John Adams Quote

Religion is: a sacrosanct object of conscience (an ethic(s), a moral(s), a value (system) or an orientation of correctness / enlightenment) believed sufficiently conventional as to enable an attributable action(s). Religion’s initiating elements of conscience, through fruition of action, encompasses self-obligated pursuits, imperative practices and devoted interests. When such enabling fundamentals are drawn upon or referenced as authority, power, reason or logic to exert specific actions (ordinances, rules, statutes, a mandated action, etc.), a formal religion is established. A ‘god’, ‘causation’ or other ‘relegated source’ of such enabling elements may or may not be instrumental (or even useful) in defining religion.

Religion is: “ real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men.” (Bouviers Law Dictionary) This definition’s focus is on “real piety in practice” - and - “the performance of all known duties” - again, a sacrosanct object of conscience believed sufficiently conventional as to enable attributable actions. The here definition utilizes a very limited list, focusing on who and what religion is directed to (God and fellow man), leaving an incomplete picture of a much more extensive list. The extremely terse list derived from and, was directed to jurisdictional specific norms of a post Jesus Christianity template - a Christian society’s self measure of differing religious persuasions. Such definition is loosely incidental to a lawfully measurable application of an otherwise equitably principled Luke 10:27 “⋯, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” This definition’s usefulness for lawfully administrative purposes may limit in scope, religion’s full domain. Not all religious duties, practices or beliefs (religion) assume, attach, or include an extra-human experience or a duty to our fellow man. It is however a useful starting place to understand religion’s more inclusive and lawfully exhaustive application(s).

The concept of a god is but an indicating element, category, or tenant that may or may not be useful in revealing or identifying religion. For example; A concept of, or the word ‘God’ never developed in the Hebrew covenant society (there being only a sacred relationship between Father and child - ‘el’ being a powerful executor: i.e. a mayor, a governor, a demon, a person of strength such as Sampson, etc.) and was only adapted by forces and influences outside the covenant experience. As such, Jesus, by carnal understandings and use, is a God to Christians while not being a god to other belief systems or religions, even though His teachings are honored as good and His secular laws are recognized as a founding jurisprudence (gravity, science, physics, fiscal law, life, liberty and property / “the laws of nature and of nature’s God”). Another perceptual scenario is, an individual can believe that a god exists but that tenet does not play a role in the individual’s actual religion, for example: “⋯ believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) Here, those parties (devils and corporeal individuals) that believe in the existence of a singular God, do not have any conscientious regard, ethical motivation, moral involvement, piety in practice or pursuit of any duties attributable to said God, do not believe or practice His teachings, His philosophies, and do not perform any foundationally or otherwise related acts or ordinances, etc., etc. The religious experiences and expressions of such James 2:19 person evinces an individual (personally or in concert), effectively and in toto, foreign to the extra human existence (god). Believing there to be a god, or even the possibility of a god, (agnostic for example) may, or may not be useful as a determining factor in defining one’s religion. Practices and performances such as ordinances and worship (rendered adoration, honor and homage by service, meeting, praising or otherwise) are things added to an existing religion to enhance or complete the religious experience and may or may not be helpful in defining religion itself.

Webster's New World Dictionary - Fourth College Edition uses a slightly different vantage on Bouvier’s “fellow men” by stating, Religion is:
“a) any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy [the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.]
b) any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system [humanism as a religion] ⋯ any object of conscientious regard and pursuit”

Religion is then, the conscientious regard and pursuit, based on a motivating object of ethical, moral, values, conscience or correctness - enlightenment orientation. Not the belief specifically but, the pursuing systemic actions that follow. By way of example: One may believe that seasons change as a course of natural law. It is when that individual believes there to be a moral obligation in pursing systemic actions relating to the change does ‘religion’ come to be. Pursuits and natural law with justice as a result differ from religion where pursuits are based on a sacrosanct object of conscience (an ethic(s), a moral(s), a value (system) or an orientation of correctness / enlightenment) believed sufficiently conventional as to enable an attributable action(s). By way of example: happiness is not lawfully an inalienable right while, the “Pursuit of Happiness” when made a quest based on belief of moral, ethical, conscience, value or correctness - enlightenment grounds, defines an individual’s religion. (Pursuit of Happiness at law is a locution of self, undaunted and not addressed by ethics, morals, conscience, value or correctness - enlightenment; an inalienable right to exercise and harmonize with the law. Pursuit of Happiness as a religious practice or pursuit is a lawful extension of inalienable right(s)).

Each arbitrary rule defining carnal man’s will outside nature’s law, taking on a moral, ethical or correctness perception (compelled compliance, victimless crimes, government licensing, larceny with impunity (2nd plank of the communist manifesto, police state confiscations, etc.) enters the category religion / theocracy. By way of illustration: “⋯ Socialism is a religion. All we lack is a religious genius capable of uprooting outmoded religious practices and putting new ones in their place. We lack traditions and ritual. One day soon National Socialism will be the religion of all Germans. My Party is my church, and I believe I serve the Lord best if I do his will, and liberate my oppressed people from the fetters of slavery. That is my gospel.” (Joseph Goebbels Diary entry for October 16, 1928) John Adams here subject matter; “The blackest billingsgate, the most ungentlemanly insolence, the most yahooish brutality is patiently endured, countenanced, propagated, and applauded” is best fulfilled by socialism.