Many other statements from Christian writers could be
adduced, but these will suffice to represent the awareness
of the differentiation between “religion” and Christianity.
Background of the word “religion”A brief study of the etymology of our English word
“religion” will reveal that we might not want to allow the
word “religion” to be associated with Christianity. There
are several Latin words that may have served as the origin
of our English word “religion.” The Latin word religo
meant “to tie or fasten.” 18 A similar word, religio, was used
to refer to “respect, devotion or superstition.” Religio was a
recognition that men are often tied or bound to God in
reverence or devotion. It can also convey the meaning of
being bound or tied to a set of rules and regulations, to
rituals of devotion, to a creedal belief-system, or to a cause,
ideology, or routine. Some have suggested that “religion”
may be derived from the Latin word relegere, which refers
to re-reading. There is no doubt that “religion” is often
associated with repetitious rites of liturgy and litany, and
the reproduction of creedal formulas and expressions. Most
etymologists, however, regard the English word “religion”
to be derived from the Latin word religare which is closely