Religion or Christ, What's the Difference? (2001), Martin R. De Haan II, RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Preface
Another useful free resource from my former employer, the Canadian Bible Society, @ the former Cafe Logos, Vancouver.
Another useful free resource from my former employer, the Canadian Bible Society, @ the former Cafe Logos, Vancouver.
Originally published on Blogger 20181101, but revised for an entry on academia.edu, 20250118.
Religion or Christ
Headings include
The Danger of being religious (2)
Our worst errors are always religious ones (2)
Danger follows those who trust God on their own terms (3).
Religion is something to believe and do (4)
Christ is someone to know and trust (5)
Importantly for my review within the Defining Our Terms (32) section is
Quote in italics:
Religion-a system of thought and conduct expressing a belief in God (32)
From this booklet, Biblical Christianity is not a system of thought and conduct expressing a belief in God? This booklet is helpful, but as does sometimes occur on this website, here we see a difference of approach within biblical Christianity. With this brief review, we see a divide between this type of evangelical, and in this case, I would deduce, possibly, fundamentalist, views on religious philosophy, theology and doctrine. This opposed to my Reformed, theological and philosophical views. By this booklet's own definition above, for clarity, in my humble opinion, Christianity too would be a religion.
Headings include
The Danger of being religious (2)
Our worst errors are always religious ones (2)
Danger follows those who trust God on their own terms (3).
Religion is something to believe and do (4)
Christ is someone to know and trust (5)
Importantly for my review within the Defining Our Terms (32) section is
Quote in italics:
Religion-a system of thought and conduct expressing a belief in God (32)
From this booklet, Biblical Christianity is not a system of thought and conduct expressing a belief in God? This booklet is helpful, but as does sometimes occur on this website, here we see a difference of approach within biblical Christianity. With this brief review, we see a divide between this type of evangelical, and in this case, I would deduce, possibly, fundamentalist, views on religious philosophy, theology and doctrine. This opposed to my Reformed, theological and philosophical views. By this booklet's own definition above, for clarity, in my humble opinion, Christianity too would be a religion.
Hopfe defines religion, as the English word religion, that is derived from the Latin religio. (3). Religio refers to the fear or awe that a human being feels in the presence of a spirit or a god. (3). From a Western approach, religion can be defined as a set of beliefs. (3). But Hopfe states that this includes belief in gods (3), but within a monotheistic system, there is one God. Hopfe correctly explains that a religion will have a set of beliefs within a moral system. (3). I would reason that Christianity is a religious worldview with a belief in God, morality and doctrines. It is a religion.
Nigosian also explains that religion comes from the Latin word religio. (1). But he writes that the etymology is disputed. (1). It is explained that 'Some scholars have tried to connect religio with other Latin terms, such as relegere (to reread), relinquere (to relinquish), and religare (to religate, to unite, to bind together' (1). According to Nigosian many within scholarship view religare as a classic understanding. (1). Interestingly, he writes that a Western understanding views religion as a concept of a person (2), I would add, that God is viewed as personal. The author writes that God as a person implies a relationship between God and human beings. (2). In my mind, biblical Christianity would be a religion, a religious worldview, where the triune God has a relationship with those predestined (Ephesians 1, Romans, 1 Peter 2, as examples) to be covered in applied salvation (justification, sanctification) by the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, through regeneration (John 3, Titus, 1 Peter 1 as examples).
I reason, Christian, faith, theology and philosophy has within its core doctrines, sound, reasonable, true premises and conclusions. It is a system of thoughts, ethics, morals with beliefs in regard to God. I, as well reason that core Christianity contains more truth in its premises and conclusions than any other competing worldview, religious or non-religious.
In denying Christianity is a religion, this booklet, most notably, negates Christianity from the legitimate academic disciplines that use the word Religion, such as Religious Studies and Philosophy of Religion and places Christianity in the personalized 'I know Jesus Christ personally' intellectual category. In contrast, I view Christianity as reasonably supported within the academic disciplines of Religious Studies and Philosophy of Religion, and of course as well, Theology and Biblical Studies and academic disciplines such as History and Archaeology, as examples.
The triune God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit is personally known within a true biblical Christian walk through grace alone, by faith alone. For good works, not by good works. God is known personally, yes, and also known about though religious history and reason, sometimes within academic disciplines.
Cited
“It’s a relationship, not a religion.”
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In my mind it is both a relationship and a religion. It is a religious, relationship.
Cited
'“Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle” has become common parlance among college-aged Christians. But it’s also wrong and misleading.'
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It is error, agreed.
Cited
'...proponents of what I’ll call “relationship theology” are completely correct that the core of Christianity is relationship. Their decrials of legalism are often sharp and necessary. But presenting relationships as antithetical to religion itself is a false dichotomy, and its imprecise use of language is completely foreign to historic Christianity.'
---
Agreed, there is a false dichotomy, a false distinction, presented with that type of typically evangelical theology.
Cited
'Put simply, Christianity is a religion. The biblical author James says, “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.”'
Cited
'Both biblically and historically, then, we can recognize that claiming Christianity as a sort of uniquely nonreligious worldview is untenable. Virtually all of Christianity’s historic proponents, from the authors of scripture up through the 20th century, agreed on this fact: It’s a religion.'
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James 1: 26-27, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Cited
'θρησκεία is religion'
'θρησκεία (thréskeia) is Religion, Worship'
Cited
'Definition: Religion, Worship
Meaning: (underlying sense: reverence or worship of the gods), worship as expressed in ritual acts, religion.
Word Origin: Derived from a derivative of θρησκός (thrēskos), meaning "religious" or "devout."
James 1:27 N-NFS (Noun, Nominative, Feminine, Singular. my add)
GRK: θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ (religion pure and, my add)
NAS: and undefiled religion in the sight'
Note
James 1: 26
θρησκὸς (thrēskos) is religious
θρησκεία (thrēskeia) is religion
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Summary
The Book of James views New Testament Christianity as religion. The New Testament itself appears to answer the question, Religion or Christ, with Religion and Christ, and/or Religion in Christ. The New Testament itself and some other reasonable points presented in this brief review, answer the question.
Religion or Christ, What's the Difference? (2001), Martin R. De Haan II, RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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