Religion

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Definition of RELIGION

1   a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2  : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

3  archaic: scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness

4  : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Definition of RELIGIOUS

1 : relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity <a religious person> <religious attitudes>

2 : of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances <joined a religious order>

3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful b: fervent, zealous

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By "Challenging Religion" I mean the Religion that people have come to love and embrace that is Tradition and Doctrin. It would be defined under #4 from Merriam-Webster. And religious as defined in # 2.  Being devoted to the belief or observances and not to God himself.  

Oh yes, we love our religion.  We embrace it and how dare anyone try to change our minds or give us insight.  The possibility that there might me more to learn and know about God is ridiculous, right?  The Bible's definition of religion that is pure and undefiled before God is found in James 1:27

- Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

-- Just that.  No rituals, ceremonies, mantras, doctrins or traditions.  Don't get me wrong not all doctrin and traditions are bad.  But when our devotion is to the tradition or doctrin and not to God, then it is defiled.  Let's seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness instead of striving to be perfect in our doctrins and rituals.  Let's love God so much that we desire to know everything about him we can know.  So much that we live an unspotted life from the world.  Let our works be only fruits and not roots.

Foundation

A Foundation is something you start with and build on.  It has to be right or the whole thing will turn out wrong.  It has to be strong and sure.  When your foundation is shaken,  you can be shaken to your very core. .  Then you'll need to take another look at things.  What if the very foundation that you built your christian beliefs on was shaken?  I'm not talking about Jesus the Christ.  We know he is the cornerstone.  The true foundation.  But there are certain things that you start out believing  about Jesus and base all the new things you learn on that so called truth. 

You would have to re-think everything else that you thought you knew.  This is where I found myself a few years ago.  While going through a great trial and seeking peace and safety from the Lord, I began to learn that not everything that I had been taught in church was the truth.  It started with small things.. . . . like that the three wise men did not visit Jesus in the manger.  And that some of the animals came to the ark in sevens, not a pair of each.  Those are simple things that I think most people know, but it really started me asking, "what else?". 

I intend to write down my journey through these things as best I can and as I learn more.   Half truths, mis-quoted scriptures, misconstrued ideas, and some favorite "bible quotes" that aren't even in the Bible.  Hold on because some are shocking.  Please remember, these are my understandings.  They are not intended to impose on anyone and certainly not posted for debate.  You came here voluntarily, so if you comment be kind. . . .

I Cor. 13:1 ...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Hopefully sharing some things I have learned will help someone else to move forward in God.