I've seen many of you make the claim that Christianity isn't a religion, but a relationship. If you truly believe this, are you willing to accept that your relationship does not deserve the legal protections given to religious faiths and organizations by the government? For example, there is a religious exemption to property taxes. If you aren't a religion, should all your churches pay their fair share?
Federal discrimination laws mention religion, but not "relationships." So, by your standards, it would be fine to discriminate openly against Christians? Fire them, refuse them housing, build separate restrooms? You'd have no legal objection to this?
Do you go into bookstores and demand the Bibles be moved from the "Religion" to the "Relationships" section?
Just curious to see if any of you have thought out the actual implications of claiming that your faith isn't really a religion.
2010-03-23T17:17:38Z
Joltin Joe: Really? So, Islam's belief that God reached out to Allah to be His Prophet is not a case of God reaching out to man? How about the Hindu belief that Krishna came to Earth as a mortal child to teach? You need to take some comparative religion classes.
?2010-03-23T13:56:20Z
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We understand that, from the standpoint of government and for categorization purposes, Christianity is legally considered a religion.
Christians, however, are aware that there is a difference between Christianity and all other beliefs it is legally lumped together with. That distinction is that while other belief systems (religions) are man's attempts to reach up to God, Christianity is, conversley, God reaching down to man.
This is not a request to have a special recognition by the government as something more than a "religion" for Christianity, but rather an expression to those who are considering "what is truth" to note the difference between Christianity and other competing systems that are likewise vying for their attention.
An interesting point to make, yes I see the reason for your objection, and for the practicality of it as a religion, it is called a relationship because it is Eternal. The other so called religions are going to find that out some day. The governement has to see it has the practical application of service to others to help them . That the Christian faith does seek to do and yes, there is a mention of religion in the Bible, it is in the book of James, regarding the visiting of widows, orphans, prisoners, and helping them in the way that is possible to be done.So in that sense the Christians faith is to be seen as a religion but more of a relationship that enables the religion to be seen in the people of HIS love to those who need to have Salvation. The other questions you pose I see more as an excuse to complain about the Christian faith.
I'm a christian. I don't go to church. Jesus never did either. He actually got really angry with the "marketing" according to the bible. Everyone is equal. It wouldn't be fine to discriminate openly against Christians. Honestly, the bible should have it's own section. "The Truth; God's word." Religion is laws made by man. Each sin, whether it be a white lie or murder is the same. As people, we know what's right and what's wrong if we let God into our hearts.
Your question is nothing more than a play on words. Christianity is based on a relationship. Religion, as used in our juris-prudence, includes the Christian faith as in the pilgrims left England for America so they could have freedom of religion - freedom to worship God and give expression to their Christian faith according to their beliefs and convictions, not those dictated by the King of England.