by Rhonda Coyle

Created on: July 14, 2008

Before we can accuse religion of being a hindrance to independence, we need to clarify exactly what religion is. I will assume the topic is referring to religion as a believer in God, Supreme Being, Higher Power, Universal Spirit or the like, who practices in a specific denomination with a certain set of doctrine, dogma, tenets or rules that a particular sect believes to be true. If this be the case of the topic's inference, then this assumption is quite prejudiced and "lacking" in understanding. Although, this is one part of the definition of religion, religion is really a bit more generalized. In the Webster's Unabridged Collegiate Dictionary of the English Language it defines religion as "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects-OR-something one believes in and follows devotedly". Basically; what this is stating is, whenever anyone believes in something and follows that belief in practice; that which they are practicing is their religion. Therefore; it is not only believers who are "religious" but atheists, who believe in no God, practice that non-belief and this non-belief is their religion and agnostics; who claim God cannot be known, practice this belief and this is their religion. I have been told by many an atheist that I am playing with word semantics. I beg to differ. Is it not those who are changing the definition in the dictionary to suit their own ego, guilty of confabulations to justify their own opinions? After all, I know of no atheist who would honestly admit to being "religious", do you? But; according to the definition in one of the leading internationally accepted dictionaries, "Webster's", it states what it states. Would a come back from an atheist defending his "non-religious" religion be a kind of apologetics of the opposite side? After all, when a believer gives an explanation of the bible the atheist does not agree with, they call the believer an apologetic. HA! HA! HA! We humans are sure nuff hypocrites; ain't we?

This topic is really one of psychology. Since religion has to do with belief and belief is fundamentally centered in the mind; being defined as "mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something." It has been said: "the mind is a terrible thing to waste", but; waste it, we humans will do. Believe it or not; true independence comes from the detachment of all beliefs, in the mind. We put so much emphasis on education these days

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