So it's been brought up in a previous post about how eventually all religions come to an end (or something along that line). When we discussed this in class, the English language was brought up. It doesn't really have to come to an end because we can't really point out it's 'existence.' We are unable to define it. Now, even though this came up in class a day ago, it's still bugging me. Are there other things that really don't have an ending, or is the English language a special case? How can something begin, but not 'exist'?
This then led me to think about religion in general (since we are dealing with Puritanism here). We can't really prove the existence of God. Therefore, it shouldn't be able to end, and yet we have already discussed how Puritanism came to an end...
I'm just confusing myself more.
Mary Quien
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7 comments:
One may not choose to follow the doctrines of a religion; one does, however, acknowledge its existence. Even by our posts/comments on the blog, we are making it known that something called religion does indeed have a place in our world. I really do see your point, though, Mary. It's pretty intriguing.
Think of a circle (oh how I detested geometry..). As a matter of fact, the circle is used to symbolize the existence of God. We know that it is real, yet we fail to find a beginning or end. Supreme Beings such as God are too great to start or finish. This is where faith kicks in.
(Sam Maliha)
I don't think that the English language is a special case. The English language can certainly end, just as latin did centuries ago. Languages do fall out of common use and the English language is no exception to that rule by any means.
Therefore, Puritanism was able to end, and any religion can come to an end. It just depends on how popular something is...
I think the key here is that the people practicing the religion "ended", and since there was no one to practice the religion, it ended.
Emily T.
Well, a language certainly can come to an end when there is nobody left speaking or using that language. Latin, for example, essentially is a dead language because almost nobody speaks it in the modern world.
Religion is similar. As Emily said, once there's nobody left practicing it, a religion dies. It might leave offshoots behind, though.
(Eric Wei)
I think this entire question seems to reolve around what your definintion for ending. Puritanism was not successful, because it is no longer a widespread religion but is it over? I'm sure there are at least a few people out there who still believe in the tenants of Puritanism. Wouldn't that "keep it alive'? It's like when we were talking about Latin being a dead language and someone (I think it was Kevin?) argued that it was not because people still learn about it.
Though I tend to believe Latin to be a dead language I have trouble understanding how ideas can truly end. It seems to me that ideologies cannot really die if people still believe them, or at least still learn about them.
I'm sure much of this sounds disgustingly similar to when people talk about how dead relatives are "still alive in your heart", but I'm not trying to be sentimental. It's just that, since these ideas never had a true clear cut beginning but were instead build up with other ideologies over time that they cannot really end.
Molly Dunbar
I'm going to spin off your post slightly and ask why we need to define something in order for it to exist. Or rather, why do we need to "point out" something in order for it to exist? With the amount of intensionally-based concepts that have no direct extensional counterpart, it's quite difficult to be able to pinpoint the tangible existence of many things. Does that mean that they don't exist?
You need not be aware of something in order for it to exist. I may not have been aware that you have a Corvette in your garage, but it is there, isn't it? Therefore, to one degree or another, it does indeed exist. I may not be aware that you are happy at the moment, but your happiness does exist..at some intangible level, at least.
(Sam Maliha)
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