Not quite religion, but then what?

[Jack of Spades]

One-person "religion" normally does not have a clear doctrine and the content is likely to change from time to time. That is not what a religion should be. This situation is not likely to happen if the faith is shared by more than one person.

Would you answer my question, though, how many followers a religion needs to be a religion exactly?

 

[Jack of Spades]

It's alright. I'm weird all the way around. There is no doubt about it.

Sounds good. Being normal is overrated anyway.

As for myself, I'm like the only Finnish dude here, hanging around in a Christian forum full of people who live half way across the globe. Maybe that says something about me... I often ask myself why am I even so interested in posting in this place.

 

[juvenissun]

Would you answer my question, though, how many followers a religion needs to be a religion exactly?

I did. At least 2.

 

[awitch]

One-person "religion" normally does not have a clear doctrine and the content is likely to change from time to time. That is not what a religion should be. This situation is not likely to happen if the faith is shared by more than one person.

Kind of like how there are over 2 billion Christians spread across 34,000 different Christian denominations? Oh, wait, no. I guess it's not like that.

 

[Jack of Spades]

I did. At least 2.

Okay, so one person believes in his stuff for 20 years alone, then gets one follower. The system wasn't a religion the day before he got the follower, then it became a religion the day the other guy joined it. Everything else stayed the same. One day it wasn't a religion, the next day it is. Sounds a little bit arbitrary to me.

 

[juvenissun]

Kind of like how there are over 2 billion Christians spread across 34,000 different Christian denominations? Oh, wait, no. I guess it's not like that.

Would you call each denomination a religion? Why not?

 

[juvenissun]

Okay, so one person believes in his stuff for 20 years alone, then gets one follower. The system wasn't a religion the day before he got the follower, then it became a religion the day the other guy joined it. Everything else stayed the same. One day it wasn't a religion, the next day it is. Sounds a little bit arbitrary to me.

No. Not everything else stayed the same. Even another person joined, I would expect this type of "religion" would continuous to change, and the second person would eventually leave.

I said many times, a religion MUST have a written doctrine, which does not change easily. So people can read it and understand it.

 

[awitch]

Would you call each denomination a religion? Why not?

I consider them all flavors of Christianity. But not all Christians agree that they are all actually Christian. Right here in CF, JWs and Mormons are not considered Christians by other Christians. So clearly, there is no single, clear doctrine among Christians.

By your definition then, Christianity is not a religion. Would you like to surrender your tax exemptions and discrimination protections now or wait till you get home?

 

[juvenissun]

I consider them all flavors of Christianity. But not all Christians agree that they are all actually Christian. Right here in CF, JWs and Mormons are not considered Christians by other Christians. So clearly, there is no single, clear doctrine among Christians.

the Bible and the Bible only.
Others are not.

 

[awitch]

the Bible and the Bible only.
Others are not.

American Standard? King James? Amplified? Common English? Good News? Giddeon? Geneva? New American? Or any of the 100+ other Bibles?

With that many versions of scripture, it's still not a religion by your own criteria.

 

[juvenissun]

American Standard? King James? Amplified? Common English? Good News? Giddeon? Geneva? New American? Or any of the 100+ other Bibles?

With that many versions of scripture, it's still not a religion by your own criteria.

Smart. But, useless.

 

[awitch]

Smart. But, useless.

Let us know if you'd like to move the goalposts.
In the meantime, I'll be over here practicing my religion.

 

[Cearbhall]

Would you call each denomination a religion? Why not?

Perhaps Mormonism, since it's so different. But in most cases, no.

 

[juvenissun]

Perhaps Mormonism, since it's so different. But in most cases, no.

Mormonism is not a denomination of Christianity.

 

[Cearbhall]

Mormonism is not a denomination of Christianity.

That's what I just said. I would call it a religion of its own.

Though, to be honest, I can also understand the argument for calling it a denomination.

 

[juvenissun]

That's what I just said. I would call it a religion of its own.

Though, to be honest, I can also understand the argument for calling it a denomination.

No. You do NOT understand that.

 

[Cearbhall]

No. You do NOT understand that.

Huh?

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Mormonism is not a denomination of Christianity.

Not if you ask Mormons.

There are Protestants who deny that Catholics are Christians,
Catholics who think Protestants are all nothing more than heretics who don't understand the first thing about anything,
and Orthodox who believe that they are the only ones preserving Christianity in its original state, while everyone else is veering off into falsehood and error.

And that's just mentioning a few highlights.

Ecumenical efforts try to establish as much common ground between these as possible, and often cite specific concepts and core doctrines as a requirement for being considered part of the "club": trinitarian beliefs (although I bet there are few run-of-the-mill Christians out there who could even understand - let alone explain - the orthodox definition of the trinity without veering off into territory that was clearly marked as heretical by some major council or other), baptism and the eucharist (again, with VAST differences and very little understanding on the part of the layman), and the risen Christ (an element that's present in even the most heterodox of heresies).