(May 30, 2013 at 11:05 am)ReasonableRuben Wrote:(May 20, 2013 at 6:54 pm)swata224 Wrote: "I'm a Christian and I have a relationship with Christ but I don't believe in religion."
I'm just wanting a bit of help deciphering what motive would be behind this oxymoronic statement, and maybe a bit of insight into why someone would believe this?
Hi, swata224.Being a Christian, I might be able to offer some insight.
This statement comes from a general desire to distance oneself from the the word "religion" and any of the negative connotations that it might have; the word has become somewhat taboo, particularly in more liberal circles,(for lack of a better word) but increasingly, the idea that Christianity is not a religion is finding its way even further into conservative territory.
The Christians who want to avoid being labeled as "religious" tend to entertain the false notion that the word "religion" is necessarily synonymous with words such as "legalism, Pharisaism, judgementalism, etc." Another false notion they oft entertain is the notion that Jesus of Nazareth taught against practicing religion.
As for motive: I generally try not to psychoanalyze people via a second-hand account of them, over the internet, but let me offer a hypothesis:
People who subscribe to this view generally also subscribe to the view that people(atheists, for example) "may not be interested in religion, but perhaps they would be interested in a relationship with Jesus Christ." It might be an attempt to increase the probability that you will make a choice leading to [what she would consider to be] a saving "relationship" with Jesus Christ, rather than instantly make your mind up because of the stigma attached to the word "religion." If this is the case, the motivation is rather altruistic.
Another obvious possibility is that people say "relationship" rather than "religion" in order to avoid some sort of perceived persecution(however minor) of all things religious.
that aint bad Ruben.
But why then must we say that "the body literally rose" when all indication is that is not true? God is truth to me, God is reality. why would they try and teach a "false". Not that it is bad for 2000 years ago. I understand no malice and they did what they did back then. But why hold onto it?
Do you know how a Jesus could rise using today's understanding? when you see that, Christ lives and the body is irrelevant. Religion then becomes irrelevant and all can share in compassion and understanding.
