Desert Strawberry Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. Do we need a poll for this thread then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 But that may be because I consider myself very religious but am not Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. I am a Christian, but I live in a diverse metropolitan area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratia271 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 For me it does. I don't know if that's because I am non-religious or because I'm a non-religious home schooler surrounded by Christian ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? In a general sense outside the homeschooling community, no. But in the homeschooling world, I definitely equate the word religion/religious with the word Christian. The religious people who are not Christian that I've encountered are a very small minority. Curriculum materials? Yes I think Christian. I've never seen any type of religious curriculum that wasn't Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 In a homeschool context, yes, I do. In other setting, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susankenny Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, not at all. Many people are religious & there are many religions. I am a Christian & I don't presume that all religious people are of my faith. Why would I? Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I actually find the terms opposed to each other. I hate the term "religious." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 :iagree: In a general sense outside the homeschooling community, no. But in the homeschooling world, I definitely equate the word religion/religious with the word Christian. The religious people who are not Christian that I've encountered are a very small minority. Curriculum materials? Yes I think Christian. I've never seen any type of religious curriculum that wasn't Christian. At least, I've never seen a curriculum that is relgious but not Christian say it's religious. I also agree with the PP who said there are lots of Christians who don't consider themselves religious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Definitely not. I think there are plenty of people who participate in a variety of religions that are obviously not Christian. I also think there are Christians who try to avoid being "religious". I don't equate the words at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 For me, yes. But I live in an area where most religious people are Christian. The two just go together around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I live in an area where Xtians are the majority religion so when I hear "religious," I do think Christianity. If I lived someplace more diverse, I think my thinking would be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freethinkermama Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. In fact, when I hear "religious" I tend to think "religious, but not Christian--or at least, not conservative Christian" because in my segment of Christian faith, one tried very hard to divorce themselves from the idea of "religious". eg. "Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship." Few Christians I know would have call themselves "religious." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 It depends on where I hear the term. Around homeschooling circles, I learned to realise they generally mean Christian. In my circles, it tends to mean someone who is very involved in any one of many organised religions- could be Christian, Buddhist, whatever. Religion and spirituality can be the same, can be different. I am spiritual but not religious. Homeschoolers in Australia are a rare breed- not so common as in America- so the presumption isnt here so much that we are religious, even though apparently most are. But that is changing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. Do we need a poll for this thread then? Nope. Just a discussion. I've seen and heard the terms used interchangably. I'm just curious about the perceptions of the two terms, which, to me, as a religious non-Christian, are very different concepts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 I actually find the terms opposed to each other. I hate the term "religious." Could you expand on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I don't like the word "religious", either, and tend to set people straight if they ask me if I am-- they usually DO mean Christian, but don't know it. :tongue_smilie: Not always, though, and some tend to lump people of any faith together as "religious." Blah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, don't "always assume"....especially nowadays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, not at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Could you expand on this? Well, it is much like what a few others have said... I have a faith, and a relationship. Religion, to me, implies empty ritual and legalism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Nope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I actually find the terms opposed to each other. I hate the term "religious." :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymilkies Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 For me it does. I don't know if that's because I am non-religious or because I'm a non-religious home schooler surrounded by Christian ones. :iagree: There is just about zero religious diversity here, so yes, that is what I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeganW Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Definitely not. Your religion is what you think is the most important thing in your world. It's the thing you think about most. It *CAN* be God, but just as often it's your job, your money, your social status, picking the perfect curriculum for every subject, your kids, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 "Religious", to me, has a strong implication for the stuff we do that looks like religion to those who may not even know better. And those can be people outside of OR within the church itself, and the "stuff" that they see might be sincere OR for show. It's too vague and shallow a term, IMO, to accurately describe my experience or life with Christ so I choose to avoid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Considering that some of the most devout people I know belong to non-Christian faiths, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. I know pagans who are more modest, honest and forgiving than some Christians. I would never assume "religious" meant "Christian" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalphs Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, but I live in a very religiously diverse city. Heck when I hear "Christian" I don't even assume someone is religious because I've come across plenty of people who call themselves Christian who don't really practice anything resembling Christianity. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 no religious can pertain to any type of belief system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogMom5 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. There are many people who are "religious" but are not Christian. Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Not where I live. If I meet someone who calls themselves religious, it's probably because they go to the mosque to pray more than once a week. I've never thought of the term as belonging to any one religion, even though I can see that it could be looked at that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I don't think I've ever heard someone say they are "religious" if they are in fact Christian. Most Christians are very proud to use the Christian label upfront. I've heard plenty of people say they are "not religious" which obviously applies to any religion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhgillil Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Yes, but I think it's because of my cultural context. I've lived in the Bible Belt all of my life and mostly in small towns. For me personally, "religious" also has a negative connotation that I associate distinctly with Christians who 'acknowledge Jesus with their lips but deny him with their actions.' I prefer "devout" or "faithful" and I associate those terms with any religion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 In a homeschooling context, absolutely I think that is what is meant. Personally and outside of homeschooling, no, but then I'm a very religious Hellenic Neopagan Unitarian Universalist. I've been mounting my own small campaign for several years now against the co-opting of "religious" in this context. I won't use it in reference to a curriculum, homeschooling style, what have you. Instead I use the term "Christian-specific" as I believe that to be a more accurate description of what is meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) Sort of. If I tell people that I go to church or am a Christian, then they like to say, "Oh, so you're religious, right?" Edited March 31, 2011 by Garga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJsMom Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Well, it is much like what a few others have said... I have a faith, and a relationship. Religion, to me, implies empty ritual and legalism. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secular_mom Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Not automatically, such an assumption would be based on more input than just hearing that someone is 'religious'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, I don't think religious=Christian. I don't think Christian=religious either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. I don't assume that people who says they are Christian are religious, and I don't assume that people who say they are religious are Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No. As ds said (as he walked past and read over my shoulder) there are lots of different religions, you can be religious in any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntPol Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 In a homeschool context, yes, I do. In other setting, no. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 definitely not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I think that my "gut" reaction when somebody says they are religious or that somebody is religious is that, yes, they are Christian. However, I realize how erroneous that is b/c there are MANY people who are NOT Christians who are very religious/spiritual, etc. So, no...I do not think that religious necessarily = Christian. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted March 31, 2011 Author Share Posted March 31, 2011 Thank you all for your responses. I understand much better now. I was not aware that the the term "religious" had a negative connotation. I usually say that I have a strong faith or something like that. I am Zen Buddhist. I orginally come from an extremely diverse culture, and now live in an astoundingly uniform one. I'm still adjusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I take religious to mean practicing a faith on an everyday basis rather than occasionally or not at all. As in, a religious Christian to me would be a person who prays, goes to church, reads the Bible, tries to follow Christian values, is maybe involved in some kind of ministry/outreach through their church. A non religious Christian would be a person who shows no signs of being Christian, but gets married in a church, has their children baptized, and may sometimes go to a church service for Christmas or Easter. People of other religions could be more or less religious in a similar way. I guess I'm interpreting it like devout/serious vs more casual religious life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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