Religion and Church are not the same as a relationship with God. How do other christians feel about this?
927732
Correct!\nChurch membership is not being part of the body of Christ!\nGathering together, is both a duty and privilege, though.\nThe word church became adopted because the local church bodies started building these things in a quasi-attempt to (wrongly) bring the temple/synagogue ideal into Christianity and for purposes of separation, where they were unfettered by the rules and regulations of the owners of the buildings that were previously used.  they were the church's and soon they were simply known as churches.\nThe Bible teaches that We (believers) are the living stones that build his church body, and no amount of worldly of fleshly work will transcend into that membership.
1030990
well, I was a bible thumping christian for 23 years-old. Then one day I woke up and realized that all Christian's do is judge and say how everyone is going to hell if they don't believe in GOD.  Who gives them the right to say that.  I also realized that you can't force others to believe in what you  believe in.  I was always being asked by fellow church members on why I didn't have a visitor at church or why I wasn't persistent on sharing my faith with others.  I just got tired of it and left.  No one should tell you how your relationship  with god should be like, even if it's not to their standards.   I also realized that the money I thought I was giving to god wasn't going towards his work it was going into the pastors pocket, There were single mothers in our church who could barely feed there families and the pastor has five kids and a two story house and he is able to write off food and bills when it comes to taxes, cause the Church pays for it.  Yeah the CHURCH me and my money pay him so he can live like a king.  so F***religion.  I couldn't be happier with out it.
1174001
I don't know about religion but as far as relationship goes, It is very important to have a close relationship with Jesus Christ. And I mean you repent and as for forgiveness from God, and follow Christ. Christ is The Life and without Him there is no LIfe.
908316
The problem is that everyone IS arguing about RELIGION. Ok first of all yes I am Christian in that I follow Christ, but I don't claim a sect (e.g. Baptist, Pentacostal, etc...), and I'm not going to force my beliefs on anyone. The thing most people (especially "religious" people) don't get is that it is not about being religious, it is about haveing a relationship with the loveing God who created you. Most people choose a religion, (or choose not to) based on the structure that they like, or the rules they are willing to follow, or just because it is how they were raised, but think about it really, if you do believe in a God, whatever you may call him, then it only makes sense to ask HIM how he wants you to live, not your church. Believe me, if you ask he WILL answer you.
559933
I believe in a "higher power" but am not religious...The difference is that the higher power (God) is interpreted in many different ways but they all have one thing in common..Thats is that they are all MAN MADE..Every religion on earth past and present starts with one persons interpretation of God..This is why there are Christians, Muslims, Hindus and thousands more religions...We are all trying to understand existence and this "higher power" but many of us come to different conclusions...Christianity itself is split into many different denominations because of this very fact..Catholics, Evangelicals, Baptists, Episcopalians there all trying to understand the nature of God but go about it in very different ways...My personal belief is that existence itself is the "higher power"..I do not refer to it as a God but thats my belief and I stick to it..You dont need religion to find God because the concept of God is different for all of us...Thankyou for listening
930507
Church is exceedingly boring to people who don't share that Church's system of beliefs. Also, since churches tend to judge others and try to stuff their religion and beliefs down other people's throats, outsiders and "unbelievers" can feel judged and put off very quickly.
402461
i think some people use it that way. but that's why true Christianity is so great. it's not really a religion. it's more of a way of life. but i do agree that people manipulate religion and use it as a crutch. it can create rules that make the feel secure, but they can twist the rules to fit what they want to do.
987491
Well I have recently found my faith and I do now worship a God through Christianity although I am hesitant about denominations and which to choose to attend church so now I just research.  I understand where people who are nonbelievers are coming from because I was for my whole life.  I have also heard that God is a security blanket, and if so, what's wrong with that?  Why can't we have security in our lives and the feeling that there is some higher power looking out for us when we pray and accept them into our lives, then yes its comforting and what's wrong with wanting security or believing in something that makes us feel better about the world and ourselves.  I'm not about converting people or being a missionary so I respect whatever anyone believes... but I personally like to think there is a higher power.
537477
The same is in all other religions.  It's just how people treat each other.\n\nNot all churches are like this, just as not all people are likke this.\n\n"The petty think the whole world is a petty place."  Honore de Balzac, Father Goirot
1138676
I don't believe in religion, I believe in discipleship.  People can hide in religion and follow set rules for their lives instead of thinking for themselves and going through the Spirit's transformation, robbing themselves of a real spiritual life.
