Being Too Religious

How may we define religion? Most of us would probably agree that religion typically involves at least three characteristics: firstly, an organized collectivity of individual, secondly, a shared system of beliefs and a set of approved activities and practice.

Most religion are split into rival groupings for example Hinduism and Buddhism, whose members do not accept certain of the beliefs and practices of the others. Conflict between groups within the same religion Catholic and Protestant Christians, Sunni and Shi`ite Muslims, orthodox and liberal Jews is a recurring feature of world religions,
Religion involves a belief in the supernatural- a belief in a being or force, such as a god, with powers above and beyond those of the natural world and beyond scientific or everyday explanation.


Education and science are supplementing religion as the dominant influence on our values. Studies indicate that a high percentage of college students trust information received from educational and scientific sources more than information provided by religious ones. As more and more people go to college, it is likely that the influence of religion values will continue to decline in the general population.



Being too Religious

UK£250m millennium lottery 'a travesty'
A Church of England bishop appealed to "Christians and people of all faiths across the nation" to lobby ministers and MPs against plans to hold a special millennium lottery.
The Right Reverend Roger Sainsbury, Bishop of Barking in east London, said the draw would be a "travesty".
He continued: "What a distraction it would be on the eve of the new millennium for the nation to be holding its breath to see who will win the super draw on the National Lottery, rather than worshipping Jesus who revealed in his life and teaching the God of justice, who was good news to the poor."
Dr Sainsbury mounted his campaign in a letter to the latest issue of the Church of England Newspaper.

'New start'
He said his heart sank when he read that National Lottery organiser Camelot may be planning to celebrate the new millennium with a £250m super-draw.
"Political commentators and well-respected journals told us at the time of the launch of the National Lottery that lotteries were a sure way of transferring wealth from the poor to the rich.
"What a travesty it would be if we celebrate the millennium not by encouraging a new start for the world's poor - including those in our own urban and rural areas - but by making the poor still poorer," he said.
Dr Sainsbury added: "I therefore hope Christians and people of all faiths across the nation will openly oppose Camelot's plans by lobbying government ministers and their local MPs so our millennium celebrations nationally and locally will not be spoilt."