Is Christianity a religion? I hear a lot of push back on this idea. I hear about the end of religion. I hear that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion. I hear that religion is what happens when you take Jesus out of Christianity. The basic message is that religion is bad and Christianity is good.
I have a problem with this, even though I said similar things in the early days of my faith. The problem is that it does not make sense. What is a religion? Religion is the worship of a deity, using traditions, prayers and sacred texts. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t Christianity have all of these things? If you set Christianity along side all the other world’s religions, there would be much in common in terms of what they do. As the saying goes, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. What seems to be claimed is that Christianity looks exactly like a religion but for some mysterious reason it is not a religion.
One of the reasons people oppose Christianity as a religion is that it is a relationship with Jesus. That is a fine evangelistic tactic, but have you ever thought deeply about that? What does it mean that you have a personal relationship with Jesus? You don’t have a relationship in the same way that have a relationship with a sibling or a friend. You do not physically spend time with Jesus. The way you relate to Jesus is through religious activities, such as praying and studying Scripture. That is not bad, but it sort of wipes out the distinction between religion and relationship.
But what about the idea that religion is always bad? It is legalistic and oppressive and the cause of all the world’s problems. Really? This is what the Bible says about religion:
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26–27 ESV)
If religion is defined as being inherently evil, that means that taking care of the needy is also evil. It is not religion that is evil, it is how it is used. Religion like anything (including family, money, science) can be used for good or evil.
I think it is time for us to get beyond the distinction between Christianity and religion. Whether we like it or not, Christianity is a religion.
Nicely said, Steve.
Now explain what on earth Bill O’Reilly meant when he said Christianity was not a religion, but a philosophy 🙂
Going through my B.A. in Religious Studies, I became painfully aware that every definition of religion ends up excluding groups that most take as religious or, conversely, including groups that most take as non-religious. For example, the definition used in this article specifies the worship of a deity. This would exclude the atheistic forms of Buddhism – a huge population which most would still classify as religious.
I think there’s something of a psychological connection between the word “religion” and the reverence of a worldview. While Buddhism doesn’t include the worship of a deity, it is still heavily layered in mysticism, spirituality, sacred spaces, and sacred texts.
Of course, when the term “religion” is applied to an atheistic worldview like Buddhism, there is a Christian reaction that wants to distance itself as far as possible from anything like atheism – hence, the rejection of the term “religion”. A similar reaction happens when nominal Christians start throwing around the term “Christian” without adhering to traditional Orthodox Christian doctrines; the Orthodox begin using phrases like “Christ-follower” or “disciple of Jesus”.
Joel, (First, Bill was/is wrong) when Bill O’Reilly said, “Christianity was not a religion, but a philosophy” he meant Christianity is a particular system of thought. While this is an element of Christianity, it is not Christianity. I mean you have seminary courses that teach Christian Philosophy.
However, Christianity while is is about beliefs, it is also about worship. It is people’s beliefs concerning the existence, nature, and worship of God, our Creator of the universe, and His divine involvement in the universe and human life.
HERE are two courses that would kind of fall under Bill’s statement
Essentials of Philosophy and Christian Thought
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/seminar/essentials-philosophy-christian-thought/ronald-nash
History of Philosophy and Christian Thought
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/history-philosophy-christian-thought/ronald-nash
Worship is ANYTHING which is adored, not just deity. And as you said, when we adore something, often in the name of Jesus, it is idolatry if it does not honor God (incorrect use or peity).
This, then, extends itself to self. Meaning that which is honored, if not God,ultimately leads to pride and to self. That is where we run into the problem with religion. It is man’s attempt to reach God, but man is corrupt by the very sin he seeks to absolve himself from.