-ism, -ist or a -ist?

[abe_abby]

Hi,

"What is your religious preference?"
"Catholic."

Is Catholic in this conversation a noun or an adjective or something else?
I'd like to know how to answer to "What is your religious preference?" properly when I am a Buddhist.
Could someone tell me below sentences were right or wrong as an answer to it?
Thank you.

My religious preference is Buddhism.
My religious preference is Buddhist.
My religious preference is a Buddhist.
I prefer Buddhism.
I prefer Buddhist.
I prefer a Buddist.
I am Buddhism.
I am Buddhist.
I am a Buddhist.

 

[Raymott]

Hi,

"What is your religious preference?"
"Catholic."

Is Catholic in this conversation a noun or an adjective or something else?
I'd like to know how to answer to "What is your religious preference?" properly when I am a Buddhist.
Could someone tell me below sentences were right or wrong as an answer to it?
Thank you.

My religious preference is Buddhism.
My religious preference is Buddhist.
My religious preference is a Buddhist.
I prefer Buddhism.
I prefer Buddhist.
I prefer a Buddist.
I am Buddhism.
I am Buddhist.
I am a Buddhist.

It's strange to describe religions as preferences. But Buddhism is the noun, the name of the religion. Buddhist is the adjective.
"I adhere to Buddhism; I am Buddhist; I am a Buddhist." The answer to "What religion are you?" is "I am Buddhist" or "Buddhism is my religion."
The 'a' is optional in many cases, eg. I am Australian; I am an Australian. It doesn't matter.

The names of religions are very, very often mangled. Christian isn't technically a religion, Christianty is. Muslim isn't a religion; Islam is.
Jewish is not; Judaism is. However, the adjective is usually given to the simple question, "What religion are you?"; "Buddhist". This is OK. But it's wrong to say "My religion is Buddhist".

 

[BobK]

:up: If you talk about a 'preference' you might be thought to be trivializing the matter - a devout person might resent being asked 'What is your religious preference.'

b

 

[riquecohen]

:up: If you talk about a 'preference' you might be thought to be trivializing the matter - a devout person might resent being asked 'What is your religious preference.'

b

This question is found on the "Common Application" form for many US universities. They say that it gives them more information about the diversity of their applicants.

 

[BobK]

...which doesn't mean it's not insensitive.

For instance, if Ian Paisley were asked for his religious preference he'd probably say (in his shoutiest voice - there are many YouTube clips that will give you the idea) 'Religious preference does not enter into the case. Religious preference is neither here nor there. I was born a Protestant and a Protestant I will remain until the day I die.' ;-)

b

 

[konungursvia]

Maybe he doesn't know that the Archbishop of Canterbury after visiting John Paul II called on all Anglicans to view the Pope as their true spiritual father. Or that Anglicanism is a high church liturgy that is basically non-Protestant, except that it's a breakaway from the Roman church. But I wouldn't argue with Ian Paisley.

 

[emsr2d2]

This question is found on the "Common Application" form for many US universities. They say that it gives them more information about the diversity of their applicants.

No-one is suggesting that asking for someone's religion is offensive or unacceptable. It is the use of the word "preference" that makes very little sense. Most people do not consider their religious beliefs a preference. They feel that their beliefs are an inextricable part of their whole character/personality/makeup. Theoretically, it would be possible for someone to answer that question with "Well, I'm a Catholic but I actually prefer Buddhism. It's just that my parents won't let me be a Buddhist."

 

[SoothingDave]

No-one is suggesting that asking for someone's religion is offensive or unacceptable. It is the use of the word "preference" that makes very little sense. Most people do not consider their religious beliefs a preference. They feel that their beliefs are an inextricable part of their whole character/personality/makeup. Theoretically, it would be possible for someone to answer that question with "Well, I'm a Catholic but I actually prefer Buddhism. It's just that my parents won't let me be a Buddhist."

I prefer the pasta over the chicken when choosing the meal on an airplane. A person's beliefs are not a "preference."

 

[abe_abby]

Thank you all for replying to my question.
I apologize if the word "preference" hurt your feelings. I'm a religious person too, and I didn't mean to trivialize anything.
Thanks to Raymott, I have learned to use a proper expression: "What religion are you?"

