Agree or disagree, religion and a "personal relationship with Jesus" are the same thing...?

Question

I see this over and over here - someone denounces religion, and then a few fundies start off by AGREEING with the statement, but then try to out-Christian the Christians with this "personal relationship with Jesus" nonsense.

How different are they, really?

Answer 1

Sigh...Religion has nothing to do with it.  I am religious to taking a shower everyday, religious to working.  Has nothing to do with a relationship with God.  I don't denounce religion, I just don't see it in the sense of a personal relationship with God.  Love one another...God Bless

Answer 2

Christianity has become increasingly more fractured as time passes. It's now reached the point where individuals seem to be a church unto themselves. It's still religion, however.

Answer 3

I suppose it depends upon your definition of "religion" and "personal relationship with Jesus". These terms tend to vary from person to person. Perhaps you could define them?

Thanks!

BTW, good to read your though provoking questions again.

Elder Greg

(((SFCU)))

aka. Spirit Filled Christians United

Answer 4

Religion & a true relationship with God do not always go hand & hand. I have seen many who are hateful in the name of their misunderstood beliefs. Thanks.

Answer 5

Not all religions believe in Jesus so I don't see how you come up with that theory. Jesus is NOT nonsense, you don't have a clue as to what you are even talking about so why did you even bother to ask this sottish question?

Answer 6

The relationship with Jesus would be more of a "faith" than a "religion." The way I see it, WHAT you believe is a faith, HOW you practice that belief is a religion.

Answer 7

That is like saying having a personal relationship with a friend is the same as religion.It makes no sense they are very different.And I am also not opposed to being called religious.  

Answer 8

This "personal relationship" business is an extension of religion. If they didn't consider themselves religious, they wouldn't be pushing this faith-based c**p and wouldn't call themselves "people of faith." It's essentially the same bunch that's doing it. They want all the benefits of religion but none of the stigma.

Answer 9

People who claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus are Christians.

Christianity is a religion.  

But it's a lovely way to make it sound like you're stalking god.

Answer 10

Not exactly. What Christians mean is that Christianity was not dreamed up by man like other religions (except for Judaism.) Christianity is Judaism that accepts the New Covenant with God. Christianity emphasises a relationship with God.

Answer 11

because sometimes some people view them as differently. a religion is a set way of following and worshiping of god(s). it refers to everything from chrsitianity to tree worshipers. it is nothing mroe than a term to label a belief in a higher power or being.

personal relationship is sometimes viewed differently because it is not so much a religion as a relationship. example... if your best friend got elected as president, would your friendship be political party or type of government? No, you just are close with the big boss man who has a lot of power. make sense?

it just depends on how you think of it, and your lifestyle.

Answer 12

One has it as a label but doesn't really act on much of it. One has prayer time. One has prayer time that they call Jesus time. One has a general conversation in their head with Jesus all day long.

It's all just labels. People generally love to put labels on everything and everyone.  

Answer 13

Disagree. Following a religion is to follow teachings and doctrines man says God wants.

To have a personal relationship with Christ is to follow God Himself.

Answer 14

I'd say the "personal relationship" tactic makes them sound even MORE delusional.

Answer 15

I think, if they go to a level of ´´personal relationship´´, it makes them borderline schizophrenic

Answer 16

totally different. in religion you can believe in god and still go to h**l. even satan believes in god. the personel relationship with the living GOD through jesus christ is totally different.simple put no jesus no heaven.

Answer 17

This nonsense about having a “personal relationship with Jesus” is precisely the same thing as being religious. This cliché is used as some way for Christians to distinguish themselves from other religious people. Its really a marketing ploy. This born again movement likes to claim that their belief system (i.e. RELIGION) imparts greater intimacy between them and God, as if that somehow validates their religion more than other religions, where God is supposedly a more distant figure. I would ask, if they truly had a “personal relationship with Jesus”, why they need to read the Bible at all. After all, if I had a personal relationship with someone, if I needed instruction from that person, I would ask them directly, and not have to consult with a book that they supposedly inspired.

Answer 18

religion and "personal relationship" are the same thing except to some believers

I'd never heard that term before this site

Answer 19

  I agree. Christianity is both a religion and a personal relationship. It's a personal relationship because Jesus abides in a Christian's heart and it's a religion because we attend a church where religious practices are carried out.  Of course my answer may be disagreed upon by some of my fellow Christians but if you really look at Christianity, it is indeed both. I'll post a Scripture that addresses this question.

  James 1:26-27   " If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

  There you have it. Anyone who reads those passages can't argue that fact that Christianity is a religion. Even the Reformers called it such.

Answer 20

If they want to communicate telepathically with an imaginary Jewish zombie, it's fine by me.  They can keep him.