Is it 'religious' to believe in Jesus?

[Dave Slayer]

Is it considered 'religious' to be a Christian? A lot of people say that if you believe in Jesus, or any god, that you are considered religious. Is it Biblical?

 

[jasoncran]

no, but that's not the way some atheist see it or other unbelievers

jason

 

[Guest]

Is it Biblical?

I like what St. James has to say on this matter.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

[Paidion]

According to Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary, the primary meaning of "religious" is:

"relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity"

Surely Christians relate to God and to Christ, and also "manifest faithful devotion" to God and to Christ. Therefore, Christians are religious.

 

[JoJo]

The problem is that people get confused between ritualistic "religion" and the spiritual walk with God. Perhaps most atheists are referring to the former when speaking of "religion" without knowing anything about the personal love relationship that can be had with Jesus.

 

[Guest]

The problem is that people get confused between ritualistic "religion" and the spiritual walk with God. Perhaps most atheists are referring to the former when speaking of "religion" without knowing anything about the personal love relationship that can be had with Jesus.

What is wrong with rituals?

 

[historyb]

Is it considered 'religious' to be a Christian? A lot of people say that if you believe in Jesus, or any god, that you are considered religious. Is it Biblical?

Yes, any faith is religion. Christianity is a religion and people will deny it but that is what it is. Religion is not a bad word nor a bad thing

 

[JoJo]

The problem is that people get confused between ritualistic "religion" and the spiritual walk with God. Perhaps most atheists are referring to the former when speaking of "religion" without knowing anything about the personal love relationship that can be had with Jesus.

What is wrong with rituals?

Well, it certainly depends on which rituals the person is engaged in. But if a person believes Christianity is all about rituals, then they are looking to "religion" and not the true Christian walk.