I am curious why some Christians have decided that their beliefs are not a religion.\n\nWebster defines Religion as:\nEtymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back -- more at RELY\n1 a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance\n2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices\n3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS\n4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith\n- re•li•gion•less\n\nWhy do you believe that all other beliefs that worship a god should be labeled as a religion while your worship of a god is not?  How long has Christianity not been considered a religion?  \n\nDo not confuse this question as an insult, I am honestly curious.
127263
A lot of people including some who call themselves "Christian" are confused about what the true meaning of religion is. \n\nThe true meaning is a very positive one that is needed for all of humanity. \n\nThis is what anyone who calls their self a "Christian" should know about the meaning of religion as it pertains to following the commandments of Christ:\n\n"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world." -James 1, 27\n\nThis Yahoo news article is an example of the Christian religion in action:\nhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060415/ap_on_re_us/skid_row_easter
348649
I am a Deist.  We believe in God, but do not believe in holy texts.  So there is a whole religion out there that believes in God, but no texts.
260005
I think many believe in their religions entirely, they are just very good at rationalizing their own departures from religious laws because, like all human beings, they put themselves before others. Moreover, that fact that all they have to do in some cases is ask for forgiveness or perform some act of repentence makes it that much easier for them to sin and still claim to be a believer. It doesn't help matters that in many cases, scripture is confusing or contradictory, giving people of faith the opportunity to classify certain behaviors as an exception to the rules, or allowing them to argue against certain laws by citing other scripture that seems to differ.
295208
Church is a people who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.\n\nJust because a person does not go to a building to worship does not mean they are not a Christian, but we are to gather togather in order to uplift and encourage one another.
119509
My defintions of your words:\n\nscience: the study of the physical world based on the accumlation of factual evidence and the construction of theories to explain said evidence.\n\nattitude: the general manner in which an individual views or acts towards something.\n\ngod: a devine being that is the object of religious worship\n\nGod: the Judeo-Christian god\n\nprayer: a form of spoken (including silently spoken) worship\n\nsoul/spirt: the conceptual essence of the human conciousness\n\nreligion: a system of belief in and worship of a divine being, a system of traditions\n\nsilence: the absence of sound\n\nsalvation: being saved from something, often used by sects of Christianity to describe being saved from enteral damnation\n\nlogic: reason, rational thought\n\nrelationship: the interaction between to people or things\n\nmoral: adhering to a code of right and wrong\n\nethic: a set of moral principles; the code to which one must adhere to be moral\n\nChristianity: a religion\n\natheism: not believing in the existence of any god or gods\n\nagnosticsm: believing that a god or gods may or may not exist and we can't be sure; not knowing what religion one wants to believe in (one can be agnostic because one is certain we can never be certain or because one is in the process of deciding what one believes)\n\nnonbeliever: someone who does not believe in something, particularly a religion\n\nbeliever: someone who unquestioningly accepts or believes in something, particularly a religion\n\ntolerance: not attacking or discriminating against certain groups that are somehow different from oneself, often doing so with reservation or out of obligation\n\nunderstanding: comprehending something or empathizing with someone\n\nacceptance: the result of understanding, similar to tolerance but without reservation\n\n________________\nA few of my own:\n\ncreationism: the belief that the creation story described in Genesis is literally true despite scientific evidence to the contrary; the rejection of the scientific theory of evolution based on its contradicting a literal interpretation of Genesis\n\nintelligent design: creationism masquerading as psuedoscience\n\nretarded: slowed in some way, often refers to mental retardation, which is defined as an IQ below the first quartile (I think that's where it is anyway); should not be used as an insult\n\ngay: either cheerful (as in skipping gayly) or homosexual; should not be used as an insult
164390
Christianity is faith based and centered on a risen Savior. Those that have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior do not comprehend this faith, therefore cannot explain it. Since they cannot explain this faith that Christians possess, it scares them. Therefore, it is easier to condemn and shy away from Christians and Christianity then to accept those that have this faith.\n\nTrue Christians are peace loving people that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. (Key words: True Christians) These teaching are against what non Christians want to practice and how they choose to live. They fear that Christians will change the way they want to live, and so they spend their lives running from this faith based religion.\n\nPersonally, if I had never met Jesus Christ, I truly believe I would be praying to do so. I had rather leave this world believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and find out I was right... than to leave this world not believing and find out I was wrong.
466141
We are ALL born atheist, that is "without belief in gods".  That's called "implicit atheism".  Even if we're programmed to "search" for something to worship (which I highly doubt, by the way), we BEGIN without any actual knowledge of deities.  We are, by default, without belief and therefore atheistic.
