Define Religion - What is it?

[Angelina]

The dictionary defines religion as;
[mass noun] the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:ideas about the relationship between science and religion
[count noun] a particular system of faith and worship:the world’s great religions
[count noun] a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion:consumerism is the new religion
Origin: Middle English (originally in the sense 'life under monastic vows'): from Old French, or from Latin religio(n-) 'obligation, bond, reverence', perhaps based on Latin religare 'to bind' Oxford - http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/religion.

Loosely termed; religion is a system of belief in and the worship of a supernatural God or gods who play a major role in the life of it's adherents. In this sense, religion is a category in which most of the world religions can be classified...but what does the bible say about religion? :huh:

The word "religion" appears five times in the NT.

Act 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
In the above verse, Paul speaks of his past position as a Pharisee

Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
He reiterates his point as once being a part of his fathers tradition - Judaism

James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Then we have these two verses from James. It is noted that James is addressing the 12 tribes scattered aboard. This may indicate a time of persecution after Christs death. James 1:1-8

Let's take a look at this verse in context...
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

What law is he referring to? - the Law, the Gospel or the whole word of God? many bible commentators are divided on these points. James 2:8, 9, 10, 11, 12 seems to indicate that James is referring to the commandments [moral law]. If this is correct, then James is speaking from the position of a converted Messianic Jewish believer. The law that brings liberty is the very law that had been covered by the blood of Jesus...Hebrews 9:14, 15.

Going back to the main points re: religion - Christianity is not a religion, it's a living relationship. My old home group leader use to say that religion is; mans efforts to reach God and Christianity is; God coming down in the form of man to reach man.... ^_^

Blessings!!!

 

[Rex]

To be honest I dislike the term religion its best applied to churches in the context of Christianity, but it can also be applied to religious beliefs that have nothing to do with Christ.

I find religion is best defined as a man made form of worship, you can apply the term to all the churches that fall under the category of christian but the "religious" beliefs and worship very greatly. Religion is best understood as different beliefs with-in the context of Christianity.

Now when you lose your religion what it says to me is you have lost an agreement with a group of believers that worship and interpret as you once did.
Religion is a divider.
It is the ordinances of men

 

[rockytopva]

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27

 

[jiggyfly]

I agree with ya on this Rex.

The English word religion is translated from the Latin word "religio", which simply means to bind again.

 

[Rex]

Mark
7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.

I see this played out over and over and over again in churches I visit and on this forum.
My religious Ideas are better than yours followed by the defense of a religious group or the support thereof

you two are just as guilty as any with your pentecostal banners

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

The perfect law of liberty is the law of the spirit of life in Christ.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

 

[Rex]

I agree with ya on this Rex.

The English word religion is translated from the Latin word "religio", which simply means to bind again.

Thank you jiggyfly for bring the proper meaning of the word from it's root

 

[Angelina]

Wow! I don't think that any of you actually read the O/P...simply amazing! :huh:

 

[jiggyfly]

I did and thought it was a good idea to post the etymology of the topic, hope it didn't throw a wrench into the discussion. :)

 

[Angelina]

not at all Jiggy :) but if you noticed...the word "bind" was already present in the O/P

Bless ya!

Rex

you two are just as guilty as any with your pentecostal banners

If you can't stick to the O/P my suggestion is that you start your own thread and make your accusations there...thanks

 

[jiggyfly]

not at all Jiggy :) but if you noticed...the word "bind" was already present in the O/P

Bless ya!

Yes I did notice but the "again" wasn't mentioned. The Latin word for "to bind" is ligare , but we shouldn't forget the first syllable "re" which in Latin means again

 

[Rex]

That was a pretty fancy edit Angelina
how was pointing out your preference of religion in need of immediate removal?

Just the same I'm not playing the edit game with you

 

[Angelina]

Ahhh...I see. Thanks for the heads up! ^_^

 

[aspen]

religion in the shared language and culture, groups use for relating with God.

 

[Rex]

Ahhh...I see. Thanks for the heads up! ^_^

Maybe you simply opened a can of worms you would rather leave closed ;)
I certainly can't comment on what your home paster used to say
because you have completely removed it

 

[Angelina]

That was a pretty fancy edit Angelina
how was pointing out your preference of religion in need of immediate removal?

Just the same I'm not playing the edit game with you

...the O/P is not about me but you want to make it about me...sorry, no dice.

Maybe you simply opened a can of worms you would rather leave closed

not at all...looking forward to some good discussions on this topic... :)

 

[Guestman]

According to the Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005, the word "religion"means: 1. religion beliefs and worship: people’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. 2. religion particular system: a particular institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine ."


Thus, any form of worship is considered as a religion. At 2 Kings 17, the word "religion" (Hebrew mishpat, meaning literally "judgment, judicial decision") is used 5 times with regard to the exiles being settled in the cities of Samaria by the Assyrians, at verses 26, 27, 33, and 40.(New World Translation) In the Christian Greek Scriptures (commonly the New Testament), the word "religion" is rendered from the Greek word threskia, meaning "ceremonial observance" or "form of worship", at Acts 26:5, Colossians 2:18, James 1:26, 27.


Hence, from Christianity to Hinduism to Sikhisms to Zoroastrianism is a religion. However, though the churches are divided among some 41,000 different denominations and sects, and there are 19 major religions of the world, the Bible establishes that there is only "one faith" or true religion.(Eph 4:5)


In fact, Jesus called the one true religion as "the truth" (John 8:32, 44), and even said: "I am the way (singular, not plural), and the truth (truth is not at odds with itself) and the life."(John 14:6) The one true religion was also called "The Way" (singular, not plural) at Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23. The King James Bible reads at James 1:27 as the "pure religion", the one religion that pleases our Creator, Jehovah God.


Jesus further said concerning the holy spirit, that "when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he (literally "it", though "he" is at times grammatically correct or inferred) will guide you into all the truth."(John 16:13) Jesus further said in prayer to Jehovah God: "Sanctify them (his disciples) by means of the truth."(John 17:17)


Then, when before Pontius Pilate, Jesus told him concerning being a king: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice."(John 18:37)


The apostle Paul said concerning the one true religion: "For God's wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way."(Rom 1:18) He also said there are those who "exchanged the truth of God for the lie."(Rom 1:25) Truth is never at odds with itself. There is only one truth with regard to religion.


For example, a wall safe has only one set of numbers and one direction in which to apply them. A lock mechanism has only one key that will unlock it. Thus, there is only one religion that pleases God; all the others fail to either teach right doctrine or has right conduct.


Jesus did not use the Greek word threskia, but rather consistently used the word aletheia, meaning "what is true in any manner".(Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, pg 26) Jesus established the one true religion, that teaches the "truth" of the Bible.

 

[horsecamp]

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27

:)

 

[Dan57]

I find most religion to be Organized Chaos..... Now that's an oxymoron

 

[Angelina]

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27

That's the mandate not definition... :)