The word religion has changed definition and application with the passing of centuries. It means many things to many cultures and dictionaries differ in their meaning. The way of interpreting this term has brought men closer to God and away from him; and in other cases it has been the cause of wars and enmity.
The intention of this brief study is to address the wordreligionfrom an etymological and historical point of view that allows us to see its origin, definition and application more clearly.
For many years the word religion has been confused with superstition, paranormal and spiritism. Some sources such as National Geographic define religion as "the result of human contact with the beyond." But the original meaning of the word is far from this definition and what the world today interprets as religion.
Lactancio, a third-century Christian writer, said:"[…] […] worship of the false, and religion worship of the true." In Latin there are two terms to distinguish between what is considered religion and superstition. Superstition (from Latin supertium) are those beliefs, taboos, practices overlapping with this reality and what one can come to believe from a supernatural being. But religion is different, because in Latin, religion includes those practices that define our relationship with God and men.
The etymology of the wordreligiongoes back to Latinreligiouswhich meanslink, link and link; and in other applications it meansassembly or assembly. Greek philosophers and Christian figures during the first centuries of the Church used the wordreligionto describe theprinciples, customs andpracticesthat unite a society or community. Lactancio added that religion must be a"pity bandage"that unites us to God.
Religion represents theties, agreements and obligations that link an individual's life to their peers. By definition, any society and form of government is the practice of a religion, since the work of the government is to define the laws thatthey tie and regulatethe relations of the governed.
On the other hand, there are two Greek words used in the New Testamentto describereligion. One iseusebeiawhich meanspity, the outward expression of the things of God; and the other word isthreskeia,which meansreligion expressed in rites. The wordthreskeiaappears only 4 times in the New Testament, whileeusebiaappears 15 times in the New Testament. For the New Testament thereligionis the practice ofpityin all its forms and manifestations\, it's what we callcharityorbenevolence.
Both words describe thereligionas external forms and tangible expressions of my relationship with God. The Apostle James made use ofthreskeiain verse 27 of his first chapter, to state that thepityexpressed towards the orphan and the widow is the form ofclean worship, or the practice ofpure religion.
There is a more contemporary definitionand concise. In 1839, a lawyer named John Bouvier produced a dictionary of laws that was well received by the legal community of the United States. In this work, Bouvier defines religion as:
Real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men. (The practice of true piety, which consists in the fulfillment of all duties towards God and men.)
From the days of ancient Rome and the early Church, until about 180 years ago, understood men considered religion as a form of religion.the practice or way to relate to God and men. John the Baptist came to preach that the kingdom of God consisted of a change of attitude toward God and men. When the men heard him, they asked him:"Then what shall we do? And answering, he said to them: He who has two robes, give to him who does not have; and he who has something to eat, do the same… Do not demand more than you are commanded… Do not extort anyone, nor slander; and be content with your wages." "He who loves God, love his brother also…"
English reformer Hugh Latimer said:"Religion rests on piety, justice and good to do…"Such was the Centurion's religion at Capernaum, which built a synagogue for the Jews for the love of Abraham's faith, and the Lord recognized him by saying:"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found so much faith,"and as a result he healed his servant. Such was the religion of Cornelius, to whom Peter said:"your prayer has been heard, and your benevolence has been remembered before God."Such was Dorcas' way of worshiping God that Luke describes her saying:"This one abounded in good works and alms that he did."Their religion was so pure, that the Lord considered it worthy of raising it from the dead.
He who gives to the poor lendeth to Yahweh, and the good that he has done shall be repaid to him again.
Finally, we have the clearest definition of the word religion in the words of the Lord when he said:"You will love the Lord your God… and you will love your neighbor as yourself." "You owed no one anything but to love one another…".This is the fulfillment of my duties towards God and men.
Ignoring the true meaning and origin of this important word leads us to practice things that have"[…] pity but deny the effectiveness of it."Practices that have no power to bind and unite the Church of God. It's not enough to be in a building together, to sing and to listen to a sermon. It is necessary to be"doers of the word"and so bind us by the practice of pure religion; for it manifests true harmony and there God sends blessings and eternal life.
