THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION "I'm not religious. I just love the Lord." It is a popular bumper sticker proudly displayed for all to see. But there was a time when being called "religious" was a compliment and not an insult. When and how did it happen that "religion" became an uncomplimentary word? Is it true that all religious people are hurtful, sanctimonious legalists that cannot tolerate anyone who is not like them? Should we gather up our whips made of cords and join those who want to drive all of these intolerant legalists out of our meetings and churches? There are those who say religious people are plagued by "religious spirits" - demons that turn otherwise nice people into evil vision killers and party poopers in the church. Christians with these evil religious spirits are said to be motivated by fear and suspicion of anything that is new, strange, and unfamiliar. Are they right when they say these people must be delivered of such evil influences so they can join the parade of loving, tolerant, totally free spirits that worship God however they please and free of any restrictions of traditionalism or the obstructions by some of those irritating legalists that love to throw Bible passages at them to try and quench the Spirit and rein them in. Is it true what they say, that Jesus was not a religious person and therefore we should shun any and all trappings of religion? Is there such a thing as a pure and undefiled Christian religion? And if so, what does it look like? Can we love the Lord and still be religious? All these questions and more are answered as the author of The Spirit of Religion takes the reader through the Scriptures in search of the answers.