"Religion" a bad word

[CopticChristian]

How would this Church define “religion.” If it’s Jesus, but not “religion” should the IRS be contacted to investigate the tax-exempt status of the owner?

There might even be a problem with false advertising here. Suppose someone went and could not find what it was they said they had? Are they liable or only if they gave money?

 

[Paul_theApostle]

Going to the Orthodox for some time ,i used to hear them teach ,preach and say many times that Christianity/Orthodoxy ‘is not a religion but a way of life’

but i knew it was mentioned in the bible but never said anything to them

i have wondered what the greek translation is to these verses

 

[Cat]

I think the whole point of this thread is that evangelical Protestants, for the most part, have a different definition of the word “religion” than Catholics, and we Catholics need to understand that and remember it when we are discussing spiritual matters with evangelical Protestants.

Catholics can argue and debate and criticize all we want. But it probably won’t change anything. Why waste your energy on a futile debate that really doesn’t matter?

After all, when it comes time for us to face Christ at our particular judgement, He probably will not ask us what our definition of the word “religion” is, and give us a pass into heaven if we get the definition correct. Rather, He will ask us if we visited the orphans and widows in their distress and kept ourselves unspotted from the world. Many Catholics as well as Protestants will have a hard time answering “yes” to those questions.

Rather than trying to convince evangelical Protestants to change their defininition of the word, it would be better to simply accept that they define religion differently than we do, and continue our discussions with that understanding, and with charity and friendliness.

IF you are convinced that evangelical Protestants need to change their definition of “religion,” then rather than debating your friends and associates, you must appeal to the main teachers and preachers in the evangelical Protestant world, and get them to change their definition of the word.

If a pastor/teacher like (e.g.) John Ortberg, who is loved and respected by most evangelical Protestants, published an article or another best-selling book in which he re-defined the word “religion” the way Catholics understand the word, and un-demonized the word "religion, "then a large number of evangelical Protestants would correct themselves and accept Pastor Ortberg’s teaching.

Another way to appeal to evangelical Protestants is through their music, mainly the music that is performed by popular contemporary Christian musicians. Get artist like (e.g.) Jars of Clay to write a song in which the correct definition of the word “religion” is used, and that will change the way Protestants perceive the word.

But to argue with regular folks is probably not very productive and will only lead to less communication between the Catholic and their Protestant pals.

 

[Cat]

but what would these individuals say or how would they handle it if they were quoted these verses James 1:26-27 and 1 Timothy 5:4, that I posted the full text for above, that clearly use the word religion in a positive context.

do they simply ignore these verses if they have read them?

the Bible never uses the world religion in a negative way at all that I’ve ever found.

Isn’t the Bible supposed to be the authority for Evangelicals when it comes to faith and practice?

I think you have a good question here, but you are seeking a simplistic answer. It is never wise to think that evangelical Protestants “ignore” any portion of Scripture. Be very careful never to make this assumption about evangelical Protestants, because it isn’t true.

Here is how the evangelical Protestant would answer your question.

First, the verses that you are quoting are not using the word “religion” to describe a “system” of man-made rituals and rules, but rather, to describe the charitable works that should issue from every person who is a Christian. Evangelical Protestants have no objection to the charitable works of Christians, if that is what you mean by “religion.” What evangelical Protestants reject is the idea of a “religion” meaning a man-made system of rituals and rules; e.g., “obligation” Masses and holy days, liturgical worship, rules about fasting and bowing and other gestures and postures, sacraments that must be received, statues and architecture, dress and head coverings, etc.–in other words, the practices taught by Catholicism.

Second, the use of the word “religion” is simply a translation of the original word, and does not appear in every translation of the New Testament. The NIV is just one translation, and not necessarily accepted by all evangelical Protestants. I personally dislike the NIV translation immensely, and never have accepted it. My New American Standard translation, long-accepted by Protestant scholars as one of the most accurate translations, and also the old King James translation, both use the word “piety” rather than “religion” in I Timothy 5:4.

Third, the Bible does NOT use the specific word “religion” in a negative way. But throughout the Bible, man-made rituals and rules are denounced as useless and offensive to God. Jesus Christ Himself delivered a scathing denouncement of Pharisaism in Matthew 23, pronouncing seven “woes” upon those who insist upon man-made rules. And the Old Testament prophets constantly delivered messages that “To obey is better than sacrifice;” i.e., following a ritual of slaughtering an animal was not as important to God as obeying God’s commandments about murder, adultery, idolatry, etc.

It is very important to not take specific Bible verses out of context, and those who take two verses to demonstrate that the Catholic definition of religion is the correct one are ignoring the rest of the Bible that denounces man-made ritual.

Before everyone begins attacking me here, let me make it clear that the Catholic answer to those who condemn “man-made rituals and rules” is, “Yes, we Catholics agree with you! Man-made systems of rituals and rules are not what the Catholic Church teaches. Catholics believe in obeying God alone, and that’s why we continue to go to Mass and receive the Sacraments–because these are God’s teachings as described in the Old and New Testaments. Here, let me show you the Bible verses that describe the origin of the Mass, Baptism, Confirmation, etc.”

And then you would open the Protestant’s Bible, not YOUR Bible, but his/her Bible, and show them those verses that “prove” that Catholicism is not a “man-made religion,” but rather, the true teaching of Jesus Christ.

 

[Bran_Stark]

I hope I am explaining this adequately. I was raised in it, and many other evangelical Protestants will know just what I’m talking about. There was never any sort of flagellation or abuse of the body; on the contrary, that would have made us MORE aware of the body. But there was a definite disdain for anything physical during worship (other than music). Stained glass windows, beads, incense, candles, flowers, vestments, kneeling, tasting bread and/or wine–we didn’t need any of that. It was just “physical,” and since the physical will all pass, there is no need for us to use it to help us worship the True God.

Do Evangelicals really not like flowers?

 

[Te_Deum]

Religion is the practise of one’s faith. If you don’t have religion, you don’t have faith. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Cat]

Do Evangelicals really not like flowers?

Of course they like flowers.

But they weren’t needed for worship. The point is, nothing “physical” was needed for worship.

There are a lot of Catholics who believe that the church building must have a certain architecture to truly qualify as a “holy space.” This concept is utterly foreign to evangelical Protestants, who believe that Christ makes all spaces holy.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Religion is the practise of one’s faith. If you don’t have religion, you don’t have faith. It’s as simple as that.

This is what I’ve always said. That’s why it’s wrong, I think, for evangelicals to redefine religion.

 

[Tyuiop411]

Oddly enough, all these Churches boast about how they are “Growing”. One has just put up a billboard near my house which reads, “One Church, two locations!” A Catholic has to laugh at this - if two locations are good, why not 17,592 locations?

That made my day. We should put up a couple of billboards like that.

 

[asd72]

I have also come across this concept. I think it represents a lack of knowledge about lithurgy. Evangelicals tend to think liturgical churches follow empty rituals, not grace infused Sacraments.

We are also sometimes talking different lanuages. I think they would be perplexed listening to Brother JReduction talking about secular Priests!