Although religious people are often faulted for being "legalistic" ("Why all the rules?" we're often asked. "Why not enjoy life?"), the truth is that anyone who, for the sake of his well-being, feels compelled to regularly follow one course of action and not another, is being a "legalist".
The difference between "Christian rules" (e.g., "Thou shalt honor thy father and mother") and "secular rules" (e.g., "Thou shalt exercise at least thrice weekly") resides simply in the degree to which we can perceive the effect of compliance with a particular rule on one's well-being.
