Christianity is the worst religion for civilization, since redemption is dependent upon faith, rather than good works, and a lifetime of wickedness can be redeemed by a death-bed conversion.
Hi All... well i can see here that you are all GREATLY CONFUSED... for starters Religion simply means a way of life... for me i follow Jesus Christ (Christ is a name that set him apart from all the other people called Jesus at that time... it simply means - Messiah or Anointed one) in regards to faith and grace. Yes Jesus died on the cross so that it wouldnt be by anything we did that would save us from eternal death (separation from God) but it would be by his love and MERCY that he would come down and become HUMAN to take our place. if that isnt amazing to you then i dont know what else to say other than JAMES 2:14-26
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS IS DEAD.... Faith was explained to me in a great way... TRUST IN ACTION... if you dont follow the example of Christ's life and you call yourself a "christian" then you need to look at your life and start being serious and not just take on the "name" of Christianity... for it says in MATTHEW 7.21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
ALSO the simple fact that following Jesus means stepping out of your compfort zone and living the way he did... in MARK 8:34-38
34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
we must deny our sinful nature and stive to live like Jesus did... it is a Faith based "religion" however we must strive to live like Jesus and therefor Good "deeds" or "works" are a obvious consequence to that action..
I pray that you will all find Jesus like i did as he changed my life. It isnt easy i have to say... every day is a struggle in this world but i hold onto his Promise in 1 JOHN 2.25
"And he (Jesus) Himself has promised us this: eternal life"
Keep searching guys and you will find him... some good books are the case for Christ by lee strobel... look into it :)