 

[bhaisahab]

Maybe he doesn't know that the Archbishop of Canterbury after visiting John Paul II called on all Anglicans to view the Pope as their true spiritual father. Or that Anglicanism is a high church liturgy that is basically non-Protestant, except that it's a breakaway from the Roman church. But I wouldn't argue with Ian Paisley.

Ian Paisley is not an Anglican.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you all for replying to my question.
I apologize if the word "preference" hurt your feelings. I'm a religious person too, and I didn't mean to trivialize anything.
Thanks to Raymott, I have learned to use a proper expression: "What religion are you?"

I doubt you've hurt the feelings of anyone here. For a start, some of us don't have any religious beliefs to offend but we're also well aware that English learners don't necessarily understand the nuances of things they say. As an atheist, I don't care what questions people ask about religion, as long as one of the choices on a list of religions is "None" so that I can answer honestly.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I prefer the pasta over the chicken when choosing the meal on an airplane. A person's beliefs are not a "preference."

And yet some people change their religious affiliations at some point in their lives.

 

[Odessa Dawn]

Situation:

While I was talking to someone, one of the phrases I uttered was as (indefinite article + … ) but a non-native corrected me and said, "You shouldn't use an indefinite article here." Therefore, he didn’t set me a proof why the article is ungrammatical in that position.


To make myself more clearer, I expected you, ems, to write as atheist not as an atheist. Thank you, ems.
​

PS: I would rather not disclose what religion I am to others, I apologize.

 

[emsr2d2]

Situation:

While I was talking to someone, one of the phrases I uttered was as (indefinite article + … ) but a non-native corrected me and said, "You shouldn't use an indefinite article here." Therefore, he didn’t set me a proof why the article is ungrammatical in that position.


To make myself more clearer, I expected you, ems, to write as atheist not as an atheist. Thank you, ems.
​

PS: I would rather not disclose what religion I am to others, I apologize.

Ignoring the fact that this is somewhat hijacking the thread, I don't really understand your point. It is impossible to say why this unnamed non-native told you not to use the indefinite article when we don't know what the phrase was that you uttered. I can't think of a context where "As + no article + noun" would work.

As an atheist, I don't believe in any god.
As a woman, I feel that many pay scales are unfair.
As a vegetarian, I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, gelatine or animal rennet.

I cannot imagine why someone told you not to use the indefinite article in those contexts.

 

[emsr2d2]

Situation:

While I was talking to someone, one of the phrases I uttered was as (indefinite article + … ) but a non-native corrected me and said, "You shouldn't use an indefinite article here." Therefore, he didn’t set me a proof why the article is ungrammatical in that position.


To make myself more clearer, I expected you, ems, to write as atheist not as an atheist. Thank you, ems.
​

PS: I would rather not disclose what religion I am to others, I apologize.

Ignoring the fact that this is somewhat hijacking the thread, I don't really understand your point. It is impossible to say why this unnamed non-native told you not to use the indefinite article when we don't know what the phrase was that you uttered. I can't think of a context where "As + no article + noun" would work.

As an atheist, I don't believe in any god.
As a woman, I feel that many pay scales are unfair.
As a vegetarian, I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, gelatine or animal rennet.

I cannot imagine why someone told you not to use the indefinite article in those contexts.

PS - You do not need to apologise for not wishing to disclose your religion. It is of no interest or relevance. I only gave mine because a) I don't care who knows and b) I wanted to make a specific point about the list of religions given on many questionnaires.

 

[Raymott]

PS - You do not need to apologise for not wishing to disclose your religion. It is of no interest or relevance. I only gave mine because a) I don't care who knows and b) I wanted to make a specific point about the list of religions given on many questionnaires.

And many atheists would chastise you for calling atheism a religion.

 

[emsr2d2]

And many atheists would chastise you for calling atheism a religion.

I didn't call it a religion. I said that "None" should be an option on questionnaires. If I were calling it a religion, I would say that "Atheism" should be listed as an option.

 

[BobK]

:up:...which is why I made him say 'Protestant'. ;-)

b

PS But I didn't think it worth derailing the discussion with details that are inscrutable for many (most?) of UE's readers.

 

[SoothingDave]

And yet some people change their religious affiliations at some point in their lives.

True. But this is not usually a light matter, which the word preference seems to imply. When one prefers the chicken over the fish, one would accept either.

 

[Rover_KE]

PS: I would rather not disclose what religion I am to others, I apologize.

There's no need to apologise for this, OD.

From your nationality and choice of headdress, most of us could hazard a guess, anyway.