Exclusive beliefs

Ok after doing long amounts of studying on the topic (not really but it sounded good) I have heard that scientology is actually more of a way of living than a "religion." It has been said that you can be any religion and still believe in scientologist thinking. So my question is, if you follow any way of thinking, i.e. scientology, the big bang theory, etc..., exclusively, does that become your "religion?" Or are you still a non-religious person who believes in one way of thinking?

well hum I dont know i believe lots of things, some centered around god., some not... But I don't think I have a religion. I was a christain but i'm not anymore, so i really have no idea...

Quoting ... Does Not Make You a C:“ Ok after doing long amounts of studying on the topic (not really but it sounded good) I have heard that ... [snip!] ... exclusively, does that become your "religion?" Or are you still a non-religious person who believes in one way of thinking?”

Your "personal" religion could be anything, i mean it can be something that you made up and no one else has even heard about ya know. I guess it just all depends on whether you want to label yourself as religious or not. Because all religion is is your beliefs/ways of thinking anyways.

Interesting question.

I imagine it's largely personal, whether or not someone would classify what they believe in as a religion.

If you look at the dictionary definition:

re·li·gion
Pronunciation: \ri-ˈli-jən\ Function:noun Etymology:Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely Date:13th century
1 a:the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1):the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2):commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2:a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic :scrupulous conformity :conscientiousness
4:a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Most people would consider religion to be definition #1, but #4 fits in with what you asked in the original post, so you could reasonably term anything you believed in that firmly as a religion, though I know I personally would not because of most people associating the term religion with definition #1.

C.

Quoting MandyLoo:“ Your "personal" religion could be anything, i mean it can be something that you made up and no one else ... [snip!] ... on whether you want to label yourself as religious or not. Because all religion is is your beliefs/ways of thinking anyways.”

Right but what I am saying is, what necessarily constitutes a "religion?" Does a strict way of thinking/acting constitute a religion? Or is that just how you believe? Tom Cruise (I know, bad person to quote) says that they practice Scientology but they do not practice any religion.

Quoting God:“ Interesting question. I imagine it's largely personal, whether or not someone would classify what they ... [snip!] ... a religion, though I know I personally would not because of most people associating the term religion with definition #1. C.”

Yeah, I would think that most people associate the word "religion" with something constricting and possibly negative.

Quoting ... Does Not Make You a C:“ Yeah, I would think that most people associate the word "religion" with something constricting and possibly negative.”

And by that I mean the idea of thinking in large groups and conforming rather than individually deciding. Ok, I'm off to happy hour.

Ive read a lot about Scientology. Tried to read Dianetics but it was too damn hard. I like a lot of the things they believe in. Using your mind instead of meds, etc. Without going too deep, it seems like a good idea for a lot of things.

Quoting ... Does Not Make You a C:“ Right but what I am saying is, what necessarily constitutes a "religion?" Does a strict way of thinking/acting ... [snip!] ... believe? Tom Cruise (I know, bad person to quote) says that they practice Scientology but they do not practice any religion.”

A few years back I heard on a t.v. special thatScientology wasoriginally classified as a science, not a religion. Then, for tax reasons, the guy who started it changed it and called it a religion.