Another definition of religion

  • Thread starter Thread starter mikew262
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mikew262

Guest
I saw this definition of religion in a newspaper letter to the editor that was talking about separation of church and state. It made a lot of sense to me.

“Religion is simply an opinion and/or methodology on how to worship God”.

There are numerous religions out the in the world that all generally acknowledge 1 supreme being (God). Is one religion really better than another as long as the practitioners of that religion are worshiping God? God may be going by a different name in these religions, but he is still God.

Of course any religion can be twisted and perverted to fit one’s agenda. We see that today, but if one is simply practicing their faith with a good heart and peacefully, worshiping who they acknowledge as God, is it truly bad or just simply just different?

Maybe all God really wants is to be acknowledged, worshiped, loved, that man lives a good and peaceful life and the means on how that happens (religion) is not all that important to him.

Most of these questions are to generate discussion and comment, and me wondering out loud. I haven’t totally bought into this concept, but it makes me think a little bit.
 
Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O man, what is good,
And what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do justice
And to love goodness,
And to walk modestly with your God,
Then will your name achieve wisdom.
 
mikew262 said:
I saw this definition of religion in a newspaper letter to the editor that was talking about separation of church and state. It made a lot of sense to me.

“Religion is simply an opinion and/or methodology on how to worship God”.

There are numerous religions out the in the world that all generally acknowledge 1 supreme being (God). Is one religion really better than another as long as the practitioners of that religion are worshiping God? God may be going by a different name in these religions, but he is still God.

Of course any religion can be twisted and perverted to fit one’s agenda. We see that today, but if one is simply practicing their faith with a good heart and peacefully, worshiping who they acknowledge as God, is it truly bad or just simply just different?

Maybe all God really wants is to be acknowledged, worshiped, loved, that man lives a good and peaceful life and the means on how that happens (religion) is not all that important to him.

Most of these questions are to generate discussion and comment, and me wondering out loud. I haven’t totally bought into this concept, but it makes me think a little bit.
Click to expand...
Whatever it is Jesus needs to be there or you don’t have God either according to the Bible.
 
Kaninchen said:
Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O man, what is good,
And what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do justice
And to love goodness,
And to walk modestly with your God,
Then will your name achieve wisdom.
Click to expand...
Kind of backs up what I was saying.
 
FaithofAbraham said:
Whatever it is Jesus needs to be there or you don’t have God either according to the Bible.
Click to expand...
From a Christian viewpoint that is true, but I’m asking folks to take a broader look at religion in general. Most religions worship God in one fashion or another; Christianity is just one of those religions.
 
mikew262 said:
From a Christian viewpoint that is true, but I’m asking folks to take a broader look at religion in general. Most religions worship God in one fashion or another; Christianity is just one of those religions.
Click to expand...
I don’t know, what all is there? A lot of Hindus accept Jesus as a deity. Buddhists are atheist. Judaism allows atheism.
 
mikew262 said:
I saw this definition of religion in a newspaper letter to the editor that was talking about separation of church and state. It made a lot of sense to me.

“Religion is simply an opinion and/or methodology on how to worship God”.

There are numerous religions out the in the world that all generally acknowledge 1 supreme being (God). Is one religion really better than another as long as the practitioners of that religion are worshiping God? God may be going by a different name in these religions, but he is still God.

Of course any religion can be twisted and perverted to fit one’s agenda. We see that today, but if one is simply practicing their faith with a good heart and peacefully, worshiping who they acknowledge as God, is it truly bad or just simply just different?

Maybe all God really wants is to be acknowledged, worshiped, loved, that man lives a good and peaceful life and the means on how that happens (religion) is not all that important to him.

Most of these questions are to generate discussion and comment, and me wondering out loud. I haven’t totally bought into this concept, but it makes me think a little bit.
Click to expand...
I believe you have a lot of good ideas here. ONes which actually can be backed up by the Bible:
Jesus admonished the Apostles for interfereing with someone involking Jesus name in healing because, “he was not of our company”.
Jesus declared that many will come from “outside” to the Father’s table while many “subject to the Kingdom” will not make it. (Matthew 8:10-12)
Jesus was constantly directing peoples faith away from himself and to God the Father. (“Your Faith has…”)(Call none Holy…)

Jesus Tells us that the entire Law is based on the first two commandments, Love of God and Love of neighbor.
It has been my contention for a long time that any religion that adheres to this principle, Love of God and Love of Neighbor must be viewed in a “rightious” light.
“By their fruits you will know them”

Of course I am sure that this thread will evolve into a battle of the verses as oft times happens. But I agree that you have it broken down to it’s simplest form.

James
 
JRKH said:
I believe you have a lot of good ideas here. ONes which actually can be backed up by the Bible:
Jesus admonished the Apostles for interfereing with someone involking Jesus name in healing because, “he was not of our company”.
Jesus declared that many will come from “outside” to the Father’s table while many “subject to the Kingdom” will not make it. (Matthew 8:10-12)
Jesus was constantly directing peoples faith away from himself and to God the Father. (“Your Faith has…”)(Call none Holy…)

Jesus Tells us that the entire Law is based on the first two commandments, Love of God and Love of neighbor.
It has been my contention for a long time that any religion that adheres to this principle, Love of God and Love of Neighbor must be viewed in a “rightious” light.
“By their fruits you will know them”

Of course I am sure that this thread will evolve into a battle of the verses as oft times happens. But I agree that you have it broken down to it’s simplest form.

James
Click to expand...
Thanks! 😉
 
mikew262 said:
Well, this didn’t generate much discussion. 🤷
Click to expand...
I often wonder why this happens and honestly can’t say for sure.

What I do know is that once we boil down our Christian faith to the absolute simplest level, we are left with this very thing. God will judge each one on his/her merits, faith, and actions alone.

Maybe what happens is that the people who read these kinds of threads are confounded by the simple truth of it. To dispute it would be to dispute the very foundational Truth of the Kingdom and the Law given from Jesus own mouth.
To agree with it and embrace it would be require a rethinking of deeply engrained ideas. - Plus it leaves no wiggle room. You either live to love God or you don’t.

As my signature says - God Is!!! All the rest is details.👍

James
 
JRKH said:
I often wonder why this happens and honestly can’t say for sure.

What I do know is that once we boil down our Christian faith to the absolute simplest level, we are left with this very thing. God will judge each one on his/her merits, faith, and actions alone.

Maybe what happens is that the people who read these kinds of threads are confounded by the simple truth of it. To dispute it would be to dispute the very foundational Truth of the Kingdom and the Law given from Jesus own mouth.
To agree with it and embrace it would be require a rethinking of deeply engrained ideas. - Plus it leaves no wiggle room. You either live to love God or you don’t.

As my signature says - God Is!!! All the rest is details.👍

James
Click to expand...
Perhaps you are right. I think it scares people to think “outside of the box” sometimes, which I understand.
 
mikew262 said:
Well, this didn’t generate much discussion. 🤷
Click to expand...
I was actually expecting you to get a lot of flack for taking up pluralism. Glad it didn’t happen! 🙂

That definition does make a lot of sense, though I’d add one thing to it: a particular idea of God. Even though it’s only common sense to say that all religions are striving toward one shared goal, they often differ on the characteristics of the divine. Unitarians vs. Trinitarians, for instance, or God vs. Goddess, and so on. After all, for now we see as through a glass, darkly 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top