Christianity is not a Religion
By Christoph56
@Christoph56 (1504)
Canada
December 7, 2012 1:38pm CST
This is a line that was said by Bill O'Reilly on his show, The O'Reilly factor, which has been shown a bunch online over the past few days.
O'Reilly was asking, "What religion is involved with Christmas?", and when the reply came back as being Christianity, he said that "Christianity is not a religion, it's a philosophy."
His direction, is that a single branch of Christianity, like the Baptists or the Roman Catholics, shouldn't have their say over others... like, Corpus Christi is a holiday celebrated mainly by Catholics, and some Anglicans, but it's not seen as a national holiday. He would be opposed to that. But, every Christian celebrates Christmas, therefore, it should be considered philosophical...
But I've never heard of a philosophy that had pieces about things like the son of God being born on a specific day that has his name carved on it, that we're supposed to celebrate. That sounds much more like a religion then a philosophy.
Personally, for this time of the year, I'll be saying more "Happy Boxing Day" or "A Joyful Winter Equinox"... at least that's something that everyone will be going along with.
11 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
7 Dec 12
This Bill chap is deeply confused; "...every Christian celebrates Christmas, therefore, it should be considered philosophical..."
No, that is non-sequitur, so his position just collapses, in fact that every Christian celebrates it makes it more of a religious celebration that only some Christians celebrate.
Christianity is not a philosophy, though the teachings of Jesus are philosophically profound. It would be harder to imagine teachings with more existential impact, or that have had a deeper and broader influence on philosophy. (With regarding influence the possible exception of Aristotle)
all the best, urban
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
7 Dec 12
Having said that, Christmas has been usurped and is now a festival of greed and rampant consumerism. If only Dickens had not revived it when we had all but abolished it.
all the best, urban
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
Maybe we should just change the name from Christmas to, "Rampant Consumerism Day!". I think that would go along with our modern world much better :)
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
7 Dec 12
Most religions are a philosophy. all christian religions have been lumped under the word "christianity" for a very long time. However, there are many christian groups that are very opposed to this.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
There are philosophical directions to religions, but there are philosophical directions to anything, and having a Holy Day in remembrance of of the virgin birth of the son of God, that's a religious direction.
I mean, there's no such thing as a philosophical holiday... they're all based directly on events, not just ideas... if you can think of one, I'd love to hear it.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
7 Dec 12
Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, lots of philosophical holidays.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
7 Dec 12
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/christiantheology-philosophy/
On the TEACHINGS of Jesus, they are philospophical. There ARE Christian sects that do not hold to Him being divine you know.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
7 Dec 12
How can you say Christmas is not a religious holiday, when it's called CHRISTmas? Or how about when they put up pieces showing things like the baby being born in the stable to Mary and the 3 wise men? That's showing it's the day that Jesus was born. Or what about the majority of Christmas Carols that are sung, like Silent Night? or Away in a Manger? or Hark! The Herald Angels Sing? or Joy To The World? These are very religious songs, all about Christmas...
and how can we say it is ONLY about Jesus when we incorporated so many purely pagan traditions within the celebration?
Even the idea of a mass is pagan in origin.
In fact, the WHOLE idea of a holiday to celebrate the birth of a Jewish prophet is sacriligous to the Jew's religion, which IS what Jesus himself practiced and taught.
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
7 Dec 12
Xmas is not sacriligious to Jews...It is only sacriligious if a Jew does it.
Christoph, Jews burn 8 candles on Hannukah. The 9th candle is used to light the other 8 and is called a Shamash. The festival of lights, celebrates the fact that oil that was supposed to last 1 day lasted 8 days.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
Yeah, you have a very good point, the direction of celebrating a prophet's birth is sacrilegious to the Jewish people, another reason to more limit the pushing of christianity, since it is so offensive to so many other people. Why not just keep it more to "Happy Holidays"?
But, the main point that I'm making here, is directly on calling Christianity a religion, not a philosophy. Jesus in a manger is religious, burning trees for the sun is religious, lighting the 9 candles is religious, and calling the 25th Christmas is religious... So why push some of them as a philosophy, when it's obviously religious?
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
Pardon me :) I've just been learning some of the directions of Judaism recently, so it's really one of my lesser known of religions... always good to learn more!
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
16 Dec 12
Yes, it is BOTH a religion and a philosophy, sort of like the opposite of white is both black & dark.
And Christmas isn't about G*d, except as it's about man celebrating his own of who G*d is ("Christ" doesn't mean 'immaculately conceived & divinely born,' it means 'anointed'---not 'the one G*d sent,' but 'the one MAN chose to regard as divine').
