To religion, no. But if reading the Word, praying and meditating on it and try to apply the teachings in my daily life makes me an addict, then yes, I am guilty as charged.

You can do whatever you want just don't force it on me...

. . .the more acute and prevalent generally the less formal education is present. . .as an addiction has lead to acts of violence to be sure. . .

Religious addiction seems to lead to intolerance and stupidity. Doesn't matter what religion, like it doesn't matter who packaged the crack.

The most insidious of disorders, as the befallen will often live a lifetime oblivious to the symptomologies involved. This addiction rarely confines itself within backwaters and byways, scourging even the most virgin strongholds with a torporous malaise whose efficacious half-life can be felt for generation after disillusioned generation. Usually starts as a childhood malady (a sudden familial exposure of "spiritual chicken pox", if you will) that clears itself up after a chorus of protestation and/or a self-administered innoculation of introspective clarity. However, the virus lies dormant within the subconscious, and can be triggered anew through a host of sources. Starts as a casual token gesture (a jangle of pocket change into a collection plate, a bake sale drop-off, etc.), but progresses into a robber of time and intellect, where the afflicted can no longer discern fervor from freedom. One-time friends, relatives, and co-workers are usually the first to lament the perceived outcome, but voiced efforts tend to deepen the victim's resolve against a cure. Serious help comes too late for most, a despondent indictment of our society's callous withdrawal from common purpose.

It depends on what is defined religion in the weblist maker's mind. If they are thinking specifically about Christianity, then this would definitely be a one star, because Christianity isn't a religion, it is a relationship. In the Bible, the only time religion is mentioned is when James says that true religion is helping the widows and orphans out. But religion that is all rules, law, judgment, intolerance is not true religion as far as God is concerned, it is legalism. I give this a two because I don't like religion and it is fanaticism that gets twin towers blown up by planes. I also admit, there are Christian fanatics out there like Benny Hinn. But those fanatics are considered as being an outcast by the general Christian society.

*Sigh*

People who take religion to the extremes are probally the most dangerous people out there.

I have nothing against someone who is religious and wishes to share and express their faith lovingly and defend it with the best interest at heart. What I am against are people who use their religion as a scape-goat and a facade to impose their hateful and prejudiced views on others. Wearing religious symbols around your neck, going to church every Sunday, quoting versus from the bible doesn't make you anymore religious than someone who goes to MacDonald's everyday claiming to be a hamburger. Your religous belief's alone speak volumes in your everyday actions and the way you speak and treat people.

I'm not sure how religion can be classified as an addiction in a geneal sense, although I agree with comments to the effect that there is sometimes a lunatic fringe that is obsessed with religion. If statistics I have heard recently are correct, then about 82% of Americans are addicted, as they believe in, or practice, religion. Maybe I should put it this way - if you truly are addicted to religion (i.e., are intolerant of anyone not of your particular faith, and can't see much of anything other than through the prism of religion and are judgemental about everything), then it's bad and I sure don't approve. If, on the other hand, you practice a religion whose precepts call for tolerance, understanding, compassion, etc., it's an addiction all of us ought to have.

Religion normally allows you to fall back on something when the going gets tough, as you can pray for help. Most religious people are good human beings. However, there is that extremist minority who try to force religion onto people and in the process makes religion look bad all-together.

Based on my experience of having attended a wide spectrum of American churches, I believe religious services are more likely to promote loving neighbors than hating them. Some preachers are a bit of the opposite, and many of us are understandably sensitive toward religious leaders mixing Biblical verses with their own controversial agenda. However, I don't believe the actions of a few should be used to disparage the typical individual who is highly religious. Many souls simply want to dedicate their lives in the truest sense of charity. Two of my grandparents, rest their souls, were ordained Christian ministers who happened to be more progressive than most with their ideals. I see the same openmindedness and universal love in a cousin of mine who is nearing completion of her theology studies. In many cases, religious dedication can be a basis for the healthiest, most selfless kind of fulfillment which can be thought of as fully separate from any kind of politics that is less than neighborly.

People might be surprised to know that I'm not very religious per se. I'm more concerned with people using religions as a pass to pre-judge and mistreat others. I agree that anyone who speaks with passion about their faith seems to be getting short changed on RIA of late. Many reviewer comments that are favorable towards Mel Gibson's film have been rated unhelpful while the reverse is true for those that rate the movie poorly. What does that say? There is nothing wrong with being a proud Christian and expressing one's faith in postings. When religion takes over so that you can't think logically and dislike anyone who does not share your narrow world-view, then there might be a problem, but these people are fairly rare.

I have nothing against religious people at all. I just dislike when they have to form their opinions off of EXACTLY what the bible says! C'mon! What if the bible told you to shoot your mother, stab your dad, steal from the bank, and molest a one-eyed goat? Would you do it then?

While in moderation it makes some people better, a fanatical attitude invariably turns people into monsters. The most devastating general definition of religion that I know is the one by Ambrose Bierce: A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable. EXACTLY.

Religion itself isn't an addiction. Indeed, it offers substanence to a lot of people who would otherwise be lost without it. I believe that God does exist and He has a purpose for each and everyone of us. There is an order to everything that happens and it's no coincidence either. Issues arise when people start taking religious authorities words as heavenly inspired; indeed Christ warned against these false prophets who claim a messianic vision. Really this explains my aversion to organized religion; too many people in that realm have big ego trips. Many more have a personal agenda hidden behind a veneer of religious dogma. Even bigger problems arise when you link politics to religion; connect it to nationalism along with class conflict and you have an explosive situation on your hands. This is how religious extremism happens and history can attest to this; war is the final outcome. Finally when reading religious texts, you have to remember to put them into the context that they were written in. Just because they followed a Hammurabic law code 2,000 years ago doesn't mean that we should have one today. The major religions were established more than 2,000 years ago, things have changed. However, religion established various principles of ethics that we follow today; it gives moral value to law and society.

I can think of people I know personnally who I would consider Religious Addicts. First of all I believe In God. I even pray at times. However some make religion their whole life. They preach the gospel to you whether you want it or not. they quote only the bible quotes that adhere to their beliefs. they can be very judgemental towards others and use the bible as an excuse to shun someone else. That can be very annoying.

Ignatius's comment really makes me really cringe! Is religion really an addiction? I mean, if there wasn't a God, we wouldn't be here. You base your theory's all on science/ And you can't prove that the big bang occured any more then I can prove God created the Earth in 7 days! I can accept your opinion though. But I'm telling you, there is a God, and he's alive and coming back. Anyway, getting back on topic, Religion is only an obsession if you make it one. You can spend your life in a church, saying oh ya I'm a Christian and you can be in church every Sunday, or everyday, but that don't make u a Christian. In Vernon's word , it makes you a C and E christian, which means, Christmas and Easter. But I go to church every Sunday, and Fridays for youth, and depending if I have worship or drama practise that week, I'll go back. But I love God with all my heart, but it's not the rligion aspect that I'm obsessed with, it's God I'm obsessed with. THe church building isn't going o get you any where. It can't get you to heaven. It's God. I'm not obsessed with religion. I hardly even understand all the different kinds. i'm addicted to God you could say.

don't be obsessed with something that may or may not be real