why do people seperate Jesus and religion?

Question

I see people answer questions quite often in this way: "religion won't save you, Jesus will" or "don't follow religion, follow Jesus". What?!

Isn't Jesus, as the supposed son of God, as the man who is supposedly saving a whole religion of people from hell, an intrinsic part of the Christian religion? And isn't religion an intrinsic part of Jesus? Isn't he the point of the whole Christian religion? In my mind, any sort of Jesus (or any God) worship, or any kind of putting your faith in a higher power, is religious in nature, by definition.

So why do people seperate the two?

OK, yeah, I know there are other religions in the world.

I was using Christianity as an obvious example. I've never heard anyone say "trust in Buddha, not religion!" or "The Prophet will save you, not Islam!" It is actually only Christians I have ever heard make this distinction.

So as to not be misunderstood by any more idiots, I rephrase: "why do Christians seperate love/worship of Jesus and the Christian religion, which seem to be so inseperable?"

Are you happy now?

thank you to everyone who actually read both paragraphs of my original question, the secodn of which I did to phrase so as not to exclude the non-christian world, using such phrases as "or any god" and "higher power" to express my knowledge that different people have different beliefs, but that my question was mainly focused on things that I have heard christians say. Also note that I said Jesus seemed to be an integral part of the Christian religion, not religion in general.

Answer 1

In Kingdom of Heaven, for all it's historical inaccuracies, there's a line that strikes home with me. It goes "By the word religion I've seen of the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God." Not only does "religion" lead us into wars that span decades and centuries, religion also requires (per the bible) us to pay for someone to tell us how to pray and when, even where. I grew up in a Lutheran WELS church, and they actually told us that if we were traveling, etc, and couldn't find a WELS or ELS church that we shouldn't even take communion even in another LUTHERAN church!!! Persecution within my own "religion"!? Belief and faith are very personal and in my opinion, I don't need someone to tell me how to do it.

While Jesus is the pivot that Christianity revolves around (interesting how the Catholics put so much emphasis on Mary), his words and teachings are often jumbled and remolded by religion to fit their goals. If you want to be saved, therefore, it could be *argued*, at least from the Christian standpoint, that Jesus is your only savior, and that religion, esp. churches, are corrupt paths to hell.

Answer 2

Religion can be many things.You can serve another God and be called religious and have a completely differen`t religion.The Christian religion is the believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost.But again there are different churches with different interpretations of the Bible.So they are different religions even though they are serving the same God.The meaning of following Jesus,the way I see it is don`t follow what someones interprtation of God is but follow Jesus.Jesus said for you to study to show yourself approved.When you study the word you`ll see things that others tell you that you`ll disagree with.That is why you work out your own salvation with much fear and trembling.Pray to understand.When you choose a certain church you go there because they look at things like you do on the whole .

Answer 3

You have to consider though, that there are thousandas of relgions throughout the world. It depends what part of the world you were born in. If you were born in Tibet, you would most likely follow the Buddhish religion, if you were born in the middle east, they practice Islam and the list can go on and on. Jesus is conected with Christianity, Catholosism, Baptist etc. But if a child who was born in another part of the world, they might not be taught about Jesus, simply because Jesus is not in his or her religion. They may know that Jesus is a relgious figure, but they don't identify with him because they follow another practice entirely. The whole point here is diversity of humans. Since the beginning of time, there has always been multiple religions which people followed. There is no one particular religion that is 100% right, although people will make you think they are 100% right. That is a falicy. Follow your heart and what you believe is right, but one should never push their beliefs on another person.

Answer 4

Basically, religion is ritual more then a true, sincere love of Jesus. Religion can be part of your walk with God, but it should not be your God. That is why people are separating it. When following the rituals of your religion, whatever they may be, become more important then spending time in prayer, then you have lost the meaning of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Just because you go to church, say all the right things, do all the right things, it does not mean you have a relationship with him. You do not love Jesus because of religion. You have a religion because you love Jesus. Technically, they are two different things, but can work together. I hope this answers your question. :)

Answer 5

Take the Jews for example. They did not accept Jesus because they were so religious concerning their traditions and rituals. Their religious zeal and pride blocked their hearts from accepting the truth; that Jesus was the Savior they were waiting for. Christianity is a way of life. I guess religion is a word we use to separate the different faiths. Jesus Himself is not religion. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Answer 6

Religion does not necessarily refer to the God we Christians believe in. There have been a lot of crazy religions and the word religion has gotten a bad connotation. A lot of people won't go near anything referred to as religion.

I love this web site because it is made especially for such people:

www.notreligion.com

Answer 7

I believe that it seems like Christianity has strayed from the teachings of Jesus, and it appears that way to Christian and knowledgable non-Christian alike. There are many things that are either taught or overlooked that shouldn't be, according to his teachings. I think that with statements like "religion won't save you; Jesus will," they are saying that religion is no longer the same as his teachings. That's what I always get out of comments like that.

Answer 8

Religion is what men have done with Jesus. They have come up with neat prayers, and simple ways to mange him. But Jesus is so much bigger than what man would make him by their religious management. The truth is found in relationship with him, reading your Bible, and finding a church that doesn't think they are the only way. Jesus is the only way and the church, whatever the name, should only point to him. That is the difference.

Answer 9

Well, religion is what you do and being a follower of Jesus is Who you are. Anyone can sit in a pew and take communion and tithe and read the Bible. But a true follower of Jesus does these things not to be saved but because he/she is saved. Does that help at all?

Answer 10

NO! People can go to church all their life and not meet Jesus.
And NO all ways do not lead to God. There are many false gods in the world. What do you mean any sort of Jesus???? That doesn't make sense. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds. That's like telling a child "Any sort of parent who comes to pick you up is OK! Go with whoever picks you up