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What's The Difference Between Religion And 'Personal Relationship"?
Lately many believers declare that, instead of religion, they have a 'personal relationship' with god or Jesus.
Is there a difference?
It's generally people who want to stand out and seem like they don't have the herd mentality. It's the same thing as people saying, "I'm spiritual, not religious." Ask them what their concept of god is, and you can bet you will find a concept that matches theirs in an already established religion.
Lately many believers declare that, instead of religion, they have a 'personal relationship' with god or Jesus.
Is there a difference?
Nope. A "personal relationship" with an invisible/non-existent being is either a religion or a psychosis (if there is indeed a distinction between the two).
Nope. A "personal relationship" with an invisible/non-existent being is either a religion or a psychosis (if there is indeed a distinction between the two).
Psychosis is too strong a word. Delusion seems more accurate.
What's The Difference Between Religion And 'Personal Relationship"?
Lately many believers declare that, instead of religion, they have a 'personal relationship' with god or Jesus.
Is there a difference?
That's a very good question and it's pretty deep. On the surface it's an obvious difference between the ones who turn up on sunday because it's the Done Thing and those who really believe it. But the OP is really about those who reject organized religion and do it on a one - to - one basis. That's not a new thing. There have always been those who have broken away because they are discontented with established religions.
I suppose it's not for me to speculate about why or how the breakaways do it but I don't see much difference between 'personal relationship' for theists inside or outside their churches or whatever, except that, outside, they might discover a bit quicker that what they are having a personal relationship with is the insides of their own heads.
Well for example a person can have a well-versed knowledge about the bible know it extremely well but not have a heart for the Lord. It is about impressing others with their knowledge by shoving it downs someone's throat or looking smart which is arrogance with no love. This is just one possibility.
What's The Difference Between Religion And 'Personal Relationship"?
Lately many believers declare that, instead of religion, they have a 'personal relationship' with god or Jesus.
Is there a difference?
yes
one is rules and regulations
the other is your own personal experience and individual participation
would you rather hear someone tell you about the mechanics of how to sex, how an orgasm felt to someone else? Or would you rather experience having sex yourself, experience for yourself what an orgasm feels like? which is more fun? which is more helpful? which has more credibility? which has more meaning and impact in your life?
What's The Difference Between Religion And 'Personal Relationship"?
Lately many believers declare that, instead of religion, they have a 'personal relationship' with god or Jesus.
Is there a difference?
People have been saying that they have a personal relationship with Jesus for centuries, and probably more so in previous centuries than in this one. What they are really saying is that ritualistic Christianity is not actually Christianity at all. The first Christians were soon known in the Roman Empire as atheists, because they had no rituals, no religious clothes or buildings. The only way that they were distinct from the general population was that their behavior was self-controlled, patient, forgiving, kind, peaceful and honest. In time, others claimed to be Christians who had none of these qualities, but they compensated for that absence with rituals, carried out in religious clothes and buildings.
Do Christians really have a personal relationship with Jesus? Does it really matter, to outsiders? Are their critics eager that they should adopt ritual? Why do they criticise?
People have been saying that they have a personal relationship with Jesus for centuries, and probably more so in previous centuries than in this one. What they are really saying is that ritualistic Christianity is not actually Christianity at all. The first Christians were soon known in the Roman Empire as atheists, because they had no rituals, no religious clothes or buildings. The only way that they were distinct from the general population was that their behavior was self-controlled, patient, forgiving, kind, peaceful and honest. In time, others claimed to be Christians who had none of these qualities, but they compensated for that absence with rituals, carried out in religious clothes and buildings.
Do Christians really have a personal relationship with Jesus? Does it really matter, to outsiders? Are their critics eager that they should adopt ritual? Why do they criticise?
How can one be a Christian and an atheist at the same time,that makes no sense. This is taken from your statement about first Christians.
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