marmalade

I think I interpreted his post weird.

As in removing all secular commitments - jobs, relationships, and such, in order to see what religion was. Essentially, nothing.

But my brain is funny.

usartist

I've never argued with a theist, where they used such an arguement. My arguements with theists haven't gone in that direction.

But, upon reading it, immediatly with out much contemplation, I will very much agree with it. I would consider an argument that reasonably refutes it. I doubt, if there is such an argument, because "relationship" is probably the basic unit of religion.

Your argument fails, because you have yet to prove you have no religion. You make the claim, because you assume atheists have no religion.

I claim that to have no religion, to be purely secular, a person must abandoned all his "worldly" possesions. Obviously, that cannotates some Jesus scripture... What I am thinking is that the celibate behavior of the Christian clergy fostered secular thinking.

So,...when you let go of all your stuff, job, spouse, dependents, and dog; and you have thought about, 'what it's all about," then I will apreciate your argument.

usartist

So, you want to censure me?
Why?
What are you trying to do?...allign people's thinking?

EverLastingGodStopper

No, Ron, [insullt deleted]

Despite this belief, the dictionary states otherwise.
http://www.onelook.com/?w=secular&ls=a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism

Secular means "without religion." Not "without possessions."

Mat Wilder

It all depends upon what your definition of religion is. I think most people would agree that owning possessions does not constitute religion. Your views sound very Buddhist to me. What sort of possessions besides "worldly" ones are there, by the way? Anyway, if owning possessions is religion, then I guess I don't think religion is bad after all, since its sort of impossible to really flourish without them.

usartist

Religion is not the possesion of propety, religion is the "commitment" to the property.

Mat Wilder

So Christians who renounce all property don't really have a religion?

usartist

I'm not [deleted for consistency].

The only way to fully realize "without religion," is to abandon all property and relationships.

A person without property may continue to maintain a psychological attachment to certain property. That indicates, that the person has not acheived secularization.

[Moderator note: when I edited this, the quote box moved from the first line where he is quoting EverLastingGodStopper to the second paragraph. My apologies. I think I fixed it.]

usartist

I think what they are doing is reinforcing their commitment to God and Jesus.


Theists, have an imaginary ideology, that they maintain a relationship with. Sometimes they claim to "Love" God.

We, atheists do not have imaginary ideology.

EverLastingGodStopper

Fine, then back that claim up. Who, besides you, espouses this theory?