The term "religious" in the context of the Bible refers to the outward expression of faith and devotion to God, encompassing practices, rituals, and a lifestyle that reflects one's beliefs. The Bible addresses the concept of being religious in various passages, emphasizing both the importance and potential pitfalls of religious practices.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, religious practices were central to the life of the Israelites. The Law given to Moses included detailed instructions for worship, sacrifices, and festivals, which were integral to maintaining a covenant relationship with God. The book of Leviticus, for example, outlines numerous religious rituals and ceremonies. However, the prophets often warned against empty religious formalism. In Isaiah 1:13-14 , God expresses disdain for hollow rituals: "Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. Your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the focus shifts to the heart and intent behind religious practices. Jesus frequently criticized the Pharisees and religious leaders for their hypocrisy, as seen in Matthew 23:27 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity."

The Epistle of James provides a succinct definition of true religion. James 1:26-27 states, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." This passage highlights that genuine religion is characterized by compassionate action and personal holiness.

Religious Practices

Throughout the Bible, various religious practices are depicted, including prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and communal worship. These practices are intended to draw believers closer to God and foster a community of faith. In Acts 2:42 , the early church is described as devoted to "the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Warnings Against Empty Religion

The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of empty religious observance. In Amos 5:21-24 , God declares, "I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them... But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." This passage underscores the importance of justice and righteousness over mere ritual.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on being religious emphasizes a sincere and heartfelt devotion to God, manifested through righteous living and compassionate deeds. True religion, according to Scripture, is not merely about external observance but involves a transformation of the heart and a commitment to living out one's faith in tangible ways.1. (a.) Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a religious sect; a religious place; religious subjects, books, teachers, houses, wars.

2. (a.) Possessing, or conforming to, religion; pious; godly; as, a religious man, life, behavior, etc.

3. (a.) Scrupulously faithful or exact; strict.

4. (a.) Belonging to a religious order; bound by vows.

5. (n.) A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun.

2357. threskos of unc. or. -- religious.
threskos of unc. or. 2356, 2357. threskos of unc. or. 2358 . religious.
Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: threskos of unc. or. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2357.htm - 6k

1174. deisidaimonesteros -- very fearful of gods, religious ...
... 1173, 1174. deisidaimonesteros. 1175 . very fearful of gods, religious,
superstitious. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1174.htm - 7k

3008. leitourgeo -- to serve the state, ie by anal. to perform ...
... to perform religious service. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: leitourgeo Phonetic
Spelling: (li-toorg-eh'-o) Short Definition: I minister, serve publicly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3008.htm - 7k

1577. ekklesia -- an assembly, a (religious) congregation
... an assembly, a (religious) congregation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
ekklesia Phonetic Spelling: (ek-klay-see'-ah) Short Definition: an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1577.htm - 8k

1778. entalma -- an injunction, ie religious precept
... an injunction, ie religious precept. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
entalma Phonetic Spelling: (en'-tal-mah) Short Definition: an injunction ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1778.htm - 6k

1456. egkainia -- dedication, renewal (of religious services)
... dedication, renewal (of religious services). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: egkainia Phonetic Spelling: (eng-kah'-ee-nee-ah) Short Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1456.htm - 6k

5330. Pharisaios -- a Pharisee, member of a Jewish religious sect
... a Pharisee, member of a Jewish religious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Pharisaios Phonetic Spelling: (far-is-ah'-yos) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5330.htm - 7k

4523. Saddoukaios -- a Sadducee, a member of a Jewish religious ...
... a Sadducee, a member of a Jewish religious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Saddoukaios Phonetic Spelling: (sad-doo-kah'-yos) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4523.htm - 7k

5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer.
... Cognate: 5332 -- a person using drug-based incantations or drugging religious
enchantments; a -practitioner who "mixes up distorted religious potions" like a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5332.htm - 6k

1175. deisidaimonia -- a religion, superstition
... Cognate: 1175 (akin to 1174 , see there) -- properly, dread of a pagan deity "inspiring"
a "token show of respect" (religious gesture) -- especially religious ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1175.htm - 7k

8335. shareth -- (religious) ministry
... 8334, 8335. shareth. 8336 . (religious) ministry. Transliteration: shareth
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-rayth') Short Definition: service. ...
/hebrew/8335.htm - 6k

5212. Nisan -- first month of the Jewish religious year
... 5211, 5212. Nisan. 5213 . first month of the Jewish religious year.
Transliteration: Nisan Phonetic Spelling: (nee-sawn') Short Definition: Nisan. ...
/hebrew/5212.htm - 6k

6345. pachdah -- dread, (religious) awe
... 6344, 6345. pachdah. 6346 . dread, (religious) awe. Transliteration: pachdah
Phonetic Spelling: (pakh-daw') Short Definition: dread. ...
/hebrew/6345.htm - 6k

2763. charam -- to ban, devote, exterminate
... A primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses
(especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose ...
/hebrew/2763.htm - 5k

