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One definition of a 'Vampiric' relationship would almost have to be the feeding off of one species by another. Given that as a pre-requisite, might then most Religions also be viewed as 'Vampiric'? That ought to get a few juices flowing!

no, i dont know too many religions that feed off other species.. do you?

Hmmmn I practice witchcraft we don't feed off of others but we do,draw down the moon and work with elements as well as call upon the powers of mother eath and others ,is this the same?

christian did sacrifice animals according to the bible, yet they did not feed or drink from it. so they would not consider this vampiric.

If you think about it, everything on this planet takes from something else to survive, even plants take sunlight to thrive so, the entire planet is vampiric in nature.

I think the term and idea of the Vampire is now becoming to broad...You can make anything seem like something if you want.

I don't think religion really feeds off people, I think people feed off of other people in general. They just do it in different ways.

Vampiric means to suck blood does it not so why would all the earth be vampiric?

Following the original post's logic of species feeding off another species, then religion will feed off another religion! And that has been happening with my religion is better than yours. I hope nobody is asking if religion is sucking on my neck! Yes, they want my money and following. Hell, so does the government and my work. So what's new?

I can see where your going with this. "god" or any other religious figure must have people that believe in them to really exist. I think so any way. So in a way said "god" kinda feeds off the faith that people have in him/her......

I like the idea of vampiric religion. The is what most of the conferrences seem to indicate when they talk of the 'common bonds' of religions IMO.

well, if we consider the fact of the blood of jesus, yes, that sounds kinda vampiric to me...
now, Christianity also feeds off the ignorance and innocence of people to keep itself alive...

I don't think your definition works. If it is merely "feeding off" then I have a vampiric relationship with my coco puffs.

excatly meeper, the whole definition of the word vampiric is parasite, freeloader (informal), sponger (informal), scrounger (informal), hanger-on, predator, or a sponge. (got that out of my encarta!!)

I admit to screwing up in my terminology of 'one species feeding off another'! What I should have said, and it has been suggested already by one or two, is that ANYTHING that feeds off of, or has a parasitic relationship to anything else can be considered somewhat Vampiric in nature!

Churches, Regardless of the faith feed off many things, Belief-Money-and faith,
they sustain the mortal soul as blood sustains us. Yeah I guess they may be call vampires in a way

I dont know of religions that feed off of one another

This would make a wonderful debate but alas would never happen.

I think saying that the entire world is vampiric in nature is stretching it. I must have air to breathe does this make it vampiric or human?

Just because there is a need that must be met I wouldn't call it a vampiric relationship.

BaoloDrown~

if that were the case then what do you call someone that feed 'information' from another...we dont use the term vampiric there....infact the word sponge springs to mind .... I think using the words 'feeding off' is too loose for this type of subject.

Feeding by gift is one thing, feeding by stealth another.

It can be argued that ' God ' feeds his children freely.

yes, I guess you could look at it that way..

no but we are eating parts of another person by accepting the body and blood of christ which would be viewed as vampiric or demon qualities. even though it isn't really the body or blood of christ is is symbolized as such so should be taken in concept as such.

LOL Twisted and KA actually took the words out of my mouth as I was about to post the same thing. But I do see where some can think of other religions as vampiric in a way. As others have said the body of christ, the blood of christ...so on and so forth.

The statement isn't definative - you say "almost" - which would mean that they don't have to feed on one species; so that theory is out.

What does a "vampiric relationship" have to do with religion? It seems that you failed to include in your opening statement the corrolation between the two.

I could see people feeding themselves at the church pancake breakfast after sunday mass but I don't believe there would be vampires there.

Unless there was a bake sale of red velvet cake on saturday evening and the vamps wanted some... would that count?

Humans feed off animals... parasites like fleas and ticks... leeches feed off humans and animals. Lamboras attach themselves to sharks and other large fish and it works to both of their advantage.

Many ways to interpret this one.

I find this to be a bit far fetched. Maybe in The Vampire Church it would accepted.

I am not sure how religions get involved in the discussion. Going off of the definition that a vampire is a creature that feeds off of another species, then it isn't a church that is vampiric, but every human and animal that eats.

Some might argue that a few relgions truly believe they are eating the body and drinking Jesus's blood, but most see the Eucharist merely symbolic.

I can see what you're trying to say.....but I don't think "vampiric" would be the right term. I can't think of a better alternative though, so I guess just ignore me lol.

I think the ancient sacrifices of the old gods could be considered vampiric in nature. I think most modern religions don't ask for it... however would the suicide bombers be considered a vampiric sacrifice? Just a ponder...

i think that is only vampires hun..

in my oppinion every religion is diferent but connected with the person always showing devout faith.no if you drink the blood of others to show your faith to a gods or goddess i would say that classifies as vampirism on some scale.but whether or not its the grand scale is still a mystery

This is an interesting thread. When you use the term species do you consider the vampire non-human. The Christians never did any animal sacrifices...you are talking about the Old Testament which was attached to the New Testament as they believe themselves an extension or a revisement of the original Judaic Law. They kinda pick and choose which things to follow from the Old Testament. I won't go into that one because I believe one should respect all views. At the time they formed there was supposedly a new covenant and all sacrifices stopped but the Jews did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah so each went their own direction so to speak. Before that every time you left the "holy boundaries" of their country when you came back in you were considered heathen and you had to do ritual bathing to be cleansed.

The optimum word that has been bantied about for years is psychic leech. I was hearing this in the past years. Questions need to be qualified as to whether one is talking about the vampire of novels, books, folklore or the modern community which don't exactly consider themselves non human.

