What does it mean to be "Religious"?

Question

What is the definition of "Religion"? Please describe what religion is whithout refering to any specific religion.

Answer 1

Beyond beliefs are practices. For example, if you believe that keeping your body in good physical condition is desirable, then you work out, your exercise, you put your body through trials and strengthen it. The same is true for the spiritual world.

Beyond a belief in God (or whatever) come the practices which empower, encourage, strengthen, stretch, train, exercise that belief system. Religion has become humankind's way of practicing their beliefs.

Different religions have different practices, or spiritual disciplines. The downside of religion is when the practices take priority over the beliefs. It becomes all about the doings and not the beings or the God or the One believed in.

When healthy, religion is a source of education and encouragement for its followers. A way for fellow believers to gather together and to gain from one another, support one another, challenge one another to become more like the One they follow.

Answer 2

Good question. The word "Religious" comes from "Religion" which is being Faithful to GOD and his teachings.God teaches not to harm or hurt any living beings in any manner and be good hearted.Therefore,"Religious" means "Compassionate" and "Godliness in Action". Man cannot claim himself to be a religious just by going to holy church or temple all the time neither by following one particular religion or religions. All religions preache the same message of GOD in different languages or styles. Religious institutions are actually the virtual reminders to the mankind that there is only One Supreme Power in this universe who we call is GOD and follow his teachings all the time - the compassion for humanity. Philosophically speaking,GOD lives in us and its us who need to decide how to follow his teachings and have faith. If you are angry and jealous of someone you would probably curse or harm that person and that is not religious because you are obviously wanting bad things to happen to that person. Or, If you are a good hearted person and help poor people then you are religious because you have Godliness in your actions. However, if you do something good to other in the hope of getting back somethingelse in return from that person then that again is not Godliness but selfishness that came from your greed.
Therefore, GOD does not want you to be :
1.Mean hearted
2.Selfish &
3.Greedy

Answer 3

The blind following of a set of archaic rules set down by a bunch of judgemental biggots that have nothing better to do than enforce their belief systems on others. Faith in the unproven, possibly noexistant God. Placing of responsiblity for action outside the realm of the individual: God made me do this, that, or the other thing. Being type A...My beleif system is the best and is always right so you should believe as I do (funny Christians just became sinners...they are vane enough to think their beliefs are better than those of others). Lack of respect for any one who thinks differently than we do. I could go on, but I'm growing weary so for now that's enough...PEACE! Check out WWW.UUA.ORG

Answer 4

To Be Religious

Answer 5

The best way to answer your question is to use James Chapter 1: 19-27 because here James says it all.

19 ¶ Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
(RSV)

Answer 6

My personal definition of religion is not only belief in a higher power, but to have a great amount of faith in something.

Answer 7

Generally, the belief in and adoration of some kind of supernatural entity. In more practical terms, though, it entails turning off those parts of the brain that are required for rationality and critical thought. Here's what the father of modern Protestant Christianity had to say about it:

"Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed. Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding, and whatever it sees must be put out of sight and ... know nothing but the word of God." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason is the Devil's greatest whore; by nature and manner of being she is a noxious whore; she is a prostitute, the Devil's appointed whore; whore eaten by scab and leprosy who ought to be trodden under foot and destroyed, she and her wisdom ... Throw dung in her face to make her ugly. She is and she ought to be drowned in baptism... She would deserve, the wretch, to be banished to the filthiest place in the house, to the closets." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not -- struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." ~ Martin Luther

"There is on earth among all dangers no more dangerous thing than a richly endowed and adroit reason... Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed." ~ Martin Luther

"Reason should be destroyed in all Christians." ~ Martin Luther

"To be a Christian, you must 'pluck out the eye of reason'." ~ Martin Luther

Answer 8

I don't really have a definition of 'religion'...however, i will share with you what i believe is the difference between religious & spiritual ppl.
in my personal opinion...religious ppl pray you never go to Hell, spiritual ppl have already been there!

Answer 9

you can be religious about anything. Some people religiously go to the gym to work out.
Religion has the connotation of belief in some "higher" authority or being.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

Answer 10

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church; "religious texts"; "a member of a religious order"; "lords temporal and spiritual"; "spiritual leaders"; "spiritual songs"
having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity; "a religious man"; "religious attitude"
a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience
extremely scrupulous and conscientious; "religious in observing the rules of health"