How does something qualify as a religion?
451583
Most religions center around a god or numerous gods, except for atheism, which is not really a religion. It is just a lack thereof. Therefore your question about evolution being a religion - no, not really. Evolution is more like a theory. People either accept it, or don't. But it's not their way of life. I hope you see what I mean.\n\nTo clarify - most religions are made up of religious texts/chants/hymns. Religion is a very strong belief in something that guides peoples lives to do righteous things.
500122
What's this got to do with religion?
850970
Well, it is a religion.  Some people say that because it has come so far from the true meaning of Christianity, a personal relationship with Jesus.  A religion is something you do religiously, i.e. going to church, doing good things, praying, tithing.  Christianity should be a religion, because we should do these things very often.  But it shouldn't be the religion that defines Christianity itself.\n\nAs far as the athiests, they're as bad as everyone else.  We've all sinned.  That means that no one's perfect.  Anyone can do good and bad things.  The Lord's redeemed are the ones who've accepted Jesus' true gift of salvation from sin.
907162
Religion is Man's interpretation of God's mind.  \n\nIt can be beauty exemplified, or vile in its ugliness.  It takes the soul and consecrates faith or rends discontent.  And it can inspire a person to perform the greatest deeds, or the most horrific crimes.  \n\nBut it will always be flawed.  The Mind of God is wholly unknowable.\n.
1051410
Christianity is a religion.  What you listed are denominations within "Christianity".
730021
It depends upon your definition of Paganism and your idea at religion.  People like to have a community belief system - that much is evident by the number of belief systems this old earth has seen.  People like to add structure and milestones to their lives with religious rites of passage, etc.  \n\nPagans can be those who observe the old natural ways of times past or they can be defined as anyone who is not Christian, Jewish or Muslim.  Religion can be a spiritual practice as well as an organized church.  There is so much and so many shades of gray - why do we need to label and belittle everything different from ourselves?\n\nPeace!
477731
The word religion literally means:\n"personal relationship with god/deity"\nTherefore, according to this definition there are as many religions as there are people who actually think that there is something that can be categorized as a "god" or deity (even if they do not care for this deity or deities).\nNow your question, I believe, refers to the diversity in public (or secret) groups, organizations or denominations that claim to be of a religious type or to have a religious purpose.\nThe reason to the apparent high number of these organizations is simply found in the history of each of them.\nYou will find that the moment in which all of them surged or were founded coincides with a cultural necessity in the community (either political, economical or social).\nThis is not to deny the actual existence of a god or its influence over the actions of people and their consequences, but the existence of so many sets of rules to pay homage to the same deity (at least in most modern monotheist denominations) has a social explanation rather than a divine one.\nPersonally I am a devout christian and I believe that my church is not perfect, but instead of leaving it to make a better one I believe it is better to stay and try to make it better little by little.  If my suggestions are good they will eventually be accepted, if they are not I will eventually learn.\nAll of you must always remember that churches and other such groups are NOT divine institutions, they are human: made by humans, for humans, and therefore never perfect, never completly right and their truths always incomplete.\nThe purpose of a church is not to give truth or perfection, not even actual salvation (as many, including mine, claim).\nThe purpose of the church is to give support to individuals who are looking for purpose in their actual lives, and looking for something beyond this world/universe; to give these individuals the opportunity to share their experiences, impressions and discoveries; and to allow them to learn from others' experiences, impressions and discoveries, always with a critical mind and willing to hear what others have to say about your sharings.
144382
I am pretty sure it is not a religion in it's own right. I understand mysticism as a religious method or approach that could be one aspect of just about any religion.
370739
No. Religion is based on faith, not proof. If you were to prove the existence of God, the entire universe would spontaneously vanish in a great puff of logic.
432404
First, let's define religion, which is, essentially, man-made ritual. Spirituality, by contrast, is one's personal belief system, which may or may not correspond to a particular standardized doctrine. \n\nAs a Christian, I'm no fan of religion. Jesus was a good Jew, but He pretty much shattered everyone's notions of what "religion" was supposed to be. It's not about religion - that's what you do to show other people how great you are. It's about a relationship, which shows God how much you love Him.
1158161
Beliefs (religion) are philosophies.  Philosophies are made into religions.
1025514
Religion IS just a way of life.  It is also man made but is helps one keep some sort of focus on life for the better.  There is only one main religion, the religion of the heart which teaches LOVE.
728717
My religion is right because I have no religion. No religion has empirical evidence or proof of it's claims (that's why it's called a religion), so none of them are right.
726514
I think they mean that they don't go to church.  They don't believe in religion as an institution but they believe in God.  However, how can they learn about God without religious services as that is the whole point of organized religion - to teach the word of God & how to apply it in our lives.
346122
religion is a way of life\n\nwhich is a choice you only have to make if you DONT KNOW ANYTHING.  When you KNOW theres no more choice because you KNOW.  and your knowledge is a was of life\n\nread the BIBLE as a letter to you from JESUS
875740
The key words are faith and belief. that is why I get so on my high horse when religions try to invoke science to try and prove thier god exists, or even worse use their god to prove science doesn't.
69129
Religion (from dictionary.com): \n   1.\n         a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.\n         b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.\n   2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.\n   3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.\n   4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.\n\n\nBuddhism follows all of the above: \n1a. They have reverence in a supernatural in that they have a very spritual view of the world, they may not have a god, however they do believe in Nirvana (somewhat like heaven, a release from the karmic cycle), and tend to meditate on these thoughts. \n1b. This is an institution based on belief, however they do not worship anything particularly. I would say that Buddhism fits a bit looser into the first definition than the others. \n\n2. This seems to be talking about something more like a monk rather than the actual religion, however still applicable. \n\n3. Obviously thye do follow the teachings of a religious leader: Siddhartha who reached enlightenment and was the first to become a Buddha. They do base their practices on his teachings: the 8 fold path etc. etc. \n\n4. Obviously the followers of this religion do feel a lot of devotion to it, and I have met many people who feel such "zeal" in this practice. \n\nSee: \nhttp://www.buddhanet.net/\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/index.shtml\n\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm\nFor more information.