"Comparisons of Religion and Fascism"
Both have one supreme leader...
Both attempt to convince and convert unwilling non-adherents...
Both are didactic and reactionary...
Both demand complete adherence to doctrine...
Both are incompatible with Democracy...
Both have a militaristic hierarchy...
Both make extensive use of propaganda and lies...
Both employ symbolism...
Both demand unquestioning obedience...
Both employ oaths and ritual practices...
Both expect of their adherents that which they themselves eschew...
Both resist reform...
Both appeal largely to the least educated (with the exception of their leaders)...
From an essay I wrote some years ago
Both Professor Stuart Hall in 1979 and in 2004 by Dr. Laurence Britt wrote articles defining the major points in identifying extreme nationalism and or fascism, just as a thought experiment I took their criteria adapted and applied it to religion
@altschmerz it's not on line just in my old university files
Very good. I think we're both in the same park. Mine is just a bit more succinct and would make a better "poster". They both make the point.
Religion ... pure and faultless is this: to help widows and orphans in need and avoiding worldly corruption. James 1:27
Which religion are you talking about?
Well, the problem is that NO RELIGION is "pure and faultless." And, if only Jesus was pure and faultless, the rest of us being sinners from the moment of our birth, and this being the reason for needing salvation, how could religion ever be pure and faultless?
@Word I think you are referring to a way of life rather than a religion. Theravada Buddhism is the closest to your description that I know of in practical terms. And as there is no god involved in that branch of Buddhism it can't really be described as a religion. If you can add any thing else to enlighten me I would be pleased to hear it.
@Paul_Clamberer just google search.
Showing results for religions without a god
Search instead for religions with out a god
Jainism is a religion without a belief in a creator god.
University of Bolton › Worldviews
Summary of Religions and Beliefs | University of Bolton
@Paul_Clamberer then, ad I have researched "religion". A way to give a modern interpretation of what was originally ment would be to use the word "responsibility ". from Old French, or from Latin religio(n- ) ‘obligation, bond, reverence’, perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind’.
If you are to be bound to something as in 'to bind" it could be like saying you are tied to having a responsibility.
@Word My dictionary (shorter OED) doesn't seem to separate the word religion from the worship of, or belief in, a gods or a god. In this light, Jainism is more a way of life, I would have thought. Possibly your dictionary is different
@Paul_Clamberer I understand dictionaries can have some differences between brands. Most often, I think, dictionary would have most popular common usage but at times list that words may have different meanings. It just depends on the dictionary editors.
@Word As for Janism, Sure thing, but a difficult one to follow. Be careful while walking, you might step on an ant, and becareful about breathing, you might kill a microbe. I'll pass on that one!
@Joanne I understand christianity is as well derived from biblical text. But, just to use, read or quote from biblical text does not make me nor the topic quoted to be Christian.
There are things Christian that are not considered biblical. And, there are biblical things not considered christian. So, you only assumed it was Christian related because biblical text was used.
All major and minorities style religions as well as revolutionary movements seem to digress in the same try and true methods of indoctrination and cult legacy!!!
You seem to know your history well. Hitler, Mussolini are perfect examples of this.
In Nazi Germany Schools indoctrinated children that the Germans were the “Master Race”. They were taught that the “Head of state was the voice of god”. They understood that indoctrination worked best when children were young.
@powder Can we just agree that extremism of any kind is best to be avoided, or are there any Sophists out there who want to argue on the virtues of extremism?