When..did it become irrational to dislike religion, any religion, even to dislike it vehemently? When did reason get redescribed as unreason? When were the fairy stories of the superstitious placed above criticism, beyond satire? A religion was not a race. It was an idea, and ideas stood (or fell) because they were strong enough (or too weak) to withstand criticism, not because they were shielded from it. Strong ideas welcomed dissent.Salman Rushdie
About This Quote
Religion is a set of beliefs based on the idea that the world was created by a transcendent creator. It often includes ideas about an afterlife, and often involves interactions between its followers and the supernatural world. The word religion is derived from Latin, religere, which means ‘to bind back’, ‘to connect’ or ‘to hold to’. It has been suggested that the term derives from the Latin religare meaning to re-establish or to consecrate.
The definition of religion also varies according to cultural, historical, and social perspectives. The main meaning of religion is "a set of beliefs concerning the pursuit of salvation" or "a system of belief regarding divine or sacred things." The term is often applied to organized attempts to explain the origin and purpose of life, but it also enjoys broader usage in daily speech, often with less formal meanings relating to private devotion. Myths are stories that are traditionally considered as being true, though not necessarily provable. The plot usually involves deities doing something that grants rewards or punishes evil people for their misdeeds. A myth is a collection of traditional stories believed by many cultures to be true.
Myths are used in culture and storytelling in various ways and may be used as a form of entertainment and/or education. Myths and legends share similarities with other forms such as legends and fables; however, myths tend to be distinguished from legends because they include aspects such as their symbolic meanings. Many western religions use myths as part of their religious narrative (e.g., Christianity). The belief in supernatural entities (deities) can be found in almost every culture under various names such as gods (for example: Zeus in Greek mythology), idols (e.g., Muziris' statue of Ganesha), idols (e.g., Venus de Milo), and goddesses (e.g., Isis).
Beliefs regarding witchcraft and satanic rituals have been integrated into the myths of some cultures; others have incorporated conflicting mythologies into their own belief systems (e.g., Native Americans).
Source: Joseph Anton: A Memoir
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