We get the occasional post about realationship vs religion or spirituality vs religion ot following Jesus vs being a Christian. Some agree. Others don’t.
Often the ones who disagree hold a both/and position. We don’t tend to get both/and posts, though. Here’s one.
I think that position religion (often imbued with a negative connotation) against God or relationship or spirituality creates a false dichotomy.
In my experience, positions that present this dichotomy tend to emphasize a sort of individualism that is more culturally present in the West than elsewhere and than in the context of when the bible was written.
I do believe that God longs for each and everyone of us, but I also believe that God longs for us to be in relationship with one another and that salvation is a universal project.
To me, *religion is how we have relationship with God together.* Social scientists have noted how group dynamics change if a dyad becomes a tryad. If it’s now you, me, and God, we need a new set of boundaries to protect and honor everyone in the relationship. (A sidethought: our poly siblings probably have thenmost to teach us on how to do religion well). For example God tells me A and God tells you -A, how do we navigate that? Sadly, the answer has often been coercion throughout church history, but it shouldn’t be.
Anyhow, if someone doesn’t identify as being religious, that’s their prerogative. But universalizing that claim to everyone isn’t.