Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
That's a different kind of religion. We are talking about religion by dictionary definition which is "a belief system".
Taking care of orphans and widows is not a "belief system" - James is talking about something else.
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Wow, you just don't know when to bridle your tongue. It is astounding.
27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James is referring to the Lord's rule to "do unto others as you would have them do to you" -- commonly referred to as the golden rule and the fundamental belief system of all religions.
The Golden Rule or law of reciprocity is the principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated oneself. It is a maxim of altruism seen in many human religions and human cultures.[1][2] The maxim may appear as either a positive or negative injunction governing conduct:
• One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (positive or directive form).[1]
• One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative or prohibitive form).[1]
• What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself (empathic or responsive form).[1]
The Golden Rule differs from the maxim of reciprocity captured in do ut des—"I give so that you will give in return"—and is rather a unilateral moral commitment to the well-being of the other without the expectation of anything in return.[3]
The concept occurs in some form in nearly every religion[4][5] and ethical tradition.[6] It can also be explained from the perspectives of psychology, philosophy, sociology, and economics. Psychologically, it involves a person empathizing with others. Philosophically, it involves a person perceiving their neighbor also as "I" or "self".[7] Sociologically, 'love your neighbor as yourself' is applicable between individuals, between groups, and also between individuals and groups. In economics, Richard Swift, referring to ideas from David Graeber, suggests that "without some kind of reciprocity society would no longer be able to exist."[8 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule)
To keep oneself unspotted from the world is a holiness principle. You could not do this without keeping His instructions beginning with receiving the blood of Christ which will wash us white as snow and being reborn through baptism to be a new creature.
James is referring to an expression of faith in spirit and truth.