How to define “religion”?

Dictionaries are usually considered terrible places to go for theological or spiritual definitions and this is another case. The picture of all the dictionaries was chosen because I like books, including dictionaries, and I own at least two of the books pictured.

So if I’m not going to go to a dictionary for a definition of “religion” where might I go?

There are a lot of places I could go but where I am going to go is the book of James. The Lectionary passage for today is James 1:17-27 and includes an excellent definition of religion. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27 NRSV)

So why would I need anything else and why did it take me more than sixteen minutes to say it? I promise you I didn’t read really, rreeaallyyyy, slowly. The rest of the James passage has some other very helpful things to say about what religion is. Give the sermon a listen and let me know what you think.

“Religion defined” (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

PS There is only one sermon this Sunday, you aren’t missing anything 🙂

Image credit: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA