Why do fundamentalist Christians claim to follow no "religion"?

Question

So many that I have dialogued with claim to have no interest in church, and state that you don't need "religion," and seem to find the word almost offensive - but at the same time they are also the most rigid about the bible, believing every single word to be the absolute truth. They also seem to dislike other branches of Christianity, most notably catholicism To me, that makes them MORE religious!

Answer 1

These are the ones that say, "...it's not a religion, it's a relationship with Christ." It's just another defensive technique employed by theists to maintain the equilibrium of belief over knowledge in their belief befuddled minds. I think it's somewhat belated too, because as far as I can see, the main motivator for it is the existence of so many other religions and these particular Christians are trying to put their doctrine above religion.

Answer 2

Without getting into a long, and drawn out, and boring answer (and comments), I'd like to answer the "religion" part.
I've included a link that will give you, and/or anyone else interested, a "pat" definition of what that word means. One, maybe two, of the definitions I personally agree with. But when you have a personal relationship with God, and His Son, Jesus the Christ, you begin to see that the term, 'religion' really does not fit. Religion can be something as simple as, getting up in the morning, going to the bathroom, taking a shower/bath, brushing your teeth and putting on clothes. Those processes are done 'religiously' everyday. Taking the same way to work, school, or wherever you go, is religiously followed. Worshipping money, or people, is considered a religion.
If believing in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and believing that He has saved my worthless soul from a eternally devastating hell is fundamentalist, then so be it!
In other words, I leave everything, other then my above belief, to Him.

Answer 3

I think there's a communication problem that needs to be cleared up, so, thank you for asking.

The Bible talks about "religious activities", and God says He is NOT happy with all the religious people who are striving so hard for nothing.

The Bible talks about being adopted into God's Forever Family, and if you've EVER had parents, you know that while they do have rules for the children, you also know that it's not about the rules. The rules are there to give stability and protection. But the real issue is FAMILY - relationships - a loving father and mother and children working together to be a Family. That's why it's called a FAMILY. Being in a family isn't a religion, it's having a relationship - a brother, a sister, a niece and nephew, but above all else, a mother and father.

THAT is what Christianity is SUPPOSED to be all about - because Jesus adopts us into His Forever Family, and we become brothers, and adopted sons and daughters of God.

Answer 4

This is what I make of it: When people say that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion, they mean that they want to know God intimately, rather than intellectually. The first will change a person's life, but it's not complete without the latter. The latter is one way in which we are to honor God. The people that condemn ''religion'' (and yes, the Bible does call Christianity a religion in the Bood of James) are condemning liturgical worship, which was handed down to us by God. The liturgy has been around since the Book of Psalms was written, and then had some scriptural things added to it by early Greek and Roman converts to make it specifically Christian, yet Christian Fundamentalists scathe the liturgy and condemn it as ''vague and repetitious,'' simply because they don't understand its purpose or where it came from.

Peace,
Drew

Answer 5

mike said:

Christ offers a way to Eternal Life, not a religion. Religion is man made and worthless. Why worry about things you aren't able to understand?



I basically believe the same, however, Christ said:

where there are two of you gathered in my name, I am there.

The Bible aslo says to treat your body as a temple.

Why do people believe they have to have four walls, a ceiling and a floor to be gathered in his name?

Do we not understand that he never said we should construct buildings in his name? Quite the opposite, really.

One of the ten commandments says we shall not have engraven idols to worship.

Jesus worshipped to his people in open ground. He never gathered his people in a building and demanded that they worhsip him there.

He spoke of peace, love, understanding, patients and kindness to all, whether they followed his teachings or not.

He never said there was only one true religion, (uh, I think. Don't quote me on that) I don't believe it was ever said, more implied.

He never said that man, woman or child should be excluded from worshipping him with others, like some faiths do. (I believe it is the Hindus and......... UGH, what is that other religion in Iran, Iraq?) (They believe that men and women should not worship together)

God / Jesus........... is love, patience, kindness, understanding, peace, faith, hope and purity.

We should never mistaken what God / Jesus stood for.

Those who teach anything else are misguided at best and do not understand his true meaning.

Don't be swayed by those who do not understand his word.

