I would like with the illumination by The Holy Spirit to attempt to answer the questions you raised here.
What is religion?
Your first question does not have a definite definition for there exists as many definitions as there are scholars of religion and theology in the world.Some have defined religion as a set beliefs in supernatural beings and practices associated with such beliefes. This kind of definitions stem from the pressuposition of the scholar who looks at the subject of religion from his/her perspective of being a member of one of the great religions of the world i.e Hinduism, Zoarastianism, Islam and others.
Like the Wikipedia defines it as
Chritianity does not have belief systems per se; Athough the early church fathers penned down soeme creeds which tried to make the substance of our faith clear, it does not boil down to a set of beliefs. Belief in the existance of God, in Jesus Christ and in all that is contained in the aposltles' creed does not refer to a set of beliefs. Our belief is one; one faith, one Lord and one Baptism.
Another thing that sets Chritianity apart is that it does not derive morality ethics and religious law or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. Instead, a christian way of life and all that pertains to spirituality is from the Bible and the ever present Triune God in the person of the Holy Spirit. No other source can govern the life of the Christian above the two authorities I have mentioned above.
From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion, it is defined as
My preferd definition;religion is all efforts, practices, understandings,interpretations and beliefs that the human beings has put in the Pursuit of the supernatural or God. While Christianity is all that a Supernatural, Allknowing, omnicient, immutable and omnipotent God has done in pursuit of Man and His creation. In this definition, God takes the initiative of revealing Himself to man Hebrews 1: 1-5
Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
The many sacrifices that started in the Garden, note that the skin must have come form an animal or animals and it is good who took the initive of shedding blood of the animal(s) to cover man's nakedness brought about by sin and this chain of redandant sacrifices were brought to a perfect end in the grand fianale of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Hill far away on a rugged cross at geographical location outside the city of Jerusalem called the place of the skull- or Golgotha.This single historical fact makes Chritianity unique.
Christianity does not possess any specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects, instead Christianity is based on the Bible and the triune God. Any church councils that sat and deliberated on contetious issues or issues that had been interpreted differently and seemed to bring disunity among believers were instituted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and they used the Bible as a yardstick. Any deliberations that are not backed by the 66 books of the Bible, are not accepted as beacons of doctrine and they remain dogmas of that particular denomination. An example of what I am saying here is, the Catholic Church has many practices and rituals that are dedicated to the worship of Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ. The rest of the Christian denominations do not accept this teaching so it becomes a Roman Catholic dogma practiced by Catholics only and this is not Christian but catholicism because it is not backed by scripture.
Your first question does not have a definite definition for there exists as many definitions as there are scholars of religion and theology in the world.Some have defined religion as a set beliefs in supernatural beings and practices associated with such beliefes. This kind of definitions stem from the pressuposition of the scholar who looks at the subject of religion from his/her perspective of being a member of one of the great religions of the world i.e Hinduism, Zoarastianism, Islam and others.
Like the Wikipedia defines it as
a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.[1] Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature.
The above definition fits all the religions I have mentioned above and this is only those groups that qualify to be religions. Chritianity however falls short of this definition because it is not a religion. Christianity does not have cultural systems of its own because it was born in a culture and wherever Chritianity has gone as a faith, it has blended with the cultures rejecting all those cultures that are sinful and accepting those that are not. For example the chritianity practiced in Africa is different from that parcticed in Asia and Europe. Many local cultures were incooperated into it when they did not go against the Bible. The bible is always the yardstick used to measure which cultures are to be accepted or rejeceted. Circumcision was a practice among very many communities in Africa and the bible does not prohibit this practice.I will address this issue under a different topic.Chritianity does not have belief systems per se; Athough the early church fathers penned down soeme creeds which tried to make the substance of our faith clear, it does not boil down to a set of beliefs. Belief in the existance of God, in Jesus Christ and in all that is contained in the aposltles' creed does not refer to a set of beliefs. Our belief is one; one faith, one Lord and one Baptism.
Another thing that sets Chritianity apart is that it does not derive morality ethics and religious law or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. Instead, a christian way of life and all that pertains to spirituality is from the Bible and the ever present Triune God in the person of the Holy Spirit. No other source can govern the life of the Christian above the two authorities I have mentioned above.
From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion, it is defined as
a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially 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.
a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
My preferd definition;religion is all efforts, practices, understandings,interpretations and beliefs that the human beings has put in the Pursuit of the supernatural or God. While Christianity is all that a Supernatural, Allknowing, omnicient, immutable and omnipotent God has done in pursuit of Man and His creation. In this definition, God takes the initiative of revealing Himself to man Hebrews 1: 1-5
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [c]world. 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and [e]upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
In religion no one dies for another, in Christianity many died for others startting with the first animal that died in Genesis 3:20-21 to provide clothing for the sinful naked man Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
The many sacrifices that started in the Garden, note that the skin must have come form an animal or animals and it is good who took the initive of shedding blood of the animal(s) to cover man's nakedness brought about by sin and this chain of redandant sacrifices were brought to a perfect end in the grand fianale of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Hill far away on a rugged cross at geographical location outside the city of Jerusalem called the place of the skull- or Golgotha.This single historical fact makes Chritianity unique.
