I hear/read so many Christians going on and on about how "Religion means being inslaved" and that they arn't Religious at all. Instead they say that they are spiritual or they make a strange distinction between having a Religion and having a "Relationship with Jesus Christ".
None of this stuff makes any sense if you look at the definition of Religion and of Religious:
re·li·gion Pronunciation (r-ljn)
n.
1.
a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/religion)
re·li·gious Pronunciation (r-ljs)
adj.
1. Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/religious)
Question:
1) Where did this distinction come from?
2) Are they trying to change the definition of Religion?
3) How can you look at the above definitions and say that doesn't describe Christianity?
2006-07-23 18:41:39 · 10 answers · asked by Dysthymia 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
James 1:26-27 is a ringing endorcement for a pure religion.
"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
2006-07-23 19:28:59 · update #1
"Spirituality" is a word that means nothing. It's a cop-out for people to justify doing whatever they want but still claiming to know God and taking no responsibility for anything.
2006-07-23 18:50:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion has a bad connatation. Even in Jesus' time the Pharisees represented the religious of the religious. They did everything to a tee to a point of missing the point. It is not the works or the deeds alone but faith and works together. Doing things out of love for others with faith and deeds do you have a right viewpoint and are practicing religion as it was meant to be with Jesus leading you and having a relationship.
2006-07-23 18:54:07 · answer #2 · answered by radtadstar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The focus of Biblical Christianity is to have a personal ongoing relationship with the Christian God ...
This is more than just belief in and reverence for a deity; or a system grounded in such belief or worship; or belief in and reverence for God.
Hence the difference in Terminology.
Cordially,
John
2006-07-23 18:47:31 · answer #3 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term is used to describe "legalistic Christianity".
See James 1:26-27 for a biblical definition of religion....
~GOD BLESS YOU~
2006-07-23 19:09:51 · answer #4 · answered by wordman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's an extremely huge question. Atheism actually ability 'without god' and on account that maximum human acts of devastation were contained in the call of one god or yet another, this can propose that they seem to be a lot less risky than those with a faith. in case you imagine about it in a extra summary way, atheism promotes free wondering and the alternative to trust what you want without the placement of someone telling you what's genuine with none data. in this kind, many faiths easily promote lack of expertise over expertise. (The reasoning in the back of this lays with early society people attempting to style a possible society that applications properly at the same time. faith is an extremely helpful thanks to attempt this, hence why there are multiple similarities between them). So reckoning on what you propose by damage, in early human society atheism ought to were extra unfavorable to the progression of the human race yet in modern cases (the spectacular one hundred fifty years or so) faith is dropping its position in cutting-edge society.
2016-10-15 03:32:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of people have a weird idea about what "religious" is, not just Christians.
I know I'm religious because I have a religion (just not a Christian one). I just don't feel that way because I'm defining religious experientially, not academically. It's quite possible that many others do the same.
2006-07-23 18:49:23 · answer #6 · answered by Muffie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is something outside of you; theology is something in your head; Faith is something inside of you.
2006-07-23 18:45:34 · answer #7 · answered by lilmissj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
those definition also fits almost all other religions also...
2006-07-23 18:46:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your strange!!!
2006-07-23 18:45:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can't
2006-07-23 18:45:51 · answer #10 · answered by kurleylovescheese 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