2933. tamah -- to be stopped up, stupid
... be defiled, be reputed vile. A collateral form of tame'; to be impure in a religious
sense -- be defiled, be reputed vile. see HEBREW tame'. 2932b, 2933. ...
/hebrew/2933.htm - 6k

6496. paqid -- commissioner, deputy, overseer
... From paqad; a superintendent (civil, military or religious) -- which had the charge,
governor, office, overseer, (that) was set. see HEBREW paqad. 6495, 6496 ...
/hebrew/6496.htm - 6k

8057. simchah -- joy, gladness, mirth
... From sameach; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) -- X exceeding(-ly),
gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing). see HEBREW sameach. ...
/hebrew/8057.htm - 6k

6588. pesha -- transgression
... rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. From pasha'; a revolt (national, moral
or religious) -- rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. see HEBREW pasha'. ...
/hebrew/6588.htm - 6k

2932. tum'ah -- uncleanness
... filthiness, uncleanness From tame'; religious impurity -- filthiness, unclean(-ness).
see HEBREW tame'. 2931, 2932. tum'ah. 2932a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2932.htm - 5k

3547. kahan -- to act as a priest
... A primitive root, apparently meaning to mediate in religious services; but used
only as denominative from kohen; to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put ...
/hebrew/3547.htm - 6k

Bible Stories and Religious Classics
Bible Stories and Religious Classics. <. Bible Stories and Religious
Classics Philip P. Wells. Produced by Kevin Handy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wells/bible stories and religious classics/

The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut
The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut. <. The Development
of Religious Liberty in Connecticut M. Louise Greene, Ph. D. ...
/.../greene/the development of religious liberty in connecticut/

Religious and Social State.
... Part II. THE SONG OF THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE.
RELIGIOUS. So far as the Jewish actors in the scene are ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/religious and social state.htm

Religious and Social State.
... Part IV. THE HISTORY OF BEL AND THE DRAGON RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE. RELIGIOUS. ...
Another religious feature shews itself in v.28, viz. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/religious and social state 3.htm

Religious and Social State.
... THE HISTORY OF SUSANNA RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE. RELIGIOUS. ... In fine, a religious
tone, befitting the time intended, is consistently maintained throughout. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/religious and social state 2.htm

Whether Religious who are Raised to the Episcopate are Bound to ...
... OF THINGS PERTAINING TO THE EPISCOPAL STATE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether religious who
are raised to the episcopate are bound to religious observances? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious who are raised.htm

Religious Characteristics.
... Chapter II Character. Section 6. Religious Characteristics. Was Constantine a Christian?
This vain question has to be considered, hardly discussed. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 6 religious characteristics.htm

Whether Indulgences Avail Religious?
... OF THOSE WHOM INDULGENCES AVAIL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether indulgences avail religious?
Objection 1: It would seem that indulgences do not avail religious. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether indulgences avail religious.htm

Whether a Religious Order that is Devoted to the Contemplative ...
... OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether a religious order
that is devoted to the contemplative life is more excellent than on that is ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a religious order that.htm

Of a Religious State. ...
... THE THIRD SECTION OF THE FIRST TREATISE, TOUCHING THE SCHOOL OF CONTEMPLATION, VIZ.
SOLITUDE AND A RELIGIOUS PROFESSION. CHAPTER III. Of a religious state.? ...
/.../chapter iii of a religious.htm

Religious (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting
forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a ...
/r/religious.htm - 10k

Over-religious (1 Occurrence)
Over-religious. Over-ready, Over-religious. Over-righteous .
Multi-Version Concordance Over-religious (1 Occurrence). ...
/o/over-religious.htm - 6k

Fasting (34 Occurrences)
... The theory that fasting, like many other ancient customs, had a religious origin,
is in favor with scholars, but we must not assume a religious origin for all ...
/f/fasting.htm - 23k

Fast (157 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain from
food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or ...
/f/fast.htm - 49k

Warfare (18 Occurrences)
... wor, wor'-far (milchamah, 'anshe m., "men of war," "soldiers"; polemos, polemein,
strateuesthai, stratia): 1. Religious Significance 2. Preliminaries 3 ...
/w/warfare.htm - 34k

War (529 Occurrences)
... wor, wor'-far (milchamah, 'anshe m., "men of war," "soldiers"; polemos, polemein,
strateuesthai, stratia): 1. Religious Significance 2. Preliminaries 3 ...
/w/war.htm - 64k

Superstition (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness
or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary ...
/s/superstition.htm - 8k

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)
... purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was
a religious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning. ...
/s/sprinkling.htm - 29k

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)
... purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was
a religious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning. ...
/s/sprinkle.htm - 26k

Conversion (1 Occurrence)
... to the return from the captivity (Isaiah 1:27 Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 30:3 Ezekiel
16:53 Zephaniah 2:7). (3) In the figurative, ethical or religious sense (a ...
/c/conversion.htm - 21k

How should Christians view religious liberty? | GotQuestions.org

What is Religious Science? | GotQuestions.org

What is religious pluralism? | GotQuestions.org

Religious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus