h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, I would agree with that. Personally, I prefer the term 'belief system' because it's more general, and doesn't carry the overtones of (accepted) meaning that 'religion' does.

Out of interest, my OED gives one (of several) definitions of religion as: "devotion to some principle", which would accord with my preferred term 'belief system'.

As long as we're happy with a wider definition of the term, I'm sure one could follow (practice?) more than one religion at a time, as you say.

?



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[1] - my preferred spelling is Lunix....

Is that implying that all Linux users are mad? Because you might be right...

"Out of interest, my OED gives one (of several) definitions of religion as: "devotion to some principle", which would accord with my preferred term 'belief system'.

As long as we're happy with a wider definition of the term, I'm sure one could follow (practice?) more than one religion at a time, as you say."

But what if devotion to that principal excludes devotion to other principles? Or if two religions/principles were inherently contradictory? (One can't be an atheist and a Muslim at the same time.) You couldn't have one with the other, then. But this situation would occur only when one or more of the principles had such a restriction, and since not all religions carry the restriction, two religions seems possible.

s and s,
~Wes

<...what if devotion to that principal excludes devotion to other principles?>

Y'mean like common sense and the kind of Christianity I was brought up with? Seriously, though one would be unlikely to attempt to follow two incompatible religions. More likely one might follow scientific rationality (spit! ) and (say) christianity, which *some* people would consider compatible.

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"Y'mean like common sense and the kind of Christianity I was brought up with?"

Oh, I think common sense is compatible with Christianity. Two billion people have it so, it must be common. Perhaps not *sensible* common sense...how about "common nonsense"?

s and s,
~Wes

It sounds to me as if we're just trying to define words here. Methinks if we look in a dictionary, or take a nice large randomized survey to find the colloquial understanding, we can get it better. If we want to make new categories, they need new words. I say, what we're calling a "religion" (PC's definition, the broad thing) might be more accurately called a Phlig.

'Phlig' works for me.... ... if I can just remember it when I want to write 'religion'.

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...wonder if there's been any trouble over thar 'witch' smiley.
(no pointy hats here, and my only possible 'familiar' is a guinea pig.)

Phlig...is that a blend of philosophy and religion? Sounds like a fine word to use for the forum. Heck, we could begin using it *outside* h2g2, sweeping the world with the Cult of Phlig....

s and s,
~Wes

Let's continue.

We have 'Phlig'.

We need a word for certain inviolable truths that are part of your chosen phlig. How about 'invuth'?

No, sorry. One word - phlig - I'll go with, to aid discussion. But now we're getting carried away! After two words comes another, and another, and all of a sudden we need to complete the official FFFF language before we can discuss anything at all. And those endless arguments about syntax....



How about 'dogma'?

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Won't that offend dogs?

I don't know, you should do a survey.

Exucse me, small dog, are you happy with your wash?

Thanks, Eddie!

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I'm not offended by your using the word dogma

ster

Is this now the 'Freedon From Phlig Foundation'?

No, didn't we think that Phlig can be a good thing?

I have Phlig.