Morgan, I think that's a good call.

I would guess that's probably a part of it. Growing up in a conservative Evangelical background, the popular saying at the time was : "Christianity is a relationship, not a religion." But it didn't take me very long to learn what that really meant was "Only this specific group of people have that relationship" and, shock of all shocks, it just so happened to be the group I was in. Everything else was just religion, and they were all missing out on the relationship- and most often, because they didn't sign on to some doctrines (inerrant Bible, etc.). My experience has been that the people who say this stuff the most have some of the strongest boundaries for who actually has that relationship with Jesus.

To be 100% honest with you, a lot of the people I know who've shared it don't really buy it. It's a talking point they like to nod with, but of course it really means (gauging by the their actions at other times): "what I believe is Jesus, but everything else that I don't agree with is merely religion." They have just as strict boundaries as anyone else I know, and it really is just another version of the "in-out" game.

Morgan, this is a terrific, succinct distillation of these questions. Well done. I notice your author description gives a little bit away about which of each of these stances you lean toward. :) Questions are far more engaging than debates and propositions, and these questions are exactly the questions I have asked and been asked this past year.

Daisy, I appreciate your comments, but I know you well enough to know you have a great way with your words yourself! Merry Christmas and can you believe it's almost 2012?