" re·lig·ion (r¹-l¹j“…n) n. Abbr. rel., relig. 1.a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship. 2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order. 3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. 4. A cause, a principle, or an activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion."
"sect (sµkt) n. 1. A group of people forming a distinct unit within a larger group by virtue of certain refinements or distinctions of belief or practice. 2. A religious body, especially one that has separated from a larger denomination. 3. A small faction united by common interests or beliefs.
I guess if you deny these accepted definitions of these words you can deny being part of either. Of course there has to be some way to distinguish your ____ from others. One thing I notice that all religionists have in common is a claim of superiority over all others who have different beliefs. The moslems have their true belief, as do the buddhists, the christians, the native americans, the wiccans, the satanists, et al. But regardless of linguistic hair splitting, this is not a religious argument, but a secular one. Why should gov't give preference to the icons of one over the other? Would it bother you were the buddhists to be in the majority to have sticks of incense burned to statues of buddha in the entry hall of each publicly funded building?
Of course if you don't care, then you don't care.
Barb |
