Definition Of Religion
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Suggested by
Dov Henis
"A specific human cultural phenotype" of the hopelessly indoctrinated and brainwashed subset of humanity that shouldn't be ascribed to higher esteem and benefit. 
Religion should be religated to a "human artifact", no longer viewed as valid. 
HERE'S WHY. Maslowian psychological views should supplant religion as the new aspiration toward higher esteem and "self-actualization! That would assure human cultural survival!
Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow
Now, does his "transcendence" maybe sound a little bit like a "religious" experience?
THAT kind of transcendence is what I would hope for the optimum future of mankind! 
Religion should be religated to a "human artifact", no longer viewed as valid. HERE'S WHY. Maslowian psychological views should supplant religion as the new aspiration toward higher esteem and "self-actualization! That would assure human cultural survival!Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow
QUOTE
"Maslow also proposed that people who have reached self-actualization will sometimes experience a state he referred to as "transcendence", in which they become aware of not only their own fullest potential, but the fullest potential 
of human beings at large. He described this transcendence and its characteristics in an essay in the posthumously published The Farther Reaches of Human Nature."
See above. (emphasis mine.) of human beings at large. He described this transcendence and its characteristics in an essay in the posthumously published The Farther Reaches of Human Nature." Now, does his "transcendence" maybe sound a little bit like a "religious" experience?
THAT kind of transcendence is what I would hope for the optimum future of mankind!
First Let us Define Religion In Evolutionary Terms
I am not trying to join a stand/trend to slander/discredit religion nor to pretentiously assess psychological or emotional aspects of religious persons.
I simply accept, within my view of culture as a ubiquitous biological entity selected for survival in ALL organisms, that religion is a component of human culture and that during 100,000 years it has been serving as a survival tool and technique for many human groups.
Furthermore, I am trying to focus our view and concept of religion as the human evolution survival package it has been, to comprehend and accept religion as the functional human cultural artifact it is.
First should be first. First let us try to clarify our biological evolution sight and sharpen our view of the object of definition. Let us first handle the biological evolution definition of religion...
Suggesting,
Dov Henis
I am not trying to join a stand/trend to slander/discredit religion nor to pretentiously assess psychological or emotional aspects of religious persons.
I simply accept, within my view of culture as a ubiquitous biological entity selected for survival in ALL organisms, that religion is a component of human culture and that during 100,000 years it has been serving as a survival tool and technique for many human groups.
Furthermore, I am trying to focus our view and concept of religion as the human evolution survival package it has been, to comprehend and accept religion as the functional human cultural artifact it is.
First should be first. First let us try to clarify our biological evolution sight and sharpen our view of the object of definition. Let us first handle the biological evolution definition of religion...
Suggesting,
Dov Henis
QUOTE (HenisDov+Nov 16 2007, 09:52 PM)
Definition Of Religion
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Suggested by
Dov Henis
I've seen a lot of people trying to debate what religion is. It always devolves into a game of semantics around the words "belief" and "faith".
But, as a non-religious person, I find this to be a good definition.
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Suggested by
Dov Henis
I've seen a lot of people trying to debate what religion is. It always devolves into a game of semantics around the words "belief" and "faith".
But, as a non-religious person, I find this to be a good definition.
gmilam, Yes, but note the use of the past tense and "artifact"! That was what I was alluding to. Did you notice my reference to Abraham Maslow and the fullest potential of human beings at large? That is truly where I would hope mankind's attention will be directed and we can then view religion as a phase we went through! The words belief and faith will not refer to religion, but to science and man's quest for knowledge based on the scientific method!
Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
If pnelson419, God_Hates_Me, Terral, Imagination, Dr. sensible and Apostle would read and comprehend this article, they could no longer hold the views they currently have and would "see the light" of science, reason AND REALITY! ((
))
Did you notice my reference to Abraham Maslow and the fullest potential of human beings at large? That is truly where I would hope mankind's attention will be directed and we can then view religion as a phase we went through! The words belief and faith will not refer to religion, but to science and man's quest for knowledge based on the scientific method! Please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method
If pnelson419, God_Hates_Me, Terral, Imagination, Dr. sensible and Apostle would read and comprehend this article, they could no longer hold the views they currently have and would "see the light" of science, reason AND REALITY! ((
))
QUOTE (gmilam+Nov 18 2007, 04:08 PM)
But, as a non-religious person, I find this to be a good definition.