Mercy is a virtue of the Holy Spirit, which reflects the character of Christ in me as I lay down my life for others. "He who gives to the poor lends to Jehovah." Christ put his life for us, therefore, offering others my time, energies, material or economic resources is the highest expression of love, religion and faith. "No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends." — Jesus
The intention of this brief study is to address the wordreligionfrom an etymological and historical point of view that allows us to see its origin, definition and application more clearly.
For many years the word religion has been confused with superstition, paranormal and spiritism. Some sources such as National Geographic define religion as "the result of human contact with the beyond." But the original meaning of the word is far from this definition and what the world today interprets as religion.
Lactancio, a third-century Christian writer, said:"[…] […] worship of the false, and religion worship of the true." In Latin there are two terms to distinguish between what is considered religion and superstition. Superstition (from Latin supertium) are those beliefs, taboos, practices overlapping with this reality and what one can come to believe from a supernatural being. But religion is different, because in Latin, religion includes those practices that define our relationship with God and men.
The etymology of the wordreligiongoes back to Latinreligiouswhich meanslink, link and link; and in other applications it meansassembly or assembly. Greek philosophers and Christian figures during the first centuries of the Church used the wordreligionto describe theprinciples, customs andpracticesthat unite a society or community. Lactancio added that religion must be a"pity bandage"that unites us to God.
Religion represents theties, agreements and obligations that link an individual's life to their peers. By definition, any society and form of government is the practice of a religion, since the work of the government is to define the laws thatthey tie and regulatethe relations of the governed.
On the other hand, there are two Greek words used in the New Testamentto describereligion. One iseusebeiawhich meanspity, the outward expression of the things of God; and the other word isthreskeia,which meansreligion expressed in rites. The wordthreskeiaappears only 4 times in the New Testament, whileeusebiaappears 15 times in the New Testament. For the New Testament thereligionis the practice ofpityin all its forms and manifestations\, it's what we callcharityorbenevolence.
Both words describe thereligionas external forms and tangible expressions of my relationship with God. The Apostle James made use ofthreskeiain verse 27 of his first chapter, to state that thepityexpressed towards the orphan and the widow is the form ofclean worship, or the practice ofpure religion.
There is a more contemporary definitionand concise. In 1839, a lawyer named John Bouvier produced a dictionary of laws that was well received by the legal community of the United States. In this work, Bouvier defines religion as:
Real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men. (The practice of true piety, which consists in the fulfillment of all duties towards God and men.)
From the days of ancient Rome and the early Church, until about 180 years ago, understood men considered religion as a form of religion.the practice or way to relate to God and men. John the Baptist came to preach that the kingdom of God consisted of a change of attitude toward God and men. When the men heard him, they asked him:"Then what shall we do? And answering, he said to them: He who has two robes, give to him who does not have; and he who has something to eat, do the same… Do not demand more than you are commanded… Do not extort anyone, nor slander; and be content with your wages." "He who loves God, love his brother also…"
English reformer Hugh Latimer said:"Religion rests on piety, justice and good to do…"Such was the Centurion's religion at Capernaum, which built a synagogue for the Jews for the love of Abraham's faith, and the Lord recognized him by saying:"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found so much faith,"and as a result he healed his servant. Such was the religion of Cornelius, to whom Peter said:"your prayer has been heard, and your benevolence has been remembered before God."Such was Dorcas' way of worshiping God that Luke describes her saying:"This one abounded in good works and alms that he did."Their religion was so pure, that the Lord considered it worthy of raising it from the dead.
He who gives to the poor lendeth to Yahweh, and the good that he has done shall be repaid to him again.
Finally, we have the clearest definition of the word religion in the words of the Lord when he said:"You will love the Lord your God… and you will love your neighbor as yourself." "You owed no one anything but to love one another…".This is the fulfillment of my duties towards God and men.
Ignoring the true meaning and origin of this important word leads us to practice things that have"[…] pity but deny the effectiveness of it."Practices that have no power to bind and unite the Church of God. It's not enough to be in a building together, to sing and to listen to a sermon. It is necessary to be"doers of the word"and so bind us by the practice of pure religion; for it manifests true harmony and there God sends blessings and eternal life.
Mercy is a virtue of the Holy Spirit, which reflects the character of Christ in me as I lay down my life for others. "He who gives to the poor lends to Jehovah." Christ put his life for us, therefore, offering others my time, energies, material or economic resources is the highest expression of love, religion and faith. "No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends." — Jesus
Christian life is more than relationship, it is religion!