One stereotype about Christianity seems to be that it involves rules, as though it were a dictatorship of sorts to which one must - or will unwittingly - conform. The imposition of such rules is called legalism, and is distasteful when any religion promotes it. Truth and rules are two different things. A truth will be true, whether one believes it to be or not, whereas a rule is typically a manmade regulation*. Religions and philosophies often believe they have identified truths, which they willingly seek to live by to improve their lives.
*20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Colossians 2:20-23)
