Translating "religion"

Lars Finsen wrote:
> Den 10. okt. 2007 kl. 15.44 skreiv R A Brown:
[snip]
>> I don't understand this as the word has been around for more than
>> 2000 years. It isn't exactly a recent borrowing in English & other
>> languages. It's been used in western Christendom ever since the  Roman
>> period.
>
> In modern English "a religion" is used mostly for an allegiance  group,
> isn't it? You belong to this and that religion. An allegiance  group
> requiring you to accept a (smaller or bigger) set of (more or  less)
> philosophical ideas and codes of conduct, and oppose other,  competing
> groups, just like any other allegiance group. I reckon this  is what
> Lennon meant at least.
Yet, IIRC Lennon doesn't say say "..and no religions too", but rather
"..no religion too" - singular. I understand this to mean something more
abstract than this more narrow use. But I am far from being
knowledgeable on matters to do with Lennon and the Beatles.

>> I suppose what you possibly mean is that the meaning of "a  particular
>> system of rites, worship & beliefs" is a rather a recent  concept. I'm
>> not sure. According to the "Online Etymological  Dictionary" this use
>> of the word is attested as early as the  beginning of the 14th century:
>> {quot}Meaning "particular system of faith" is recorded from c.1300.
>> {/quote}
>
> And that's what I call 'recent'. Maybe I'm misguided.
Ah - I'm not sure everyone would think the early 14th cent recent. It
depends, I guess, on what you're comparing with.

[snip]
--
Ray
==================================
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
Entia non sunt multiplicanda
praeter necessitudinem.

Reply