Tim Fairchild wrote:
Christianity was once a very small minority. I'm sure it was seen as a
cult by some (many?).
Yes, absolutely.
But it is a religion?
If we were entirely in the modern era (so as to keep definitions
constant) we would say that it began as a cult and when it gathered
enough numbers it was conceeded the status of religion. This is the same
thing that scientologists claim has recently happened with their belief
system. Raelists haven't made that claim yet because they obviously lack
the numbers. Scientologists are in the fuzzy region in terms of numbers.
Especially because their numbers are very uncertain.
Look, the word "religion" is not as flexible as you seem to think.
I think it's as rigid or flexible as you choose to make it.
Well, then I suggest we agree to disagree on that point. I think that
words have meaning that can't be changed so easily.
Atheism is the lack of belief in the existance of a deity or deities, not the
belief in the non-existance of a deity. Subtle difference :)
And I know a lot of atheists who disagree with you :-) What you
described would be Agnosticism. So maybe you're not an atheist, you are
an agnostic. It's certainly an important difference, because believing
that god does *not* exist also requires faith.
Cheers,
Daniel.