@urbandekay (18278)
•
20 Dec 12
Since you are not convinced by the words of men, here then the words of God
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
And this Son of God says,
"...blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
all the best, urban
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Dec 12
messiah means annointed, which is a way of showing divine choice, a thing being sacred, set aside as holy, and not just the mere choice or desire of men.
And let's consider Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
19 Dec 12
What was Isaiah? What shall call 'the son' all those things? What sets aside the oily one to be holy? And what 'rubs the oil on' (anoints) him?
HUMANS, all! Shame if you cannot appreciate G*d as your creator if you know that HUMANS are the only ones who note the greatness G*d gives as he will.
@StLouisMetroTutoring (678)
• St. Peters, Missouri
7 Dec 12
I think if we define religion and philosophy it becomes a little more obvious (although some will disagree about the definitions). We can call them whatever we want, but for there to be an understanding and agreement, there has to be an understanding and agreement about what we mean when we use these words.
Definitions that work for me:
Religion: Has rituals. Make use of the reason, or rely on faith, or uses faith as the reason. Difference between sacred and profane (certain works - such as the Bible - are held as sacred). Belief in something miraculous.
Philosophy: No rituals. Emphasizes reason and critical thinking. No fundamental difference regarding sacred/profane (would a philosopher suggest that Aristotle's work be seen with awe and revered, or would a philosopher suggest that the work be scrutinized and questioned?). Things are accepted because they are proven.
I realize these definitions may be a bit cut-and-dried, but in my mind there is a clear difference between a philosophy and a religion. However, there is a lot of overlap, which causes the confusion.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
I think your definitions of the two work out great, it's a great way of putting what I see, and what I think the majority of people see between the two directions.
On that, though, I really can't see how Christianity is a philosophy... it seems to fall much more under the definition of Religion. How come people seem to be confusing the two?
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
From the stories about Jesus in the new testament, it sounds much more like Jesus was teaching faith and miracles, and not reason and critical thinking... by that, I'd see him as a preacher more then a philosopher.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
7 Dec 12
As I said in my earlier post under Adoniah's, Jesus is seen by many, not as divine, but a prophet, a teacher. Which would fit the philosopher description, would it not?
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Dec 12
I do not know who Bill O'Reilly is because the show is not transmitted in England, but I must give him full marks for talking nonsense. Of course Christianity is a philosophy, but it is also a religion. The fact that there are several divisions of Christianity does not change this at all because they all have an integral core of belief with some minor variations.
neither was Jesus! .... yeah I totally agree..@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
10 Dec 12
That's my name because, well, that's my name, Christoph. No connections to Jesus in there. I'd go for "Christmas" being changed to "Christoph's Day", although I bet people would get bothered and start complaining about why it's my day when I wasn't even born on Dec 25th...
Waiiitttt a sec... neither was Jesus! :D
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
7 Dec 12
We look upon Judaism as a way of life...It is a civilization, a religion, and a land. Many Jews are secular and follow no religion, but they are persecuted nontheless for Jewish beliefs. Many Jews go to the Land of Israel, but they do not go for religious reasons, they go just to be there and be a Jew touching their roots. Other Jews who are religious also go to touch their roots.
I think that many christians do not follow a religion, they just stay in touch with their roots...they just don't travel thousands of miles to do it...lol
Often christianity is a religion of convenience...It is "used" when there is a purpose, but is put away most of the time. All religious groups claim that they are against abortion and it is often in their creeds...However, when someone "needs one" they put away their religious beliefs and do what they want...Just an example, don't get upset.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
7 Dec 12
That kinda sounds like it's a religion to you, if you consider stories in a book about how to live your life, your way of life...
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
8 Dec 12
I agree with Adoniah.
If we were to count ONLY those who LIVE out their entire faith, there would be a lot less 'religious' people in the world. BUT, I'd like to point out that often those 'nominal' believers often times carry within them the good they've learned from the religion and this benefits society. We usually only notice the hypocrital acts these nominal religionists show, but do we realize that often, those who are not full adherants and particpators in religion, do good things because of the teachings of religion?
We tend to only see those who do wrong or who act hypocrital, saying one thing and doing another. But what about those who silently go about their life being honorable because they were taught religion as a child, or read the scriptures and found a path within the teachings, yet do not hold to a given dogma or doctrine?
I contend that Christianity and Judaism can be both a philosophy as in these cases, or viewed as a religion for those who adhere to every tenent of the religion.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
7 Dec 12
I definitely agree. Philosophy sounds like Religions and they are all system of beliefs. I assume most philosophical beliefs are presented to people but those who present it just hold on to that belief and they are not actually claiming that it is the truth- it's like an exploration of beliefs or they are offering you a different perspective. The problem with religions is that they seem to believe that all the doctrines they teach are solid rock truths. Some people are convinced with a certain religious beliefs, others are totally skeptical. At the end of the day, it seems people have invented their own religions they want to embrace.
