Religion and Faith - Different?

In today's world we find most people do not understand the difference between Religion and Faith.  I even catch my college age kids using the term Religion to describe themselves.  


Religions are rules created by men, ususally in an attempt to control other men. As the rules depends on history and culture, different religions believe in different rules. Even worse, the fanatically religious are always intolerant to the rules of other religions.

Faith is more direct, as you can believe in God, but not depend on other people or books for the rules. So you don't surrender power to anyone else other than God, which feels right. Even in the Bible, when asked what is your name, God replied "I am what I am". God is infinitely mysterious, and attempts to name Him or to know Him are all futile. God wanted you to have faith in Him, but not to blindly follow other creations of man.   Man should resist religion in all it's dressings, but cling to what is and is to come.



When I am asked, "Are you religious?"  I often answer, "No, but I am a follower of Jesus Christ."  which always gets me a puzzled look.  In the meanings of the words, I am no more religious than the atheist expecting to return to dust, but my Faith sets me apart.