Hunter93 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Just something I was wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
◊ crazyguy123 ◊ Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Yeah, I think it's possible. Religion requires dogma and Theism just requires that you believe in a god, but you can believe in one without dogma. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
par4dcourse Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Religion is defined as: Noun The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods. So I would say belief in itself would not constitute religion without worship. Sounds closer to Deism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deva Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Yes, if you are not a part of an organized religion. If you have practices, observe ceremonies, have written precepts, texts, have a leader of some kind, to me its a religion. You can certainly have an idea of God and not be religious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezer Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I agree with others who have noted it would seem to be possible to be a Theist and also not be religious. I also agree with the poster who noted that the concept of nonreligious Theism is probably more likely a form of Deism. I tend to think some form of mystic spirituality, which would include some forms of Deism, may be a possible alternative to Theism and/or traditional religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewelkid87 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Yes I think it is. Deism rejects all the dogma of a religion but still claims a belief in one god that created the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezer Posted June 15, 2013 Share Posted June 15, 2013 Yes I think it is. Deism rejects all the dogma of a religion but still claims a belief in one god that created the world. Yes and no. That depends on how the word God and Deism is defined. Pandeist and pantheist would tend to view the universe/nature and god as being one and the same thing. The original version of Deism was a form of supernatural theism, but modern versions of Deism such as pandeism/pantheism tend to reject the concepts associated with supernatural theism; in other words the idea that God is separate and apart from the universe. In the Pan versions of Deism/Theism God didn't create the universe God is the universe and is part of everything that exists. I don't view Deism, in any of its modern forms, as a religion per se because there is no dogma, beliefs, rituals, or traditions. There is no supernatural element so there is nothing to pray to. I see Deism as a form of mystic spirituality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RachelSkates Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Because it is all made up, I think anyone can be anything they want. Infact, I think I might be a sdfhksfn kasjdf today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhim Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I often ask myself the opposite question: is it possible to be religious without being a theist. I practice Hinduism because it's what I grew up with and connects me with my culture (I'm otherwise entirely Americanized). Not sure I really believe in God though. Honestly I think that your case is the more common one; I know many who believe in God but aren't religious. To me, at least religion is concrete and tangible. There are things you can do, and rituals you can participate in. Belief in God, on the other hand, seems entirely too nebulous and ill-defined for me. On a sidenote, this is why I consider evangelical Christianity a joke of a religion. Evangelicals gut religion of rituals and practices, and define religiosity on an ethereal conception of your state of mind, i.e. "where your heart is" with respect to Jesus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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