tRIUNE: "usually involving devotional and ritual observances" It said "usually" not always making it fit the definition of religion. Praying is a ritual itself. I don't know if you guys say prayers before dinner or do the whole "father son and holy spirit" thing on your chest but all of those are apart of ritual based activity. Going to chruch is also ritual considering its an event where masses join up and "do things".

If what you say is true, why repent if you cannot reach God? That makes no sense whatsoever. Only way that would make sense is if god told you to repent which goes against the creation of free will he made.

In basic terms, religion is mearly describing a group of people who share a similar idea on life / after life through a deity and scriptures.

"Only way that would make sense is if god told you to repent which goes against the creation of free will he made."

.... you don't understand free will.

Free will is given to us so that we can choose to follow God or not.... following God doesn't undermine free will....

Okay technically Christianity is a "religion," but the reasoning behind why a Christian will try and differentiate is because of the "relationship" they have with God.

A relationship with God (devotion to Him) comes solely from receiving His love and trusting in His provision for your sin. Religion in terms of relation to God is devotion to your own righteousness for provision of sin.

This is where bigotry comes from; one who is pious has the tendency to think they are better than others because they will think that they are more "religious." Well the difference is I'm not observing strict religious practices to be saved, But I "pray and go to church" because I'm saved.

God doesn't show partiality to any of us regardless of who we are or how good we are. Yes, I do good works, but I don't expect my works to save me. I look to Jesus alone for my salvation. But because I have received Jesus as Lord, my belief is manifested in a changed life.

This differentiates Christianity from bigotry; before God wee all stand on one level as sinners. The difference is if you're trusting in God or trusting in your religion. Yes, salvation results in repentance, but repentance is not supposed to be a ritual. Repentance comes from recognizing your sin and trusting in God to purge it from you in your normal daily life, not through your own religious rituals.

Christianity is only a religion by what secularists think. This is because they don't know any better sadly. This, like I said is the biggest deception in the world that people think that the bigoted religion is Christianity, but seriously we should go on topic. I'll make a thread later "Is Christianity a religion" if this is such a big issue. Which I do think it is.

big·ot
   /ˈbɪgət/ Show Spelled[big-uht] Show IPA
–noun
a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
From this definition, a Christian should not be a bigot.

All the things of the earth are a testament and an allegory/parable of Heavenly Father. To be closed minded to anyone's beliefs that are based on the things of the earth is to be closed minded to God. We must 'Love out neighbors as ourselves' and even though what we cognitively believe might be different than someone else we are all trying the best we can through the experiences in life we've had to determine our purpose. Some believe through inspiration and the light of Christ we can come to truly know what God expects of us, but if others don't go through a similar experience that helps them define what is right and what is wrong we can not hold them accountable for a sin that is only based on our opinion. For a Christian not to be part of bigotry they must respect that people have their own agency to choice. Part of this life experience is being able to make our own choices, so it is import to always 'love the sinner and not the sin'. The benefit of religion comes from the peace and purpose you gain from it, if a person only sees it as work and a collective opinion to rally behind than they need to redefine what purpose God plays in their life and might not be ready to except any religon.
Just another thing that caught my attention, to say God will forgive me is a misconception of the repentance process. From my religious standpoint one must feel God-like sorrow- feeling truly bad for what you did and not that you got caught- and strive not to done it again, once a person does the sin again the sin for that time and previous time comes back, then you have sorrow again and if necessary right wrongs that have been caused. We are judged with mercy and by our works.

Christians are not bigots, they can be but it is not right

Many Christians Are And So Are People From Other Reilgons The Only Way A Reilgon Can Not Be Bigots Is If There Is A Reilgon Thats Says They May Be Wrong And All Religons Are Just As True As Theres Otherwise There Bigots Because They(AllMost All Reilgons)Say Oures Is Suprime And Right And All Non-Belivers Will Be Smited.

Atheists really like to distort what tolerance and open mindedness are. They talk as though in order to be tolerant and open minded you have to give up what you believe in and accept and believe in what everyone else believes, and if you don't than you're a bigot. That is a very big lie and a distortion.

Hoochman : I agree with that completely. I have every right to disagree with what anyone else thinks or believes and they have that same right. But disagreeing with each other doesn't make either side close-minded or bigoted. It's only when we refuse to even have a conversation or find a common ground to work with that we become closed-minded and/or bigoted.

The core message of Christianity is "Christ-crucified-and-resurrected"; anything beyond that can come off as bigoted, only if the Christian has lost that perspective. Or perhaps, the other person doesn't like the idea of a Savior.

tRIUNE : Exactly, the message of Christ is that he died and returned because he loved us and he wanted us to be free from our sin. That is the message to pass on to people who don't believe. The message of the bible is not bigotry but tough love in a sense.