I don't think of those who don't try to follow their faith "adherents"

I don't consider people who don't even try to follow the principles of their religion members. I consider the determining factor to be 1) Actual belief that their faith is true and 2) A commitment to at least try to practise it. I'm not talking about the ones who interpret their religious rules differently (ex. Christians who believe that the Bible wasn't referring to homosexuality, or the Muslims who think that the Quran didn't prohibit alcohol and pork), the ones who are ignorant of what their religion says, or the ones who recognize that it's against the rules but fail to (not ignore). I'm talking about the ones who simply disregard anything they see that they don't like, or remorselessly break the rules without thinking it is wrong. That's not to say they aren't theists and they don't believe in a god, but I don't think they deserve the title that they call themselves unless they at least make an effort to live up to the tenets. In other words, "it's the thought that counts".

For example, if someone called themselves "Roman Catholic", but promotes abortion, uses contraception, divorces and remarries, and does all of the above knowing that the Vatican is strictly against it but doesn't care, he/she no more of a Roman Catholic than a Jew or a Hindu in my mind. Someone who calls themselves a Buddhist yet lives with $100000000000 dollars in excess and spends it all on himself for a hedonistic lifestyle, lies to others to exploit them, and also goes sport hunting, and does all of the above with no remorse or desire to correct his/her behaviour, is automatically stripped of the Buddhist title in my mind. But if someone calls him/herself Roman Catholic and says "Yeah, I know it's wrong, I probably should stop but I can't", I still consider him/her an adherent. Similarly, if a person calls him/herself Buddhist and goes sport hunting, but says something like "I want to stop but I keep failing to stop myself", I still consider him/her Buddhist.

That's not to say that such people can't be good people: I mean there are plenty of such people who do a lot of good in the world and are very caring. For example, a lot of people on the left don't practise their religion, but still a lot of them are very caring, kind and compassionate people who do great things. Nevertheless, I still don't consider them adherents. I know this may sound rude, but I don't care if someone was born into that religion and I don't care if they choose to call themselves that title. I think that if one does not even try to follow the defining tenets of their religion, I do not think that they should even bother identifying with it and I will not consider them an adherent.

Is that a normal mindset?

P.S. Don't think I'm going to go confront someone like that and rub it right in their face. This is what goes on in my mind, not what I say in people's faces.

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Based on 6 votes (4 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • Holds breath till gypsysailor comments.

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    • thegypsysailor

      Well, here you go, buddy;
      ad·her·ent adˈhirənt,adˈherənt/
      noun
      plural noun: adherents
      someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.

      How many different ways can you think of to say the same thing?

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      • *exhales*

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  • Springfurmich

    OH MY GOD, WHO THE HELL CARES?! your opinion won't affect them so let it be.

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  • noid

    Agree.

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