Use of the word "Religion" (was: OT More pens (was Re: Phoneme winnowing continues))

On Tue, 10 Jun 2003 16:41:28 -0700 Stone Gordonssen
<stonegordonssen@...> writes:
> If I went by what I was taught in school, the Native Americans,
> Chinese etc.
> had no religions before Christianity. And lest you say "no, not
> possible", I
> had an intelligent co-worker 5 years ago who, when I mentioned my
> religious
> practice involved Buddhism, responded "But religion is the worship
> of God
> (i.e. the Christian one)."; and was struck speachless when I replied
> "Only if you are Christian."
-

I don't think i've ever really encountered that use of the word... i'm
more familiar with the opposite use, where "religion" means 'anything the
speaker doesn't believe in' or 'all the bad things commonly associated
with religion'.  It annoys me when Christians say things like
"Christianity isn't a religion, it's a Relationship with Jesus!" or
Jews/Muslims say things like "Judaism/Islam isn't a religion it's a Way
of Life!" or Nuwaubians (followers of a certain internet cult) say things
like "Nuwaubu isn't a religion, it's the Science of Sound Right Reason!"
We all know what a religion is (although the exact details of the
definition are quite fuzzy).  I'm perfectly happy having a 'religion', i
don't see why some people see it as such a dirty word.

ObConlang: i don't think any of my conlangs have words for "religion"
yet... Rokbeigalmki has the word |dathãb|, meaning 'belief' or 'trust',
but that's about it.  "Religion" in Judajca will probably be something
semi-obvious like |rillegjon| [rillEGjo:n].


-Stephen (Steg)
 "Forget the names you bear,
  forget the words I speak as soon as they are uttered.
  Look, rather, upon the Nameless within yourselves,
  which arises as I address it."
     ~ Great-Souled Sam