Defining Religion

[And before we get much further, I should point out that for Scougal "religion" means Christianity.]

"...[T]rue religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation in the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul. In the apostle's words, it is 'Christ formed in you.'" Scougal terms religion "a divine life" and will spend much of the letter fleshing out that phrase.

The crux of Christian faith is the Christian's union with Christ. Our identification with him in his death and resurrection is what grants us every spiritual benefit; the indwelling of Christ's Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, the seal of our salvation and the promise of our glorification.

I will be interested to see if Scougal elaborates on his idea that true religion is "a real participation in the divine nature." Undoubtedly he draws upon Peter's words in his first epistle but somehow I doubt he will come to the same conclusion as the Orthodox have concerning the divinization of the believer. We shall see.