I believe so. My belief is that Christianity is the unadulturated worship of God. My belief is that religion is man made rituals imposed by man. Each religion or 'church' has its own rituals and beliefs. Are they acceptable? I believe in only what the Bible tells me. Who agrees and who disagrees.
Please, do not answer this question with one liners (lol's) and personal insults.
2007-03-03 09:14:55 · 18 answers · asked by MaggieSA 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Maggie I think no one can separate us from the Love of God once we have accepted Jesus. I think there is loads of needless ritual and man made doctrine. Being a woman with a small mind I trust in God and am glad he knows every intricate part of my body spirit and soul.
2007-03-03 09:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by : 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian. The fact is, Christianity is full of traditions. The date of Christmas was put there by the Catholic church, and the same can be said of Easter. Christianity has traditions and rituals in it, but it doesn't mean they are a bad thing. I have rituals when I pray. I sometimes sit in the same position. I take deep breaths. I read a certain scripture everytime (Romans 8 and Psalm 8). It gets my mind in the mindset of prayer.
Do not take this as an insult please. You don't do only things in the Bible. Computers aren't in Scripture, yet, you are on one right now. That is something made by humanity. Do you read the newspaper or keep up with the news? How about TV? Those are all modern things. Everything modern isn't a bad thing. Everything made by humanity isn't bad either.
It is what you make of the ritual or the tradition that matters. If it is something that brings you closer to God, it isn't a bad thing.
2007-03-03 09:38:45 · answer #2 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quote from above; 'Religion is about following the Church that you belong to, and the denomination...you follow their rituals and beliefs'
Is praying not a kind of ritual? Is faith in God and Jesus's miracles not a belief?
You yourself said; 'My belief is that religion is man made rituals imposed by man' Praying is a man-made ritual and it is imposed by man in Christian churches.
On a side note; you believe in what the Bible tells you? I guess you belief in slavery and are homophobic then. You also believe that a virgin got pregnant in 0 or 4BC (depending on what you have heard) and that a man was resurrected from the dead. Therefore; how do you have any right to question any other belief's acceptabilty?
2007-03-03 10:30:01 · answer #3 · answered by thomasgilboy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I worship The Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him only...Jesus agrees with you and spoke against religion. He came to set us free from man made rules. I agree each Christian church/organisation has it's own rituals and beliefs which are Bible based, but everyone has their own interpretation of scripture. I know when I'm not involved in a church, this is when i grow spiritually. I believe there is a time to learn and a time to put what I've learnt into practise. Maybe I'm off track now so I'll finish by saying...Christianity is walking by faith in the Son of God, and listening to Him alone, to love and respect others and their beliefs, but at all times to live in the freedom Christ Jesus has given us...if you know what i mean...
2007-03-03 10:20:39 · answer #4 · answered by ;) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there's a difference as well. Religion is about following the Church that you belong to, and the denomination...you follow their rituals and their beliefs, which I also believe are made by man. Christianity is about knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, asking Him to forgive you and to come into your life, and having a personal relationship with Him. So yes, I agree with your point of view, and I always have. I know my Christianity (Salvation) is much more important to me than any religion (I'm no particular religion) ever could be.
2007-03-03 09:50:20 · answer #5 · answered by sunflower 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are the first person i have heard of (exept fr my parents and brother) the have the same view about it as i do! Christianity for me is a way of life, it is as much part of me as name and my personality.
Religion on the other hand is much more different. If you look at all the world religions, you can see that people made up rediculous rituals and practices of worshipping their god/gods. And it becomes more of a chore.
For me it takes no effort to be a Christian. It is like breathing. God is like my air.
Sadly, i must say, that over the years there have developed sooooo many denominations of Christianity that ,unfortunatly, many of them have also evolved to become religions. V. sad.
Nice/Glad to see that some one thinks the same way I do. lol ; )
I Agree completely with Rod C, btw!
2007-03-03 09:31:58 · answer #6 · answered by Eryn v 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree, there is too much religion in the World today and not enough Christianity. I am a Christian, and a member of a Church, one that meets with all Christians for worship many many times. My Church, the Anglican church does not try to score points against any other religion, but seeks to forward God's Word to a world that needs to hear it time and time again. My Church is not perfect, none of us can be in this world, but we seek to follow Our Lord, and to do his Will. May God Bless You All.
2007-03-03 11:33:01 · answer #7 · answered by The Questioner 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry Maggie, I disagree. Modern Christianity is far from true Christianity. The Bible is missing so much because of Iraneus choosing to leave it out from the Bible. I think you're on the right track though.
Christianity is a Religion. Religion is not a Christianity.
Do you agree with this line from the Bible?
Make the world your enemy. Friendship with the world is enmity with God and Friendship with God is Enmity with the World.
2007-03-03 09:39:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
I also agree with you about religion and Christianity being different things. Christianity's about being able to have a relationship with God because of what Jesus has done for us. It's about loving God, and loving other people, but I guess it can be easy to be religious - ie keeping traditions just for the sake of it.
I guess that if a ritual, or a certain way of doing things helps your relationship with God, then that's great, and there's usually no reason to stop doing it. Jesus would often get up early to go and pray, and he would often go to the temple, and a number of different things, but he wouldn't just follow traditions for the sake of it.
It is important to be cautious though, and examine our beliefs, as it's easy to be misled. I'm sure the people in the crusades thought they were following the bible, for example, but a lot of damage was done.
2007-03-04 11:00:45 · answer #9 · answered by Isabel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since religion is a man made system, yes. Also, religion can be Christian based, Muslim based, Buddhist based, Hindu based, or anthing else based.
Christianity is living your life as Christ lived his. Look at what Christ and his apostles did, and not at just what religions say. Rituals aren't necessisarily bad. Some of them can help you to meditate on God's word and some of them can help bring people together for the cause of God's love. Are they necessary? Not in order to be a Christian.
As far as banning science books... the Bible teaches us that a fool despises knowledge and wisdom.
Love, Hope, Peace, & Christ Be With You,
Cal-el & Black Canary
2007-03-03 09:24:36 · answer #10 · answered by Prodigal Son 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