Differences between religion and Christianity

The recent rally by Iglesia ni Cristo members showed the nation what religion is and what Christianity is not:

1. Religion binds and blinds. Jesus Christ liberates and restores sight.
2. Religion dictates and threatens. Christ exhorts and allows freedom of choice.
3. Religion demands loyalty. Christ requires a willing heart.
4. Religion can be savage, brutal and, sometimes, extremely corrupt. Christ gives life, and is always compassionate, just, forgiving and incorruptible.
5. Religion thrives on membership and rules. Christianity thrives on holy lives; and it entails more than a name, rituals and form to become Jesus’ disciple or follower.

Perhaps—and this would be sad—religion, more than materialism, brought more souls to hell.

And, lastly, religion goes for block-voting. Christianity prays when voting.

—RENI M. VALENZUELA, renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com