I'm having an argument with a friend. Does Christianity count as a religion?

Question

He says because it's a relationship, it's not a religion.

I'll leave this one to a vote, but just to put in my two cents - I feel those saying Christianity does conform to the definition of religion have made a stronger case than those saying it doesn't. The problem with saying "It's a relationship, not a religion" is that one assumes that it has to be either/or. I'd argue the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Answer 1

O.K. You want the truth. Most of the responses you have so far are wrong. Religion defined is a set of rules made up by man for other men to follow. Christianity is freedom from the law and from sin. A Christian listens to the Holy Spirit and that is the way he is guided, as well as reading the Bible. The other thing is that no religion has had their leader die and shed their blood for the believers. Your friend is right. It is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the truth. Bless you.

Answer 2

Christianity is a religion. Some Christians are trying to place their "religion" above others by saying it is not but it is.

Religion:
1 a : the state of a religious b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Christians meet 1 2 3 and 4.

Answer 3

Christianity: Not Religion – A Relationship
Christianity is not really a religion; it is a relationship with God. It is trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross for you (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), not on what you can do for yourself (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christianity is not about ornate buildings, flamboyant preachers, or traditional rituals. Christianity is about truly accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

The Religious part of Christianity are the organizations that proclaim to be Christians

Catholics, mainstream Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox

Answer 4

Christianity is a religion, you have your own personal relationship with GOD.....if that's the case (what your friend is saying) then I'm definitely never ever ever ever will be a Christian again with all the hypocrites and fakes that I have seen in my lifetime growing up in a Church of God In Christ.....I refuse to say that Christianity is a relationship because more than half of the people in church have a tight relationship with the devil but are quick to and will swear before Lord that they are a Christian.....this is one of the main reasons why I have rejected my former teachings and acceptance of Christianity.....

Answer 5

This is the entry in my AOL dictionary supplied by Merriam Webster:

RELIGION
Function: noun
Pronunciation: ri-'li-j&n
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back -- more at RELY
1 a : the state of a religious b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
- re·li·gion·less adjective

Notice that the etymology mentions "restrain" and "tie back" and entry #3 says "scrupulous conformity".
Also check out:

CULT
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'k<
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual ; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious ; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book) ; especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Answer 6

Your fact, paradoxically isn't a valid argument. and clearly your declare to "no evidence" additionally isn't genuine. So i'm going to anticipate you haven't any longer looked into your faith in this invalid and unproved fact you have made. so which you will desire to asked your self why you're making a fool of your self parroting back "whacked out crap" you haven't any longer looked into. [a million] you could incorrectly think of that each and one and all Christians have a blind unreasonable faith. this could be uniformed stereotyping. some might arrive at their ideals and not dig into it any further to be certain how actual looking and employer their theory could be. yet many dig into all actuality, scientific, historic, non secular, etc and have come to a faith in accordance with reason. [2] “faith isn't an alternate choice to understanding, however the reaction to it.” Udo Middelmann No different faith comes close to to the quantity of evidence Judeo/Christian Bible has, extraordinarily in archeology [3]. in actuality lots of the Bible is seen actual background by ability of national Geographic Society and The Smithsonian. And is regularly used to help archaeologists make discoveries. lots so as that the Smithsonian business enterprise’s branch of Anthropology has an expert fact on “THE BIBLE AS background.” In it they say: "... lots of the Bible, in specific the historic books of the previous testomony, are as precise historic information as any that we've from antiquity and are in actuality extra precise than lots of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. those Biblical archives might properly be and are used as are different historical information in archaeological artwork. For the main section, historic activities defined happened and the peoples reported fairly existed." there became even a modern-day article stated how one group might have stumbled on David's royal palace by ability of reading the Bible and awaiting it to be precise. [4] You (and those cheering you on) might might desire to illustrate some open-mindedness and psychological honesty and look at what you think of or experience is genuine and locate out if it fairly is genuine.

Answer 7

religion is something your practise and your suppose to have a relationship with God. I don't practise religion but to other people who don't understand what I'm talking about or they believe God isnt' real then to them I am 'religious'. So if someone ask me if i'm religious I always say no.
Do you practise being friends with who your friends with or are you in a friendship, you get me?

Answer 8

It is a religion in the sense that the definition of "religion" is "demonstration of faith" but it is not nessisarily an organized religion. Many organized religions demonstrate Christian faith.

Answer 9

it is a relationship a follower of JESUS the true meaning i always say I'm not in a religion i don't follow a religion i follow Christ.please don't argue with each other over this.

Answer 10

Religion is defined as, "Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe."

That is DEFINITELY what christianity is...