330042
It doesn't have a label. I have thought like that in the past. It's an interesting theory - that the Earth is a just place. Anyway you wouldn't want to call it atheist or agnostic, and you would probably have to explain yourself every time! If only more people could be open-minded and creative like you! Most people think they have to stick to either exactly what the Christian Bible says, or they are atheist. There is nothing wrong with coming up with your own theory, such as maybe we go to another planet when we die! Who knows? AND WHO CARES. We should be focusing more on this life and doing good things whether or not we get REWARDED! Christians are only selfish people looking for rewards such as Heaven and claim to be "moral." They act morally, but aren't truly moral. They do it for themselves and their own satisfaction, not as a human being who thinks everyone SHOULD do it. Don't call yourself atheist - because you have a strong defined belief. And don't say agnostic because YES, you do know what you believe. Just explain it. You are not Pagan (polytheistic), or wiccan (witches) either. By the way, YOU DON'T NEED BELONGINGNESS like others think. It's nice to believe in something that you really believe in, not something others do. As long as you don't take it too far and start a cult with human or animal sacrifices and holy wars and stuff, JK. Just tell everyone you have beliefs, so are not atheist like me, but they are different than established religions, or are some sort of combination. Either way the Christians have condemned you to "Hell" in their corrupt, hypocritical, contradictory world. Good luck!
247004
"all religions make you worship god"????  You really need to do a little more research on the numerous religions of the world.  There are many that don't believe in god.  And I wasn't aware that they "made" you worship god, I thought that this was a choice that people make?  I'm agnostic, but believe that it is perfectly acceptable to people to believe in god if they want.
333064
Personally, I am not a Christian nor do I believe in the same creator, Lord as you do. I do however have the modesty and decency to respect your choice in Religion and the civility not to insult it. \n\nPeople who poke fun at the Christian faith, and generalize all Christians into one category, whether it be "stupid" "idiot" "imbecile" or as a recent post stated, "retarded" are only proving to be close-minded. People who insult the Christian faith are people who cannot see a situation from a different perspective, and understand the stance of another.\n\nWhere as one might not believe it to be true, they don't feel a need to respect it, proving only ignorance and barbarity. \n\nI don't believe in your Religion, but I do respect it, and the people who choose to believe in the Christian faith. I see you are very strong willed, and set on your Religion. Such a security is very admirable, and more people should have such an honest devout opinion about nonstereotyping, and freedom as you. \n\nI bid you a good night. \n<3 Ashlee
604968
I see it as a religion of those who don't believe in a supreme being. Since religion is a belief in something then same goes for them.
161641
Facts ... I believe in "God". I am not able to accept the Christian version of monotheism. I consider it illogical and it makes no sense to me. I do not lie awake at night not believing. The Bible is not perfect. It has been mistranslated by numerous translators in various translations. Christianity is not the worlds longest running religion. There was Judaism and Hinduism and several others prior to 2000 years ago that are still alive and well. You asked for facts. Those are facts. I'm not Christian. That doesn't bother me. You are Christian. That doesn't bother me either. Instead of worrying about others and their relationship with "God" or their lack of same maybe there's something else you need to be looking at? Just a thought. And that's a fact. :-)
141509
Theology is the study of all religions and their concepts and is not contained within a specific belief system. Religion is the practice of a certain belief system, or dogma if you will, and is very narrow in scope. One can be a theologist without being religious or even practice any religion.\n\nI think what they are telling you is that you are not accepting or knowledgable of other belief systems outside of your own. In other words, your religion is the ONLY TRUE religion--which seems to be the down fall of most religious entities.
651658
Faith is belief without proof. I can't speak for all Christians, but I don't think I'm any better than anybody else. For that matter, I don't KNOW that I picked the right religion, I just believe I did. Can't prove it, can't disprove it, I just believe it. I do agree with some of the "idiots" that CONSTANTLY question religion, though. Some of the pseudo-christians on here are more conceited than saved.
124979
People claim religion is 'from God' because they are deluded.  They have no rational reason to believe a deity exists, but they believe it anyway.  If religious claims had any basis in reality then we could reasonably expect babies to grow up with one true religion, rather than almost invariably absorbing the religion of the family or culture they grow up in.
669495
Understand that I'm not coming at this from a religious viewpoint.You need to examine your terms.You can be any of the first three things you call yourself,no problem,but you can't be the first AND the last.There is a basic confict there-and so you can't be a Christian Atheist.Now,I know,you're gonna say,I believe Jesus was a good man,but not necessarily God with a capital G.Well okay,but but atheism believes there is nothing in the spiritual realm AT ALL.No soul,No spirit,no gods,etc.etc.So you can be an atheist,but you can't be a Christian,at least not in the the traditional sense.
10873
IN THAT case we need to agree in as to what a god is to you. Here are the definitions of  God, and A god: \nA being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.\nThe force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being.\nA being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people, especially a male deity thought to control some part of nature or reality.\nAn image of a supernatural being; an idol.\nOne that is worshiped, idealized, or followed: Money was their god.\nA very handsome man.\nA powerful ruler or despot.\n   Notice that i said God and a god, ince you mentioned christianity, then we need to talk about God, because Christianity does not praise gods, But "God" .Pay attention to the 1st definition. That is the one that applies to Chritianity, because they praise it, But they do not praise satan. Satan is just something they dont want to deal with. A god is something you worship, it is not something you detest.