No Faith in Religion?
One in five Americans say religion does not play an important role in their lives, a new NBC/WSJ journal poll shows – the highest percentage since the poll began asking participants about their focus on faith in 1997. (http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/losing-faith-21-percent-say-religion-not-important-n51256).
This lover of words looked at the meaning of the word "religion":
re·li·gion
[ri-lij-uh
n] Show IPA
noun
1.
2.
a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons orsects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3.
the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4.
the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5.
the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
In my opinion, most mainstream Christians would define their practices of Sunday morning rituals as described in number 5 above: "the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith."
Wouldn't it be interesting if most of us would adopt the first definition, which in my opinion, centers of the actions of those based on a belief in a Creator, the Creator, God. All that we did would come out of a devoted heart to the supreme Creator who has established a moral code, Truth, and all conduct oozed out of this belief?
Religious stripes would not be given based on the number of Sunday services one attended but by the amount of love that was given, shared, practiced, and/or accepted. Moral superiority would not be measured by the lack of curse words flowing from our lips but rather by the grace given to those who do not, in our opinion - or the world's, deserve it. Out of our devotion to the Creator, we would say things that were hard in love, serve those around us from a pure heart, hear the Voice of God and obey ... even when it didn't make sense.
When we don't care what people call us, but know for what we stand ... not because we wear of brand of Christianity on our t-shirts but because we can not possibly operate out of any other standard than the standard that Jesus Christ modeled ... to me this is true religion. For this, religion would play an important part in my life. For the acts that impress others ... not so much.
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