Christianity and the word "religion"?

First off, you have to note that the definition you referenced is not the only definition of the term "religion"...and I think that at least part of the objections some Christians have to the term "religion" are related to the other definitions.

More importantly, there is an implied "collectivism" in even the definition you referenced. The word "set" is particularly problematic when used in conjunction with the term "Christian" because it suggests that there is one collective grouping of beliefs common to all Christians and that simply isn't true. If you look at the specific doctrines of the WIDE variety of churches that call themselves "Christian", it is pretty clear that there is little agreement among all those churches about what should and should not be included in that "set of beliefs". To illustrate, some groups of "Christians" believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he was God...some believe that he was the messiah but just a man...and still others believe he was merely a great prophet.

The phrase "ritual observances" also suggests a collective perspective as does the reference to a "moral code" (singular) that governs "human affairs (plural)...both suggest that there is some universal list of rules and procedures associated with the religion...and again, that's not consistent with the beliefs of all Christians (some certainly, but some others, such as myself, actually find that "one-size-fits-all" rulebook approach completely inconsistent with the message of Christ).

The problem with this implied collectivism is related to what you said about the meaning of words...specifically, the fact that, in addition to the dictionary "meaning", we all attach additional meanings to words based on our own experiences. As such, each individual's definition of the term "Christian" incorporates what they have learned and experienced about the message of Christ. ...and that can and often does result in wildly inaccurate conclusions about what a person believes because they are "Christian". To put it another way, when I object to someone calling my beliefs a "religion", what I'm really objecting to isn't the dictionary meaning of the term, it is the added meaning that I know the person saying it is attaching to the term!

I suspect that most people who object to calling "Christianity" a "religion" would have no objection to calling "Baptist", "Church of Christ", "Catholic", "Jehovah's Witnesses", "Mormon" and any other denomination a "religion".

Note too that because the definition you referenced contains non-absolute terms like "especially", "usually", and "often", it can and absolutely does apply to EVERY "set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe...". As such, atheism is a religion...as is evolution. I suspect that if non-believers were willing to accept that their particular "set of beliefs" are a "religion", then few Christians would object when the label was applied to their beliefs...but that's not the case.

I would suggest that the phenomena you mentioned can be easily explained by the unwillingness of some Christians to have their INDIVIDUAL beliefs lumped in with every other person who calls themselves a "Christian"...because we KNOW that the term includes a whole bunch of added meaning (again, individual) that is completely inconsistent with what we believe. In other words, by objecting to the term "religion", I'm not objecting to the generic meaning of the term, I'm objecting to the image another person has in their mind when they hear or say the term "religion".

You see, I think that Jesus made it perfectly clear that things like rituals and following some particular set of rules and laws is NOT consistent with his instructions...that being a Christian has NOTHING to do with church attendance...or following a prescribed set of "moral mandates" from God. I also think he made it clear that we need to seek God with our own heart, mind, and body...that looking to other people for direction (e.g., to define the rules or translate them into a ritual or practice) is an invitation to deception. I know what most people think when they hear the word religion...and I'm convinced that Jesus would hate having that word attached to his message as much as I hate having it attached to my interpretation of his message...after all, he sure had a lot of negative things to say about the most "religious" people he encountered!

It seems to me you are asking for help finding an argument that will justify your point of view or definition of a word. Whats the big deal? You know the definitions very well. Who cares whether "they" do or not? I am Christian and Christianity is my religion. 99% of the time the question: What is your religion? is asked, it is a simple question to know what faith you are. Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, etc. Religion encompasses all faiths, while Christianity is a specific belief that Gods Only Begotten Son, Jesus, lived a perfect life which qualified Him as "The Lamb of God". His death on the cross was the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. It is in His Name, by His blood and through His Spirit that we may be saved.

One has to look at God's definition of the word religion, not man's. In scripture, it is written that pure, undefiled religion is to help the poor, comfort the feeble minded, and support the widows-in James.

Religion as it was intended is a way of life that results from a loving relationship with our Father. Satan has a tendency to twist what was originally a good thing into perversion- Bible reading, prayer, giving, and anything else that disciplines us and makes us more Christ-like can become perverted. Read the Word prayerfully, seek God's face, and walk desiring Him. People will try to persecute,ridicule, and confuse- this is fallen human nature- they are not your problem, except that you must pray that they would know Him intimately. As you are a light, you will either be loved or hated- just like Jesus.

I personally have never heard of a Christian who doesn't believe they're part of a 'religion', but I'll presume that there are people out there who think this way.

I reckon the reason for this is because 'religion' is a term applied to many different collections of beliefs. I suppose they may not want to associate with the lesser, 'cultish fads' or whatever they consider them to be. Besides, I would imagine if they are so convinced that Christianity is the one true way of life, they wouldn't need to dub it as a 'belief' as they would take it to be true.

(By the way, I'm not a Christian.)

Because those Christians want all the other religions to be officially discredited...

They logically know that if there is more than one religion, but there's only one God, then somebody has to be wrong, so they want to officially have their religion declared "The Right One" and have Christianity "canonized" by the world's nations and the societies that exist within those nations.

They don't like the competition...(Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheism, Agnostic, etc etc etc...)

My humorous running joke is...

I'm a "Militant Agnostic," and our credo is...

"I don't know what the hell is going on, and...

...neither do you!"

Christianity is a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior.

Religion is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.

these are the definitions of the words that you asked , but i want to you at first think of your self , who has created you , this world , all things So you will thing that here is just one creator that Create all these things that he is (Allah), I wish you be guided , if you are muslim then recite holy Quran will solve all your question if not then go the the site http://livetv.afghansite.com/ then Click on India flag then you will see lots of indian channel, there is three islamic channel peace tv, india , uk and usa so go for that and you will see and find your best answer .

Many Protestant Evangelicals associate the world "religion" with Roman Catholic "tradition".

To them, "religion" [means] simply going through a series of empty rituals in order to bribe God into overlooking your sins.

Most Evangelicals see themselves as mystics that commune directly with God via the Holy Spirit whenever they want to, rather than legalistically follow a set of empty habits just once a week (or on holidays).

The hypocrisy and lies demonstrated in so many 'religions' makes one want to separate from the word.

The very word turns off so many.

In an effort to not contribute to people jumping to conclusions, some avoid the word religion.

It would seem that neither the speaker, nor the listener enjoys the word anymore.

It's simple - Christians are too arrogant to call their set of consensus based 'facts' and rituals a 'religion' because it's not unique. They want to set themselves above of any other beliefs as they have enough naivety and conviction to think they have the one and only answer. Basically they don't want Christianity to be a sub genre of something that they are sharing with hundreds of other cults because they laugh in the faces of anything that isn't their 'incorrigible' Christianity.

Peace.

I have been on Yahoo Answer since the beginning of time, and I have NEVER seen this issue arise. So Im not sure where your getting this kind of flack for the word "religion".