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I am not trying to pick a fight here, but to this Catholic, there is no distinction between faith and religion, particularly because Catholicism is synonymous with Christianity. I realize that Protestants may not think this way. Also, Catholics do not consider their religion (or faith) as another Christian denomination or sect. Catholics tend to describe their religion as a church.

As I said, my intent is not to be argumentative; but I have noticed the tendency here on FR to call Catholicism a denomination--that is something which I think the Church itself would frown upon. I found an article a while ago in First Things discussing this subject, if you are interested.

To be sure, I wasn't trying to be confrontational either. I think my comments will make a little more sense if read in the context of the poster who was questioning me, and also admit that we may very well be using somewhat differing definitions of the words faith and religion. That said, I generally try to overlook the "exclusive" tone of many of the Catholic Church pronouncements, and think of you all as by brothers/sisters in Christ. :-)

I've always thought of religion as the organized practice of one's faith, which would certainly include the Catholic Church (and many others, for that matter, Christian or not).

By the by, are you aware that Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been working on a theology of "religionless Christianity" prior to his arrest and execution by the Nazis toward the end of WWII? He was never able to flesh out his ideas, and so far as I know, no one has yet picked up on his thoughts and added to them, but loosely understood, I believe he was intrigued by the example of Christ's ministry as presented in the Gospels; i.e., he walked out from wherever he had spent the night, "walked" his ministry through the day, and spent the following night wherever he happened to have arrived, only to repeat the process the next day. I must admit I find that idea somewhat intriguing myself, if only for its simplicity.

I assure you I meant no offense, but you do leave me in somewhat of a quandary ... if I call you folks "the Church," what do I call myself?

[So ... here I stand, arms spread wide open, waiting, having offered you carte blanche as to your reply...:)]