Ever notice how most cults change the definition of words so that you might think you are having a conversation, but you are speaking right past one another? Orwellian Double-speak like scientology is famous for?
2006-08-23 10:33:02 · 29 answers · asked by 自由思想家 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a Christian and I say yes it does sound ignorant to say Christianity is not a religion. By definition, religion means "demonstration of faith" So yes indeed, Christianity is by definition a religion. I don't belong to an ORGANIZED religion, I am non denominational... but my religion/demonstration of faith is Christian. I think people confuse the word "religion" with organization.
2006-08-23 10:37:23 · answer #1 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
People who say Christianity is a relationship, not a religion do sound ignorant, but they aren't cult members and saying so is very unfair. But this whole "relationship" trend puzzles me too. So many of these folks focus on relying only on the Bible for their faith. Yet the word "relationship" (much less "personal relationship") never appears in most translations of the Bible. It's in the NIV a few times, but only to refer to marital relations and a passage in Romans that talks about Jews bragging about their relationship with God. There isn't much scriptural basis for all this talk about "relationship."
It's never quite clear what exactly a "relationship" or a "personal relationship" with Jesus is supposed to be, and how it is different from believing that Jesus is the savior and living one's life in accord with Jesus' commands. I've heard some Christians say that other professed, faithful, and obedient Christians have no personal relationship with Jesus - what is the basis for saying this? What is the difference between the two types of Christians?
Talking about a personal relationship with Jesus sounds more like 20th century American middle-class psycho-babble than anything Biblical.
2006-08-23 10:59:07 · answer #2 · answered by Sass B 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, there are some Christians who just love Jesus and God and don't follow the tenants of Christianity as written down in the Bible. Their faith is individual and really is more of a relationship. BUT, the people who claim their Christianity is a relationship, usually aren't these people.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [Matthew 6:5-6]
2006-08-23 10:49:43 · answer #3 · answered by retzy 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Maybe there is such a thing as spirituality that has nothing to do with religion at all that can be discovered outside of "fellowshipping" with any other person....You wouldn't call that a cult; would you? And I'm not talking about hearing voices or seeing mystic visions....
2006-08-23 10:46:34 · answer #4 · answered by Denise W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personal faith in a creator and getting involved in an organized religion are 2 very different things.
Here is a test you just failed:
“The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
2006-08-23 10:41:46 · answer #5 · answered by Cogito Sum 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
that's not "double-speak", you may think so because you are ignorant of anything bibical. Even the bible will tell you Jesus didn't care for "religion" for show, He wants a personal relationship. Everyone is "religious" in some way, even you atheists. Your zeal to try to prove Christians wrong is a religion to you, a religion of unbelief.
2006-08-23 10:48:25 · answer #6 · answered by Grandma Susie 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
90 percent of christians have no idea of what is in the bible they listen to a pastor or reverend and want to tell you its the word of god they scare me i keep thinking they are going to shake and an agent is going to ome out of thm saying MR ANDERSON we meet again Christians are pawns and pawns are ignorant the onlyy thing theyy believe in is they will be forgiven for anything they do like it is a get out of hell free card just say forgive me after the act my problem is they do the same crap over and over and seem to be afraid to open a bible because it might say different than their belief
2006-08-23 10:49:39 · answer #7 · answered by sean b 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The religion is the christian trappings those people have chosen to visit on Sunday mornings
The relationship with Christ runs far deeper, for it is done on a personal level, as if you were visiting your friend, your father, or the President of the United States- you be respectfull, obedient, and listen carefully and OBEY.
I always seem to miss the "obey" part, but I'm working on it
2006-08-23 10:36:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Read Romans 10
2006-08-23 10:36:17 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Nah, they ain't ignorant, they just want to appear to be harmless to the ignorant mass so they could get at what they really want.
So sorry, just my sadistic view.
2006-08-23 11:01:09 · answer #10 · answered by : ) 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