The word "religion"?

[mlz]

I have a question. My husband and I are both Lutherans, however I have been looking at the Catholic faith. The other night my husband was watching a program on EWTN. (Crossing the Line?) Anyhow, something they said upset him and I understand his point and need some help knowing why someone that is Catholics makes this comment.

Someone wrote in asking if they could come to the conferences even though they went to a different church. (Baptist)

In the response they switched the writers word “church” to “religion”, in other words they said, "Yes, you can come to our conference even though you are of a different “religion”.

Why would those that are Baptist, Lutheran etc. be a different “Religion”??? We’ve always understood the religion to mean “Christian”, “Muslim”, “Buddist” etc. So… a Protestant considers themselves of the Christian religion. When you say they are of a different religion it’s as if you don’t consider them Christian. Can anyone see how that is hurtful? What I would rather hear is when someone Catholic lets Protestants know that they consider Catholisism(sp?) the “fullness of the Christian faith”, not that they are of a different “religion”. Does that make sense?

Thank you for your response.
Blessings in Christ,
mlz

 

[1ke]

I think your husband is being overly sensitive and over thinking this. I did not see the episode you are referring to, so I can only speculate, but I don’t think anyone was trying to be disrespectful.

It’s just a term. Don’t be that sensitive. Yes, you are correct that Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Islam, etc, are “religions.” But, in lay terms I’ve heard people refer to various Christian denominations as “religions” including “the Catholic religion.” It may not be a precise term, but I highly doubt the person responding to the question purposely said something to offend or thought anything at all about using the term “religion.”

Of course Baptists (and Lutherans) are Christians. All who are baptized in Christ are Christians. The Catholic Church recognizes them as Christians (and those on EWTN certainly do too). So, I don’t think anyone was implying that the Baptists aren’t Christians.

I think if you *look *for hidden meanings and slights, you will find them.

 

[Roman_Army]

mlz:

If you look up the word “religion” in the dictionary you will see that it has many different definitions. A religion is basically a set of beliefs, practices, organization, structure, and group of people practicing it. Although Lutherans, Baptists, Orthodox, etc. are Christians, they do not have the same set of beliefs, practices, organization, structure, and like-minded group of people. Although they share most things in common (e.g. the contents of the Creed, most of the books of the Bible, etc.) there are other also very important beliefs that they disagree on. They also are not united in the same organizational structure (e.g. the Primate of Canterbury is not united with the Pope, the Patriarches of the Eastern Orthodox Church is not united with the Patriarches of the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Lutheran bishops are not united with the Baptist ministers, etc. and etc). They also do not have the same practices (e.g. the mass is different, prayers different, Saints are different, disciplinary laws are different, moral laws are different, etc.).

 

[Karmartia]

Yes, exactly right Ke. The moderators probably chose to use the word “religion” as opposed to “church” to demonstrate that not only Christians, but people of all faiths, were welcome to attend. I’m sorry if your husband was offended, but it certainly seems that in this case no offense was intended.

 

[JerryS]

My husband and I are both Lutherans, however I have been looking at the Catholic faith.

With respect, you made a similar distinction yourself. “Looking at the Catholic faith” implies that the faith of Catholics is distinctive. If the faith is different, it’s not much of a stretch to say that it’s a different religion.

I realize you may not have intended that with the words you chose. Perhaps the person on EWTN did not mean to imply it either.

It is also possible that different definitions of “religion” may be at play here. When you hear “religion” you may think of very foundational things like whether one is a follower of Jesus or the Buddha or the Dali Lama. “Religion” can also refer to the details of the faith and practice of a particular community. At a fine enough level, for example, LCMS and ELCA Lutheranism can be described as different religions.

That said, Catholicism can easily give the impression of exclusivity and condescension when viewed from without. It considers itself the one complete, true, and historical Church of Jesus Christ, after all. Many things said by Catholics seemed arrogant and haughty to me until it occurred to me that this might really be true.

And be careful with that EWTN stuff if you really don’t want to be a Catholic.

God be with you in your journey.
Jerry

 

[rick43235]

I have a question. My husband and I are both Lutherans, however I have been looking at the Catholic faith. The other night my husband was watching a program on EWTN. (Crossing the Line?) Anyhow, something they said upset him and I understand his point and need some help knowing why someone that is Catholics makes this comment.

Someone wrote in asking if they could come to the conferences even though they went to a different church. (Baptist)

In the response they switched the writers word “church” to “religion”, in other words they said, "Yes, you can come to our conference even though you are of a different “religion”.

This is just a stab in the dark, but maybe your husband was upset by the way some Catholics claim that the Catholic Church is the only Church (with a capital “C”) and all other Christian denominations are referred to as either churches (with a small “c”) or “ecclesiastical communities.” Perhaps that’s what went through his mind when they changed “church” to “religion.” If your husband is sensitive to this type of thing, I can understand how he might find it to be somewhat arrogant. But, I also doubt that it was meant to be offensive.

 

[puzzleannie]

there is only one Church, to imply that baptized Christians are not members of the Church Christ founded, even though they may not be fully in communion with her, would really be divisive and insulting, and incidentally would deny Catholic teaching on baptism.

 

[cantlogin]

there is only one Church, to imply that baptized Christians are not members of the Church Christ founded, even though they may not be fully in communion with her, would really be divisive and insulting, and incidentally would deny Catholic teaching on baptism.

It’s little wonder why you are so puzzled Annie. You should have listened to RbM while you had the chance.