally right and justified in the eyes of whoever we choose to designate as the supreme authority over our daily actions, even if that authority is ultimately none other than ourselves.

In that case we need a new term to distinguish between those things which are believed through superstition and those which are determined on an empirical basis. However, I humbly suggest that we retain the current association between religion and superstition and leave the rest as science.

[micatala]

I concur with QED.

I would suggest if jcrawford wants to give existing words new meanings, he develop his own 'Crawford's Creationist Dictionary' and define all the words as he sees fit. This way, if we want to speak crawford instead of English, we will at least know how to communicate with j.

[Chimp]

Deciding whether to go on breathing or not is a religious choice though.

Oh, please...when you fall asleep do you stop breathing 'til you wake?

Maybe you could ammend your statement...it is obviously false.
It is also acceptable to start over.

[jcrawford]

All human thoughts, behavior and actions are fundamentally religious because we have to believe and have faith in the knowledge that what we are doing makes sense and is morally right and justified in the eyes of whoever we choose to designate as the supreme authority over our daily actions, even if that authority is ultimately none other than ourselves.

In that case we need a new term to distinguish between those things which are believed through superstition and those which are determined on an empirical basis. However, I humbly suggest that we retain the current association between religion and superstition and leave the rest as science.

As per your recommendation if not your suggestion, we should regard and classify all religious and scientific superstition as superstitious beliefs, and qualify all empirical experiences in science and religion as equally valid forms of knowledge. Of course, most scientists are biased in that regard as a result of believing that 'science' is a superior form of experience and knowledge. Especially so-called Darwinist 'scientists.'

[jcrawford]

I would suggest if jcrawford wants to give existing words new meanings, he develop his own 'Crawford's Creationist Dictionary' and define all the words as he sees fit. This way, if we want to speak crawford instead of English, we will at least know how to communicate with j.

Since most Americans speak English and not Darwinese, they probably understand the meanings of the words in Crawford's Dictionary better than those occult terms in your Darwinist Enclyclopedia.

The beauty of Darwinist evolution is that everything changes and evolves over time, even the English language.

The beauty of epistomological self-conciousness is that one knows what changes in human nature and physiognomy, and what does not, ever since the beginning of human time.