Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
Ideology vs. religion...To quote Bullwinkle (out of context), "There's a difference?"
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One difference is that most religions require a belief in something for which there can be no evidence and, as such, are not amenable to rational discussion. Most ideologies claim some kind of empirical grounding, and whilst this grounding, and its implications, can be disputed, such disputes take place within the bounds of reason.
For example, if "the forces of production" - to use a concept from your example of an ideology - cannot be demonstrated to be operating in the world then that concept has no more than rhetorical value. I may disagree with my Marxist friend about the best way of organising society, but we can discuss this and at least be talking about the same sort of thing. I cannot enter into a meaningful rational dialogue with someone whose religious views posit the existence of supernatural beings and explain the world in terms of these beings' actions.