661860
I know exactly what you are talking about!! I am a christian...really trying to be. but there is one thing that i hate...it's not about God anymore. More and more people makes religion fit them...and maybe I am one of them. So I am sticking to this now: God is love, Jesus came to set us free. Love people as you love yourself. Speak to God everyday, because He will let you know what is wrong or right. Trust only in Him. Christianity is not about laws, its not about what is wrong or right. It doesn't judge, not suppose to in any case. Just love God and listen to His voice speaking trough the Bible
487114
People don't believe in God because they haven't experienced God in their lives. Once you pray and make Jesus Christ Lord and Savior of your life and you grow in your relationship with Him, then you will truly experience God in your life. Trust me, I have. If Orthodox are Christians, then their relationship with God is real. All true believers who are Christians know in their heart that Jesus Christ is real and He is not fake. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. All of the other religions I will agree are fake.
498833
Completely agree!! Religion (Christianity very much included)is all about self-righteous arrogance, justifying any sort of deviation from its own standards whenever it suits them and (my personal favourite...)justifying hate against anyone with differing beliefs, races and sexual orientations all the while spreading the message of god's love to all...aaaarrrggh...now I'm angry too!!\nRe: androcles comment; That has got to be the most ridiculous comment ever, comparing football clubs to churches is just nonsensical! They are not going around preaching, about how you should love and help your neighbour and then spending money which they could have used to practice what they preach! Football clubs are a business these days and you could have used them interchangeably with anything else like the construction of your local Tesco (do we really need a Sainsbury's and a Tesco - see what I mean about a ridiculous argument!!!)
294673
I was baptized as a Christian, and I believed in God during my younger childhood years. But my family has never gone to church since I can remember, and religion now is not at all a part of my life. I don't believe in any religion anymore. I rarely even think or wonder about God, or whether or not there even is one. I might consider myself agnostic, but even that could be going too far because I really have no feelings about religion at all.
168349
YES....  I think church is just a big party for god, and that is ok!  I do not attend church, and I believe.  It's just ya have to goto church or your a  bad type person.  I never will understand that.  I always hear, if you don't attend church then your not doing anything good, you don't believe,  and I say ya know I have enough bills to pay without donations to the church!  That collection thing gets to me?  Why?  Everyone is in a daze?  TAKE MONEY!!!!!
510488
The saying is "Christianity isn't a religion. It's a relationship." It means that being Christian isn't just believing something. It's actually talking to and trusting God, and putting your whole life in His hands. It's like a friendship that can never be broken. Christianity isn't just reading Scriptures and obeying commandments. It's truly loving Jesus. It's trusting that if something bad happens, everything will turn out okay, and if it doesn't, there's a reason. Praying isn't simply keeping your religion's rules, it's communicating with the Lord. That's what it means.
996975
I, even as a christian, do not believe that you NEED to say I am a christian or any other religion to be close to God... actually I hate to admit that I am a christian because belonging to a group like that seems ungodly in and of itself, just because I do not want to put any group above God.  But I do kind of know what you mean because I feel very differently than either of my parents about religion, however, the one thing I have going for myself (and my parents ARE ministers) is that they accept, because that is what God taught.  They like it that I have come to my own understandings, they would never deny me on the free will that God gave.  I do not usually suggest arguing with parents (even though sometimes it is ever so much fun)... but I might suggest that you let your mother know that you are God's creation and not your mothers, although thank her for providing you with life and love along the way. (I know that brings it in to the realm of believing again, but at least you will be challenging her on her terms).  Also, if she brings up the bible in ways that are meant to say you should live like this and this, let her know that that is not your relationship with God, we are all different because God created us that way and you will not slap God in the face by living the way others do because God's plan for you is not the same as your mothers, and for the bible, make sure you let her know that while it is a wonderful teacher, you are not going to put an idol above God, that is idolatry and you have a relationship with God not a book.  Again, I know that is still not getting you out there saying you are a non-believer, but while you consider what it is that you do believe this may help take the heat off of thinking and looking at religion differently than your mother.  God created us each uniquely, your spirituality is not going to be the same as mine, or your mothers.  God gave free will to be used, so yeah for you for using it and thinking instead of following blindly without knowing your relationship with the God you may know.