Christianity does not possess any specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects, instead Christianity is based on the Bible and the triune God. Any church councils that sat and deliberated on contetious issues or issues that had been interpreted differently and seemed to bring disunity among believers were instituted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and they used the Bible as a yardstick. Any deliberations that are not backed by the 66 books of the Bible, are not accepted as beacons of doctrine and they remain dogmas of that particular denomination. An example of what I am saying here is, the Catholic Church has many practices and rituals that are dedicated to the worship of Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ. The rest of the Christian denominations do not accept this teaching so it becomes a Roman Catholic dogma practiced by Catholics only and this is not Christian but catholicism because it is not backed by scripture.
How is faith, belief and religion related?
Faith is also defined differently by different people, I personally prefer the biblical definition thus In Hebrews 11
Faith is also defined differently by different people, I personally prefer the biblical definition thus In Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the [a]assurance of things [b]hoped for, the [c]conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old [d]gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the [e]worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying [f]about his gifts, and through [g]faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
The above definition is exclussive of what the world Religions have as to what faith entails. Here is where though someone is dead, he/she still speaks. This is unique to Christianity only.
How does spirituality and religiosity differ? What do they share?
Spirituality according to me refers to how an individual believer leads his/her life depending on the choices the individual has made in life. These choices include whether to get saved or not, whether to obey God's word in one's life, whether to surrender fully or partially to God's will and many others. On the other hand, Religiousity according to me refers to an individual's life style lived under religious code of conduct. This life is generally from without in that one is compelled by his/her religion to observe some things and the person may not have chosen to obey the rules. Such include the observance of special days, the ten commandments,not eating certain kinds of food, not touching some things etc.
How does spirituality and religiosity differ? What do they share?
Spirituality according to me refers to how an individual believer leads his/her life depending on the choices the individual has made in life. These choices include whether to get saved or not, whether to obey God's word in one's life, whether to surrender fully or partially to God's will and many others. On the other hand, Religiousity according to me refers to an individual's life style lived under religious code of conduct. This life is generally from without in that one is compelled by his/her religion to observe some things and the person may not have chosen to obey the rules. Such include the observance of special days, the ten commandments,not eating certain kinds of food, not touching some things etc.
Is there anything called African religion? If yes then what is it?
We do not have a single entity that can be referd to as "African religion" because given the definitions above, Africa is a vast continent with varied cultures and lifestyles that have been largely affected by the environment in which a particular community lives. We may rightly say as JS Mbiti rightly stated that we have African Religions and Philosophies. Among the people of Kenya for Example, the Maasai's belief system is not the same as that of the Luo's because the two communities, although both are nilotic, have two different culrures and beliefs concerning their origin,life after death,God, love and Marriage, morality and etc. This applies to all peoples of Africa.So when you talk about African Religion, you would be refering only to one of a type among the many.
We do not have a single entity that can be referd to as "African religion" because given the definitions above, Africa is a vast continent with varied cultures and lifestyles that have been largely affected by the environment in which a particular community lives. We may rightly say as JS Mbiti rightly stated that we have African Religions and Philosophies. Among the people of Kenya for Example, the Maasai's belief system is not the same as that of the Luo's because the two communities, although both are nilotic, have two different culrures and beliefs concerning their origin,life after death,God, love and Marriage, morality and etc. This applies to all peoples of Africa.So when you talk about African Religion, you would be refering only to one of a type among the many.
Why do we say God of Israel for those who are Christians?
Most Chritians like to use this phrase and indeed it is a beloved phrase even for me because my Mom WHO GREATLY INFLUENCED me to make a choice of what I beleive in now, used whenever she paryed a deep paryer. She could start by, the God of Abraham, the God of Issaac the God of Jacob, the maker of heaven and Earth the creator of the Universe, These phrases have been used to single out The true God we worship because there are indeed many gods some with capital (God)letters and some with small (god) letters. The God of Islam is not the same God of Christianity, but there could be some relationship between the concept of God among African communities and that of the Bible. This is a topic that needs a deeper treatment. So to answer your Question, We say the God Israel meaning the God of Jacob, the one who delivered the Israelites from Bondage. This is to directly address the God of Christianity.
I hope I have answered your questions to the best of my knowledge. May God bless you as you continue to seek His face.
Paul
Most Chritians like to use this phrase and indeed it is a beloved phrase even for me because my Mom WHO GREATLY INFLUENCED me to make a choice of what I beleive in now, used whenever she paryed a deep paryer. She could start by, the God of Abraham, the God of Issaac the God of Jacob, the maker of heaven and Earth the creator of the Universe, These phrases have been used to single out The true God we worship because there are indeed many gods some with capital (God)letters and some with small (god) letters. The God of Islam is not the same God of Christianity, but there could be some relationship between the concept of God among African communities and that of the Bible. This is a topic that needs a deeper treatment. So to answer your Question, We say the God Israel meaning the God of Jacob, the one who delivered the Israelites from Bondage. This is to directly address the God of Christianity.
I hope I have answered your questions to the best of my knowledge. May God bless you as you continue to seek His face.
Paul
I would like to add that the phrase Chritians like using in prayer; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob was also used by Jesus who quoted God identifying Himself as the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.This is mainly because there were other gods too who would masquarade and decive people so God would show His identity. Look at this verse Mathew 22:23-33
ReplyDeleteThat same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?" 29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.