“It is always the sign of definite misunderstanding when an attempt
is made to systematically coordinate revelation and religion...to fix
their mutual relationship.” 5
“In opposition to all ‘religionism’ the proclamation of the grace of
God is introduced as the truth...” 6
“Religion is unbelief. It is a concern of...godless man.” 7
“Religion is clearly seen to be a human attempt to anticipate what
God in His revelation wills to do and does do. It is the attempted
replacement of the divine work by a human manufacture.” 8
“It is a feeble but defiant, an arrogant but hopeless, attempt to
create something which man could do. In religion man bolts and
bars himself against revelation by providing a substitute, by taking
away in advance the very thing which has to be given by God. It is
never the truth. It is a complete fiction, which has not only little
but no relation to God.” 9
“What is the purpose of the universal attempt of religions but to
anticipate God, to foist a human product into the place of His
word, to make our own images of the One who is known only
where He gives Himself to be known.” 10
“The revelation of God denies that any religion is true. No religion
can stand before the grace of God as true religion.” 11French sociologist and legal scholar, Jacques Ellul, in
like manner affirms that,
“There is no path leading from a little bit of religion (of whatever
kind) to a little more and finally to faith. Faith shatters all
religion...” 12
“The opposition between religion and revelation can really be
understood quite simply. We can reduce it to a maxim: religion
goes up, revelation comes down. 13