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LadyEllen -> RE: Voodoo People ? (7/16/2009 3:00:47 AM)
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Maybe it is important here to discuss what is a religion? Especially considering that for those of us in the west who still say we have one, most consider it a Sundays only activity, with God conveniently imprisoned in a building, or in the back of our minds, until we want Him. Religion, for very good historical and social reasons, is hived off from all else and considered a personal matter that should have no bearing on community, civic or national life or culture.
Religions like Voodoo and its associated forms, as well as ancient European (indeed world wide) religions which share its characteristics are not Sundays only activities. Neither are they compartmentalised out of everyday life but rather inform everyday life in every sphere. Regardless of our western ideas, this is the true nature of a religion, permeating and structuring and in turn being evolved by its host culture.
As for the legitimacy question, a religion can be considered legitimate if it provides an adequate (not necessarily accurate) and internally coherent worldview for its adherents to function healthily as individuals and as a society, measured by its enabling of survival and prosperity. Again here we must abandon western ideas of the importance of the person and his personal rights however, for the presence or promotion of such ideas is not a valid measure in this context. Yes, this allows for even the whackiest ideas to be formed into a religion, as long as the tests are passed - but then this is the case subjectively in any case, whether one is dealing with ancient religions, Abrahamic faiths, eastern revelations or modern concoctions. This also means that no religion is better or worse than any other, except by reference to the ability to pass the tests mentioned - no need to hate or kill someone but perhaps a mechanism for adopting his ideas.
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