What Is Religion?

Religion has gotten a bad rap.  Many people define it as “man working toward God” or understand religion as empty rituals.  The fact is, religion is any organized focus on God or mysticism.  There is very little difference between religion and spirituality and relationship with God, and all three can work together.

Miriam Webster defines “religion” in this way: (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance;  (3)a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; (4) a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith .  The first definition really means any kind of respectful action toward God.  The second is a specific kind of respect toward God. The third could be a doctrine or a regular practice toward God of any kind.  The final definition is completely personal,  as one might say, “MY religion is chocolate”. 

So religion, first of all, has to do with practice toward God.  That’s not a bad thing, right?  If we are devoted to God in any way, we want to do something about it, right?  Secondly, religion has to do with some kind of commitment or devotion.  This means that our commitment to God isn’t taken lightly, but it effects our lives.  That’s a good thing as well.  At least for most people.  Finally, it could be a regular practice with others or it could be completely personal.  The term “religion” isn’t exclusive.

So why is religion put down so much?  Because people are reacting to the negative aspects of ritual and of corporate worship.  Sure there’s some bad stuff in there, but is completely personal worship without it’s own problems?  Don’t all kinds of people use their “religion” whether personal or corporate, to promote bias and prejudice?  The problem is not using the term religion, but in refusing to see others’ spirituality as equal as one’s own. 

In every kind of religion there is bias.  Protestants slam Catholics, Pentecostals feel that others aren’t “Spirit-led”, orthodox bewail heterodoxy, personal spiritualists look down on those who go to church every week and on and on.  We need to realize that we are all religionists and we all see our spirituality in different ways.

And our spirituality NEEDS to be different.  God is open to being served in any of thousands of ways.  And we need to find the way that works for us.  But because someone doesn’t have the cultural features we have doesn’t make them better or worse.  We have no right to judge them because they serve God differently.  Nor do they have a right to judge us.  Instead, let’s all embrace the God who embraces us all if we have a devoted heart toward Him.