Should'nt a definition be a definition by any name, like a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose?
Wondering if religious persons who also "accept" science would accept this definition, yet with steady unwavering respect and commitment to their religion. IMO such an acceptance would contribute more respect to religion and to religious persons.
Sincerely thinking so,
Dov Henis
HenisDov quote.
This is where I would beg to differ. HAS it really been better than other human cultural survival plans?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
QUOTE
" technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans."
Emphasis mine.This is where I would beg to differ. HAS it really been better than other human cultural survival plans?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
[QUOTE=HenisDov,Nov 17 2007, 03:52 AM]
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans. [QUOTE]
photojack, you are obviously right...
so here is my suggested modification:
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed by its adherents to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Dov Henis
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans. [QUOTE]
photojack, you are obviously right...
so here is my suggested modification:
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed by its adherents to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Dov Henis
HenisDov, By adding "by its adherents", that phrase eliminates the feeling of universality that the earlier definition implied and alludes to the "holier than thou" concept that is the nemesis of most existing religions. A definite improvement!
QUOTE (HenisDov+Nov 22 2007, 07:50 PM)
A religion is a human artifact for survival of a specific human cultural phenotype, comprising cultural tool-kit and technique ascribed by its adherents to be of higher esteem and benefit than other human cultural survival plans.
Major Conceptual Hierarchies
Religion is to culture like
Technology is to science like
Biology is to evolution like
Evolution is to Energy
suggesting,
Dov Henis
HenisDov, I would reverse, change and supplement that as follows:
MODIFIED MAJOR CONCEPTUAL HIERARCHIES
Knowledge is to learning like
Communication is to culture like
Technology is to science like
Evolution is to biology like
Energy is to physics
One could add several other "likes", like "Plate tectonics is to geology", "Light is to photography" and more.
But my favorite might be "Indoctrination is to religion!
Cheers!
MODIFIED MAJOR CONCEPTUAL HIERARCHIES
Knowledge is to learning like
Communication is to culture like
Technology is to science like
Evolution is to biology like
Energy is to physics
One could add several other "likes", like "Plate tectonics is to geology", "Light is to photography" and more.
But my favorite might be "Indoctrination is to religion!
Cheers!
Dear photojack,
I do not appreciate your modification of MY major Conceptual Hierarchies; I do not like persons compulsed to "translate and improve" everything that others say or write. I accept corrections or overlooked points, but not translations-modifications of my ideas.
I also do not share your uncritical admiration and appreciation of the "ideas, thoughts" of Known Personalities, such as "conviction that the world is orderly and can be explained by a small number of natural laws", which is an ignorant absurd thought, and I am not charged with an instinctive mockery of religion since I understand its historical evolution and function.
Finally, my Major Conceptual Hierarchies is not a play of words but a presentation of a thoght that
Religion is a progeny of culture like
Technology is a progeny of science like
Biology is a progeny of evolution like
Universal Evolution is a progeny of Energy
Respectfully,
Dov Henis
I do not appreciate your modification of MY major Conceptual Hierarchies; I do not like persons compulsed to "translate and improve" everything that others say or write. I accept corrections or overlooked points, but not translations-modifications of my ideas.
I also do not share your uncritical admiration and appreciation of the "ideas, thoughts" of Known Personalities, such as "conviction that the world is orderly and can be explained by a small number of natural laws", which is an ignorant absurd thought, and I am not charged with an instinctive mockery of religion since I understand its historical evolution and function.
Finally, my Major Conceptual Hierarchies is not a play of words but a presentation of a thoght that
Religion is a progeny of culture like
Technology is a progeny of science like
Biology is a progeny of evolution like
Universal Evolution is a progeny of Energy
Respectfully,
Dov Henis
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