To other religions besides Christians: How do you feel when Christians say that Christianity isnt a religion?

Question

but a relationship with God? Do you feel that implies an arrogance? I see this all the time here. Also, when we atheists say that atheism isnt a religion, which is absolutely isn't, they jump all over us. I am not trying to cause trouble here. I hope that Christians can maybe see how their words might be doing their cause harm.

Answer 1

I hide a smile, point them at a sociology textbook, and tell them to look up the definition of the word "religion".

After they've read that, I inform them that members of other religions claim to have just as profoundly personal a relationship with their Gods as some Christians claim to do with Jesus.

If they still don't get the point, I shrug and move on. Further conversation on the subject is pretty much pointless.

Answer 2

i've seen that on here... i think it may be the individual trying to distinguish the spiritual aspect from the dogmatic church aspect, or emphasizing that it is a way of life to them rather than a sunday morning activity. not necessarily arrogance, but in some cases i'm sure it can be. deny it or not, if they call themselves christians then they are part of a religion. perhaps they need to find different terminology for what they are trying to say, or just leave out the "it's not a religion" thing.

and i do beleive that those individuals that say christianity isn't a religion are different people from those that insist atheism is a religion. (but i could be wrong!)

Answer 3

Christianity is a religion, if you have a relationship with God you have evolved spiritually, it doesn't change the fact that you are a Christian. As for the whole atheist thing, they're just trying to explain something that they don't understand. I think that if everyone payed attention to what people outside of their religion said, we'd have less problems. The whole Christian vs. Atheist thing probably stems from the fact that they believe in God with their entire being, and you're denying the existence of what they believe in.

Answer 4

I agree with you, atheism is not a religion. I don't understand why some insist that it is, when atheists have no atheist god (oxymoron!), no atheist prophet, no atheist scripture, no atheist calendar, no atheist holy days, no atheist laws, no atheist temples, etc etc. Atheism is non-belief in all of that, so atheism is not a religion.

As for your first question... When I see Christians saying that Christianity is not a religion, man, this reeks of misunderstanding. I *could* use another word, but I'll be nice and say misunderstanding.

When you look up religion in the dictionary, what you see is this:
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
—Idiom9. get religion, Informal. a. to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.
b. to resolve to mend one's errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.

When you look up Christianity in the dictionary, what you see is this:
1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches.
2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; the Christianity of Augustine's thought.
3. a particular Christian religious system: She followed fundamentalist Christianity.
4. the state of being a Christian.
5. Christendom.
6. conformity to the Christian religion or to its beliefs or practices.

Christians who say that Christianity is not a religion are giving the stupidest statement. Okay, now I'm not being so careful in my words. Christianity is a religion people, why do you say that it is not??? It is.

Maybe you mean RITUAL? Maybe you mean that Christianity is not merely a set if dry empty RITUALS? I agree. It's an entire religion, not just a handful of rituals.

EDIT
tebone0315: Christianity is a religion with different denominations. You've name a few of these denominations. They are not individual religions, they are all different denominations of the SAME religion, Christianity. It's like different petals of the same flower. Christianity has about 25 thousand of these petals/splits/denominations/sects in it. True, one petal can be different from the other, but on the whole, they all constitute one religion. They are all Christ centered, and they all believe in the Bible as Word of God.

Answer 5

I think Christianity, Judaism, Islam...etc.is a religion. It would be wrong to say that Christianity isn't a religion because it is. A religion has to have an important person or persons to be a religion. Religions are made to have a pathway to god or gods, therefore, Christianity is a religion. Atheism is said to not be a religion because they don't believe in god. A religion needs to have an important person or persons and have worships done to be a religion...atheism lacks this.

Answer 6

Lol, that's funny i saw this question cause I just got into a heated debate with my fiancee's family over this. I'm Catholic (by title only) and they are hardcore Christians. They were trying to convince me that Christianity was not a religion, they were stubborn about it! I countered that Christianity was a religion because it involved a certain faith, or belief system that is practiced by a group of followers. All they could reply with was that it was a relationship with God. When I mentioned which God, because Muslims and Budhists believe in others, they just refused to acknowledge them. Even though with plain arguments I made them sound and look silly, they still would not admit that Christianity was a religion. Such hypocrits! :) Sorry hun if you read this

Answer 7

Frankly, it cracks me the F up... It is a complete cop out and wholely arrogant.

And, if Christianity isnt a religion, why are so many Christians in the R&S section?? (another thing they like asking of us atheists...)

Answer 8

I am Christian and i still think that is a stupid thing to say.(that our religion is not a religion). I myself do not find it necessary to draw lines separating religion, spirituality and lifestyle. I like my religion. However i Will say that some atheists are as dogmatic and intolerant towards religious folks as the types of Christians you describe. Hatred and intolerance are human traits , not ideological ones.

Answer 9

That implies an arrogance, but most religions have their own form of arrogance. The Jewish religion teaches that everyone that is not Jewish is beneath the Jews. Islam teaches that everyone that is not Muslim is an "infidel" and should be killed, or forced to convert.

Answer 10

The Flying Speghetti Monster and its linked faith replaced into created per an Iowa college district attempting to bypass off clever layout as non-religious. the school district, per the FSM's mockery of their action, properly reversed their place. I could desire to assert FSM, yet L. Ron Hubbard's SF spin-off of Dianetics into the "Church" of Scientology pulls a extreme 2nd on the undertaking. As to the rest, maximum are based upon somebody's adventure (no longer in basic terms faith or perception) with the divine and function validity from that perspective. The philosophical religions actual have plenty going for them in terms of validity.