As far as a religion in the community it would depend on who you spoke to. There is NO formal religious following. There are those like Temple of the Vampire that consider their beliefs a religion and have Vampire Gods and such but they are a minority cultish group. They shun blood drinkers as unevolved and you cannot be a member of their organization if you drink blood. There are a few others but one of them is not The Vampire Church. Their title was to gain IRS status for monetary reasons and they are not a religious group at all. Some use that term for legal status and others just for the sound of it, but they are not religious organizations.

While religion and the fictional vampire might both be viewed in some ways as parasitic, this does not at all make both terms synonymous. Frankly, almost all relationships are to some extent symbiotic (mutually "parasitic") in which one party receives ("feeds") from the other. Does this make all such "vampiric" by definition, too? If so, does this not make so universally applicable the term "vampire" to any and all as to have it stripped of its defining characteristics?

No i don't believe religions feed off of each other because we have a tendency to tear each s others apart.

If it were as simple as that, everyone would be considered a vampire.

I do not believe that religion could be considered vampiric because I have never heard of a religion that specifically "feeds" off of anything.

I guess in a way it could, as the followers could be said to 'feed' off their faith...

Most religions don't exactly feed off of anything besides their followers... Most of the time they use certain terms that are symbolic and usually aren't literal... As in Drink the blood of Christ isn't exactly vampiric because it's a symbol... But you never know, many religions come from hundreds of centuries before... It could've meant something different.
I think I read a post before about how religious sacrifice could be related to vampire's but it's unlikely...

yes Vampires. giggles and gose to Ponder the Questions hehe.. kidding but intresting.

Wow, taking a leap to discuss how religions may suck the life and energy from those that practice.

I would say that it is not a vampiric relationship, because there is an exchange of energy between the religion and the religious follower.

The follower gets the benifit of having a faith, a reason to exist, a reason to belive, and a direction in life.

The religion gets strength in numbers, montary support, recognition, and logevity.

Similar to the relationship between a shark and a remora. They benefit from eachother. One gets food and protection, the other is clensed of parasites.

I do not think that the religions can be viewed as "vampiric" You said that the definition of a "vampiric" relationship is one species feeding upon another. Religions are of the same species so they do not feed off of each other. They may fight and kill each other over religions views but they are not really feeding off of each other.

Religion *gag* isn't vampiric. For one thing none of the "religions" can get along, so no symbolic relationship could take place for a vampiric nature.

Hmmm...

I missed thinking on the angle of religions being vampiric between eachother.

I went with the idea of specific religions feeding off of there followers.

The original question did not specify, so I went with my gut.

As to other religions drawing off of eachother, I don't think at their core, they try to. I believe that all of the clashes occur with the leaders of the religions.

In that case, I see the strife as an exchange of engery and power as they form their struggles.

Kind of like two wizards having a mage battle, just slinging energy or drawing energy to/from eachother.

Yeah, this topic was a goo bone to throw, not an excellent throw, but a good throw nonetheless.

Comes to mind about how many in society do think of religions in that feeding off the crowd for gain and profit, look at the world in this perspective to add these types of comments.

Makes one wonder why religion was aknowledged after certain truths were revealed...But this of course is not the issue being discussed, so I will end my thoughts here.

What like, religions feeding on eachother or something? Either it doesn't make much sense or I'm really tired. Probably the latter.

The word vampiric by true definition never states that blood is preyed upon. The actual definition is, one who lives by preying on others, or a person who preys ruthlessly on others. I would not say that all preying is ruthless. As far as a religion preying on others in general that is open for examinations by one’s self. It has been a long philosophical debate as to whether human kind in general has selfish motives in everything they do. Many philosophers say that all acts of human kind are selfish even those done with good intention. If good intention was meant it was only to satisfy that person’s appetite for feeling good about themselves. Problem is that it’s all perspective and everyone has their own. Some questions can never be answered.

ok lets put it in more prospective.
i do agree that vampirism is more like a leech.
so that note being said we are all leeches in humanity.
as far as religion yes even in the past they leech as much as the present join this join that.
how much we are to be damned if we dont blah blah blah.
roman catholics are like this as much as the christians sorry in my life i was a christian no more ive seen what they protrey themselves to be.
but thats not for me anymore as for others i dont care but lets face the facts human or animal ect. we are all leeches.

i do not know of any religions that feed off other

yes the Chirstian did sacrifices in the bible but they did drink of the blood or eat the meat of the sacrfice that was for God

Christians (which I am one) do NOT feed off of anything like Vampires feed so I dont think you can say religions are like Vampires.

No, I don't see religions as vampiric in any way.

Religions are not vampiric. To feed on another person/animal is to be vampiric, not to find support and comradery (sp) with others. It's silly to think of religions as being the same as a vampire.

good point almost everyone eats meats so that could be considered vampiric so why do all how consider vampiricism evil eat meat why dont they turn to vegitarians. the point im tring to make is that most humans have a little vampire in them.

I guess it would depend on how you view the term Vapiric. A lot of religions/cultures dealt in blood scafic but that was about it. Even cannablism isnt really a form of vampire in real terms as it is flesh eating.

One definition of vamphyrric is to turn into bats and have fangs, doesn't mean it's truthful.

Are we all vampires because we are carnivorous by nature?

I have never heard of a religion "feeding". I was raised Catholic and the communion they hand out is supposed to be the body and blood of Christ, however.

I feel that the topic of religion needs to be given a rest for a while.