A growing trend in America by more and more Christians is to pull away from the term "religion".

"I'm not religious. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ", is the growing mantra I am hearing from more and more Christians. Personals sites and dating sites are full of profiles where more and more Christians are claiming they are "NOT religious".

I contact these folks thinking, "Hey cool, some awesome new freethinkers to hang out with." Only to be told, "I'm sorry, we are unequally yoked. I'm a Christian and I believe in God."

What in the hell is going on!!?




They must be realizing the bad wrap that the term "religion" is getting in the world today and are trying to pull away. Religions are something those closed-minded extremists, heathens, pagans and savages partake in. Not decent godly Christians. Why? Because they have a personal relationship with Jesus they say. Yep, apparently, some of these believers are so confident in their belief in Christ, it is "beyond religion".

American Heritage Dictionary defines religion as:

1.	a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. - Hello? McFly

2.	a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. - Umm... need I say anything?

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.

6.	something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

Sounds like Christianity to me.

"Wake up you "Non-religious Christians"! You are religious and you have a religion. Period."

I have always said that If everyone were Christians, and believed the exact same thing, there would be no more religion. It seems that the only reason we have religion is because there are competing theologies. Christians however aren't at this point. They still have so much to account for and explain if they wish for the entire world to accept Christianity wholesale. Since there are still competing religions, and Christianity has not yet been proven to be absolutely true, Christianity simply cannot remove itself from the status of a religion.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP?

Let's address this personal relationship crap. What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Not only that, what does it mean to have a personal relationship and NOT be religious when you have a Holey book full of rituals and dictates? I mean come on! Jesus still hands you a bunch of laws and archaic rules, threatens disobedients and non-believers with hell, sets up days you must do and say this or that, observe this or that, think this or that. There's no escaping it, Christianity is a religion.

When one says they have a personal relationship with Jesus, to me, this is nothing more than arrogance. I call it the, "Jesus is my Homeboy" complex. They are, in reality, so insecure about how they are living their Christian lives that they have to make it seem like they are "in with Jesus".  Of course, at the same time, there is this air of smugness that surrounds this individual as well. If you have such a personal relationship with Jesus, you MUST be right in all aspects. Everyone else is wrong. This "personal relationship" crap smacks of smugness, intimacy and arrogance.. most assuredly undeserved.

Let's ask this "Non-religious Christian" a few questions about their best friend and let's see how well they truly know their best friend.

1.) What's Jesus' favorite Church?
2.) What's his favorite food?
3.) What does Jesus think about vegans?
4.) What does Jesus think about fashion?
5.) What does Jesus think about rap music?
6.) What does Jesus think about Christian metal?
7.) What does Jesus think about homemade porn recorded by married couples?
8.) What does Jesus think about Christians that don't tip?
9.) What does Jesus think about oral sex?

The list goes on and on. No objective answers to most of these.. just opinions. Watching Jesus' best friends try to answer these questions is like watching a nightmarish version of The Dating Game. Have fun.. there are millions more questions to ask. If the Christian really knew Jesus personally, they should be able to answer some of these personal questions?

Believers look. It's simple to me.

If it's not in the Bible, and if Jesus isn't answering your questions. There's no personal relationship there!

You believe without evidence, you have faith in your beliefs. You are religious. You have a religion. It's called Christianity. Get over it.