Jesus & Religion: Your Thoughts?

[Kurieuo]

I do not necessarily like everything this guy says, but certainly some truths embedded within that on the whole make it worth sharing I think.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY[/youtube]

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

I didn't hear anything incorrect. The only institutionalized form of devotion (''religion'') created by God is OT Judaism. Modern-day Rabbinical Judaism sometimes refers to OT Judaism as ''slaughterhouse worship''.

Excellent clip!

FL

[Seraph]

I can't watch the video since I'm at work, but I believe I've seen that video before so I'm just going off what I think I know about it.

I kind of cringe when people say that they aren't religious they just love Jesus, or stuff like that. It's not going to fly with non-Christians at least. Lets be real, Christianity is a religion by definition, even if it's the one true religion. I don't think most other religions would claim that God directly established their religion, they would claim their alleged holy books were divinely written and creeds were made based on it, like Christianity's (Islam is this way at least). From a scholarly standpoint at least, theres not enough differentiation to put Christianity in a category outside of "religion".

[PaulSacramento]

It has become fashionable to criticize religion and say that one is "spiritual" and not "religious".
Problem is this:
re·li·gion [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA
noun
1.
a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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.

By the very definition of the word, pretty much any and every view/belief about the universe and God is quite simply a religious view.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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.

If you read closely the definition of religion, above, you'll see that each of the 5 points involves some form of ritual, institutionalized form of worship of the various gods of religions.

God - the real One - only instituted one formalized ritual worship, the religion you can read about in Leviticus. All other religions are human creations, this includes yours. Your religion may nurture your faith and enrich your relationship with God, or it may be a dead practice that puffs you up with self-righteousness. I'm pretty sure that religion, as it is practiced by most of us, feeds our pride and self-righteousness.

There is a difference between faith and religion. A saving faith in Jesus is better than any religion, even those religions that get their dogma right. That's how I understand the video Kurieuo posted.

FL

[Kurieuo]

The two opposite sides you guys (PS and FL) are taking, and is one of the reasons I posted it.

I understand what the guy is saying in the video re: distinction between "religion" and "Christ", and use to believe what he does. While I still am drawn towards agreement, but part of me also now feels some awkwardness.

Though I may have a leaning towards certain denominations and Christian churches, I don't affiliate my beliefs with any particular one. So part of me finds it hard to see how my belief in God and Christ makes me "religious" any more than an Atheists "lack of" belief makes them religious. Ideologues perhaps, but not religious as I feel that term is fully understood and often used.

When asked on the census my religion, I'm always at a loss. They're generally look for a response that associates you with this or that denomination or church. Just saying I believe in Christ (hence Christian) seems too generic for people and the world. That is probably a good thing.

Now, I disagree with that guy that "religion" was responsible for many atrocities. That organised churches do not help the poor. Yes, atrocities have been committed under religion whether identifiable as Islam, Christian, Hinduism, Buddhism or maybe even secular ideology under Humanism (where humans are venerated to the place of God). Ultimately though, it is our human desire for wealth and power and our human inclinations towards hate and fearing that cause such things. And churches often quite a bit to help the poor via various ministries, so reaping judgement on them isn't going to get you anywhere.

Not to mention that there are far great monstrosities historically committed in societies governed by irreligious ideologies. It is not religion, but rather ultimately the selfishness of humanity and our sinfulness.

But, notice I just said "irreligious ideologies"? That was unintended and I was going to go back and remove/edit my words. But, it captures something I want to get at. I used it to mean secular ideologies that don't have a belief God exists or is identified by the world as some religion. Therefore, my subconscious doesn't appear able to disassociate "religious ideologies" as being primarily based upon "belief in God" or what the world perhaps superficially classified as a religion. Therefore, it seems subconsciously I do take something like mere belief in God to represent religion albeit in some very minimal form.

That is not to say, I can't understand what the guy is saying and all the different distinctions he is making between "Religion" and "Jesus". Certainly, I don't classify myself as religious although many because of my strong beliefs seem to believe me to be quite religious. Perhaps more than one definition of "religion" being innocuously used, being equivocated, that is causing some logical inconsistency such that "religion in one sense" is not "religion in another sense" but the two are being conflated because on one term -- "religion" -- is being used.

Certainly, the word "religion" seems to be a very complex term that conveys many different meanings to different people. And so, I perhaps we just need to be sensitive to these slight variations in meanings and the intended use of the term when people say "religion". I don't think any dictionary definition cuts the butter enough since they're often quite surface-level and superficial.