
From jbrotema@coin.org Wed Mar 21 11:25:24 2001
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 13:24:50 -0600 (CST)
From: Jeff Brotemarkle <jbrotema@coin.org>
To: "David D. Eisenstein" <deisenst@coin.org>
Cc: "Cheryl L. Hill" <cheryllhill@yahoo.com>,
    Habadasher Soup -- David Ackerman <david_ackerman@yahoo.com>,
    Kelly Lasiter <kcl78@yahoo.com>,
    Lucrecia Culberson <lculbe6495@aol.com>,
    "Rev. Rhymes Moncure" <RevRhy@aol.com>, Val Hinshaw <vhinshaw@coin.org>
Subject: Re: A definition of religion

On Sat, 10 Mar 2001, David D. Eisenstein wrote:

> Cheryl, (and Habadashers):
> 
> Earlier this evening we were speaking of the definition of the word
> "religion."  Here is a fascinating definition I found from Noah Webster's
> 1828 Dictionary, from website <http://www.christiantech.com/>:
> 
> It seems interesting that religion and ligament both come from some
> similar roots -- both from ligo, "to bind."
> 
> ------------
> 
> 
> 4. Any system of faith and worship.  In this sense, religion comprehends
> the belief and worship of pagans and Mohammedans, as well as of
> christians; any religion consisting in the belief of a superior power or
> powers governing the world, and in the worship of such power or powers. 
> Thus we speak of the religion of the Turks, of the Hindoos, of the
> Indians, &c.  as well as of the christian religion. We speak of false
> religion, as well as of true religion.
> 
> 
     Ah, yes!  Those 19th century old-timers knew the truth, but instead
of setting them free, it bound them to Christianity!


                                            Jeff Brotemarkle

     "The first step [in the monastic life] is the total acceptance of all
the parts of our being -- body and soul, mind and instinct, emotions and
will, in order to give all to God in the harmony of a balanced and
spiritualized personality."
     -- Thomas Merton

