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Re: Religious Variation
Chuck Coker (cjcoker@CRIS.COM)
Sun, 11 Aug 1996 07:58:05 -0700
Clyde Davenport wrote:
>
> >Kephart writes:
> >
> >>My own working definition of "religion" is a set of beliefs and
> behaviors associated with the understanding and/or control of forces/
> events deemed to be outside ordinary understanding and control. If this
> or something like it is accepted (and PLEASE note that it is intended to
> be a working definition only!!) then religion is, indeed, a human universal.
The working definition of religion that I have always used is rather simple,
but it has been a good starting place for any group or individual I have
studied or come in contact with. (I also use "religion" and "belief system"
synonymously.)
If it cannot be proved to be true or false, it is religion. If it can be
proved to be true or false, it is science.
Science may be correct or incorrect. An unprovable hypothesis is religion;
a hypothesis that can be proved or disproved is science. This works with
any understanding of, or control of, the environment surrounding an
individual.
Religion: Since my grandmother died, she has been watching over my family,
taking care of us.
Science: If I hold my coffee cup straight out at arm's length and let go
of it, it will fall to the floor shattering the glass cup and
spilling the coffee.
Chuck Coker
CJCoker@Cris.Com
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