Religion has been used to justify war.
Billions around the world cherish their religious identity.
Why is it at the center of so much conflict?
Religion is foundational to our culture and to our lives. It has divided and been used to justify war...yet it is also at the heart of so many selfless acts of kindness.
Is religion to blame for our problems or part of the solution?
What Is The Definition Of "Religion"?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary states that religion is:
- "An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods."
How Does The Old Testament Definition Of Religion?
Believe it or not...Religion is NOT mentioned a single time in the Old Testament.
- Judaism is unique in that it is an ethnicity as well as a way of faith.
- God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and by the 3rd century the ten expanded to 613 laws or commandments.
- Humanity made religion a formal institution with strict rules and hierarchy.
- God gave us simple and concise rules to live by...Did God give us our religious institutions?
How Does Jesus Define Religion?
Jesus Never Mentioned the Word "Religion" in Any of the Gospels.
In fact, Jesus summarized all the 613 Jewish Laws into ONE by saying:
- "Love God & Love your Neighbor as yourself" - Mark 12:28.
What Difference Does It Make?!
Choose One - The MOST Accurate Answer:
- My religion is part of the answer.
- That "other" religion is part of the problem.
- Accepting my chosen religious identity is required to achieve salvation.
- None of the above?
Practicing Religion & Not Faith?
Religion and Faith can be TWO independent concepts:
Example:
- Many people practice "religion" as a set of cultural or social traditions but do not necessarily need faith in God to practice "religion."
What does Scripture say?
- "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." - Hebrews 11:6
- "...those who followed them in righteousness; with whom God is very pleased." Qur'an 9:100
How Does The New Testament Definition Of Religion?
According to James 1:27
- “For a pure and holy religion (Aramaic meaning: "worship or "ministry") before God the Father is this: To visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself un-corrupted from the (evil of the) world.”
- James didn’t see religion as a highly structured institutional belief system or dogma, but rather the state of one’s life to God & others.
How Does The Qur'an Define Religion?
Qur'an 3:19 says that; "To God, true faith (Arabic: deen) (religion) is submission (Islam)."
- While religion is mentioned in the Qur’an; when asked, Islamic scholars would likely say that "true religion" is really the struggle of keeping ones faith, heart and life un-corrupted by submitting to the one God.
