On 18 Jun 2005, at 7:45 pm, Warren Ockrassa wrote:
On Jun 18, 2005, at 11:19 AM, William T Goodall wrote:
You're stretching an actual definition into a metaphor. The
features I listed (plus several others) are the ways
anthropologists and theologians identify religions as opposed to
other kinds of organisations like zaibatsu or bowling leagues.
It might be an apt and amusing metaphor but it is not actually the
case that capitalism is a religion or quasi-religion. It is the
case for Nazism and Stalinism however.
Hmm. You're going to have to come up with some evidence to support
the claims you've made -- first, that what I've pointed out is any
more or less metaphorical than what you've posited;
A definition isn't a metaphor. Nazism and Stalinism are, strictly,
religions under the definition of religion you can find in the
Encyclopaedia Britannica. They are termed 'quasi-religions' since
they don't have the historical associations of religions, but in
every other way they are religions.
So there is nothing metaphorical about what I'm saying.
and second, that what you've posited has definite characteristics
that are *not* what you define as metaphor.
A metaphor is 'a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is
applied to an object or action to which it is not literally
applicable'. The term religion *is* literally applicable to Nazism
and Stalinism and is therefore not a metaphorical usage.
FWIW, I wasn't referring earlier to Nazis -- I was pointing out the
atrocities committed by atheists. Naziism wasn't atheistic.
Theism and religion are orthogonal concepts. There are non-theistic
religions and non-religious theists.
--
William T Goodall
Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk
Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
A computer without Windows is like a cake without mustard. - anonymous
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
