The false sophistic claim that some religions aren't religions

[adgloriam]

I’ve come across some religions that claim the captious sophism that they: “CAN be a religion and CAN be a philosophy.” (Whilst not necessarily being either.)

I read a text by one Cardinal that aptly refuted this sophism simply stating:“They are religions because they have metaphysical subjects.” (and not a word more.)

This sophism allows separating families because an average person can’t define the difference between philosophy and religion and so is left without any arguments. It also makes a person being seduced by a sect to isolate themselves socially because none of their friends will be able to make an argument against that sophism.

Please, thoughts and apologetic against that sophism any one?

 

[Roguish]

You’re saying sects manage to trick people into severing contact with their relatives and friends, by convincing those new “converts” that the sect isn’t necessarily a religion?

I think that’s an awkward argument, because sects succesfully convince people to sever contact with relatives and friends even when the sect openly admits to being a religion. So I don’t see the how your hypothesis is relevant to the phenomenon of people breaking ties with relatives and friends.

More generally though, there are many groups who teach things that are at odds with proper religion, and manage to convince new joiners that “what we teach is not at odds with your religion because we aren’t a religion”. For these groups it holds true that their argument (that they aren’t religion) is deceptive sophistry, because they do meddle (sometimes explicitly but often implicitly) with religious matters and therefore are religion or a perversion of it – not just “philosophy” or lifestyle. This holds true for thousands of groups, movements, clubs, etc. An obvious example would be modern “yoga groups”, who not only interfere with proper Christianity, but also pervert the Hinduism from which they claim to take their teachings. Anything reeking of freemasonry would be another example: “Oh we’re compatible with all religions, this is more of a hobby or lifestyle kind-of-thing.” Anyway, there’s too much to list out there.

 

[Pattylt]

I always wonder how Scientology became classified as a religion…other than they wanted the tax breaks!

Perhaps their belief in Xenu allowed them to claim metaphysical beliefs and thus, a religion?