You can practice his word without a church. find others who believe as you do and worship as YOU see fit, BUT follow his TRUE teachings, Not something made up by humans.

Answer 6

Jesus disliked religion also allot of Christians myself included have problems with Catholics in that many teach Mary more than Jesus, I was told as a 8 yr old that I would burn in hell if I missed church,I did led me to 30 years w/o Christ! I saw in a Catholic Store the other day the followers of Mary on a placard,WE don't follow Mary in Christianity we respect and she was chosen of God to carry her son we do not pray to her or exalt her! There is no purgatory what so ever in the Bible that is man made,to me its a cult. We have a belief in Jesus Christ that through him not the Church not a man not a man Father but through Christ alone who died on the cross rose from the grave appeared to more than 500 people after his death and now intercedes for us at the right hand side of the father(GOD) there are many Catholics that understand that they are not the only way to salvation however there are many that believe it is going to church or being a good person or Mary or... ... much similar to you atheist who deny his existence... We pray that a believe of Jesus Christ would complete you!

Answer 7

Citizen, it quite is a great question. Atheist seem to only have their eyes on fundamentalist -- possibly using fact it rather is quite person-friendly to make the ideals of fundamentalist look very superstitious and in basic terms ridiculous using literalism, then what share fundamentalist do no longer additionally be responsive to the history of the religion itself, and likewise how lots of people who call themselves Christians are actually not to any extent further Christian in prepare (it rather is following the classes of Jesus/Yeshua) then a atheist is. in reality they call out sin to others, and positioned others down, at the same time as being in basic terms as "sinful" as those they condemn, even worst using fact the judgment on a believer is plenty worst than an unbeliever, in accordance to the bible. maximum Fundamentalist Christians are not Christian in any respect, and lots from it. how are you able to be "Christ like" in case you do no longer stay by skill of the thought and innovations of Christ, be conscious them on your life, to grow to be "Christ like"? They do the different, they have created guy-made doctrines that thoroughly contradict what "Christian skill". They do each thing, and say each thing, which ingredients you them the skill to no longer try TO BE Christian. The call and make contact with "Christian" must be earned with the aid of self-transformation -- prepare.

Answer 8

I have not heard of too many fundamentalists who say they don't need "religion". It seems to me that to the extremists they use this as a crutch and an excuse for their own shortcomings. Christianity is a wonderful thing. But when you add the word "fundamentalist" to anything, it becomes toxic, and morose. I believe that Christ was nailed to the cross at Calvary and shed his blood for the salvation of humanity.

At the same time I don't go around telling people I have a free ticket to heaven in "the rapture" and that I will not have to face trials and tribulations with the rest of humanity at the conclusion of the earth. This is the ultimate crutch, which was only invented in the early 1800's.

I also am not joined at the hip with the Republican party and the president, as the fundamentalists are. Never before have radical right wing extremists had so much influence in Washington. Jesus is King, but the fundamentalists are similiar to the Pharasees that the Lord constantly rebuked and criticized. You will not find the amount of hypocrisy in any other branch of Christianity than in fundamentalism.

Answer 9

i am one of those that don't like to be called 'religious' but 'christian.

for me religious means ... 'hey everyone look at me.. i am so holy and religious and i'm so spiritual and better than you all'... i don't like that...

for me i am just plain and simple a christian. it's a lifestyle. not something you are born with. it's something you chose.
I do believe in the bible fully and totally, and there again, it's a choice. Not a religion that tells you to do that, so you are a 'religious' person.

I do not dislike other branches of Christianity, even though I disagree with the catholic church. I also do not dislike other religions. I tolerate them. Just like I expect to be tolerated.

Being called religious is like calling someone a stereotype.. I think it is time to get that word religious its old meaning back, but I think it's overly misused nowerdays.

Answer 10

Well, I am a fundamentalist Christian, and I do go church. Anyone who reads and believes the Bible will see that we are told not to forsake the assembling of believers.

But as to the rest, many of us do like calling our faith a "religion" because we define religion as mans attempt to reach God. Whereas what a born again Christian has is a relationship, where God through Christ reached out to man.

As far as disliking other branches of Christianity, we do dislike anything that claims to be Christian and yet does not follow the teachings of scripture, such as any church that teaches salvation through works, rather than salvation by grace through faith for works.