The Dictionary cannot solve this argument.

I say that because English Language was not the origin of the word religion. It was borrowed.

That said, religion came from latin word: religio which originally means RITUAL, not ritual like blood sacrifices though (because that word was also borrowed from latin). Ritual, originally means something you do at certain intervals following certain rules and patterns. It’s usually boring. For instance, you might hear someone saying that taking a walk is their evening ritual. It means that they do it everyday, following the same pattern

Another word for it is ROUTINE

So religion (latin: religio) means something done following certain patterns and traditions that must be done the same way every time.
Adapted to English Language, it is man following certain patterns in his attempt to find, connect and communicate with beings superior to him.

So you can say certain sects of “Christianity” are religious. Like the Catholic Church. Everything has to be repeated the same way, every time (If you are a Catholic here, no offense!). You do know I am saying the truth though ‘cos I used to be one.

Religion is man’s desperate search for God.

Christianity on the other hand, is God’s search for man.

Nothing in Christianity is routine.

You could go from simple to crazy. Nobody’s saying you have to get on your knees to communicate with God. It can be done any how! That’s Christianity. The only thing common to the ‘religion’ of Christianity (yes I used brackets because it’s not a religion) is that you must believe, accept, and appropriate the salvation God bought with His own blood, and invite Him into your life, while doing a complete turn-around from satan, sin and the world

Or you could look at it like this:
Religion is the law. Christianity is Grace

Religion gives you DOs and DON’Ts

Christianity makes you want to be like the God of Heaven. So even without the law, the Christian will never sin
He cannot

Because he has lost the nature of sin

It is like a dog and a man. The dog cannot say anything without barking. It’s not the barking that makes it a dog, but because it’s a dog, barking is its nature. If it opens its mouth, it barks. Whether it wants to or not. The same way, it is not the act of sin that makes the sinner. It is the fact that he’s a sinner that makes it impossible for him not to sin. But if that dog is changed to a man, it has lost the nature of barking. But it can still bark, but it doesn’t mean he’s a dog. The Christian can make a mistake and sin. Doesn’t make him a sinner. He simply let himself act like dog. He can go take a bath (to you, that’s the blood of Jesus) and remain a clean man, but a sinner, no matter how religious, cannot not-Sin.

‘Nonso John
Author “THRONES”
Christ A Poet Author

Christianity is accepting Christ and confessing Him with your mouth. Then in faith allowing Him to finish what He has started at your salvation. Religion as regards Christianity, is accepting Christ *or not accepting Him for some*, but trying to finish what He has started in any way.

Uche Njoku
Christ A Poet Author

Christianity: It is a control of a Life by the Holy Spirit.
Religion: More of human effort and not God doing it.

Pastor Segun Abe
Fragrance of Life Ministries.

The difference is that Jesus didn’t come to introduce any religion. Jesus came to show Himself as the Saviour and the same with God the Creator. That’s why He said I Am THE, and not a, Way…
I AM THE ONLY ONE! (Remember John 4).

Jesus told that woman, the time comes, and now is it, that you will neither worship in the same, nor in Jerusalem, but worship God in the Spirit. So, He didn’t come to set up a religion and state that one is the best. He just came to connect humans to their true God, in the right way and the only way.

So, He is not a religious leader. Neither did He establish a religion. He is God, and every one following Him is not into religion.

Also,
Religion is a way of getting to know a supreme being and please such. Following Jesus, we are not trying to please God. God is saying to us in Christ Jesus, I am pleased with you already. Everything we are doing for God in Christ Jesus is born out of His love for us rather than we trying to get His attention.

Religion tries to get a supreme being’s attention whereas following Jesus is more of God getting our attention and trying to make us what we stand to enjoy if we stick to Him.

Funmi Adebayo
Author “WWF weeklies on Christ-A-Poet blog”