Audrey Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? Yes, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. Christianity is the dominant religion in my country, by a wide margin. Certainly, in homeschooling circles, Christians and Christian curricula are the largest group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 No. Maybe it helps that we're not Christians. We've been exposed to different faiths throughout our lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I am a Christian but I am not religious. Someone who found out we homeschool asked "Why? Are you religious?" I was surprised at how offended I felt! To me, "religious" is man-centered and focused on the external, not God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoxanneB Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I am a Christian but I am not religious. Someone who found out we homeschool asked "Why? Are you religious?" I was surprised at how offended I felt! To me, "religious" is man-centered and focused on the external, not God. 100% agreement with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Funny, but I've never heard anyone call themselves 'religious'. It tends to be a term used to describe others actions, rather than a personal description. No, I wouldn't think Christian. Maybe its b/c there's just so many diverse denominations within that all would call themselves Christian, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 No, definitely not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Yes, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. Christianity is the dominant religion in my country, by a wide margin. Certainly, in homeschooling circles, Christians and Christian curricula are the largest group. Same country, same dominance. :iagree: (and my 'impression' when someone used the word "religious" has always been the same, both as a Christian and as other things.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma aimee Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? No i don't -- but i assume that it is faith based, tthere is no assumption to the faith, for me anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma aimee Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 :iagree: 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...
lionfamily1999 Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Not at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? Definitely not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Honestly, when I hear the word "religious" I think of legalistic, as it pertains to Christianity. So when someone says, "He or she is very religious," my first instinct is to be unimpressed and on my guard. I think the Pharisees of Jesus' day were religious, but their hearts were not where He wanted them to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 When I hear "religious" I instantly think of Christians on the homeschooling issue. As someone upthread already said, I have yet to find religious curriculum that isn't Christian. Outside of homeschooling, though, my mind doesn't necessarily associate the term with Christians so much as anyone who believes in a deity and follows certain practices as a result. 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.Interesting. I think of religious as meaning "practices a religion". Here's Merrian-Webster's take on it; seems pretty neutral and self-explanatory to me. Honestly, *in my experience* when I hear Christians refusing the title of "religious", it's just a way of saying "we're not like them." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hana Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Honestly, my first response was a bit of a shock at the question--why on earth would someone see "religious" as primarily Christian?! But, I guess, if one spends in a primarily Christian setting, or feeling oppressed by Christianity, that either of those might contribute to such an equation. I live in a very diverse family (both Muslim and Christian, as well as agnostic, atheist, and neo-pagan) and community (including friends who are ultra-orthodox Jews), and my own religion (UU) is important to me, but isn't Christian. Oh, so wait, to answer the question, my answer is "No, not to me." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 When you hear or use the word "religious", do you automatically assume the person/material is Christian? No, not at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Where I work, slightly (although there are quite a few Buddhists). On the boards here, I assume that unless it is a poster whose name, atavar, or posting history tell me otherwise. Not that it makes a hill of beans difference to what I post, or how I read things, but, come to think of it, when someone says here they are religious or conservatively religious, I tend to assume they mean Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 I actually find the terms opposed to each other. I hate the term "religious." I didn't read past this quote. :iagree: with this 100%. I do not consider myself religious. I am a Christian. I try to live my life to Glorify Christ as best I can, although I am human and am no way near perfect. I pray so much during the day I can not count. I go to Church Sunday, I teach Sunday School. I go to Bible study Wednesday nights. I read my Bible (almost) daily. Our kids are in Awana, and my 13 year old is an Awana leader (for the cubbies with my ds4) I equate the word religious with legalism. I am in no way legalistic. I do not allow rules, traditions or anything like that determine how I worship MY Lord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwjeanie Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 I live in the midwest. If I hear the word "religious" I automatically think Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joy at Home Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Didn't read any of the posts, but short answer - No, of course not. There are many religions that don't include Christ or have a different understanding of Christ that I do. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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