Religion is an excuse for judgement. Take out the ability to judge someone else, and all of the fun of religion is lost. There is a huge difference between being religious and being spiritual. Being religious is buying into the tradition, rituals, and dogma of man-made and man-produced religion. After all, Churches are only businesses. How does it work? You pay 10% of your income, and they offer you (the illusion of) eternal salvation. And if you don't come to their business, then they threaten you with Hell. They twist your arm and tell you to conform and believe. At what cost? All self-identity and all personal freedom.
Spirituality, however, is different. Everyone is on their own spiritual path, trying to figure things out. Why is it right for Person A and wrong for Person B? More importantly, why is it right for Person A to condemn Person B to Hell for being "wrong"? It's not right, it's %^$*ed up if you ask me. The words "good" and "bad" are [almost] totally subjective. You may think it's wrong to lie, but in certain circumstances, you would more than likely say okay to lying. Why do rules bend like that for you, but not others? Are you still not bearing false witness against your neighbor? You are. You lied. You sinned. And it doesn't matter if it was for the best at the end. Basic morals tell you that the ends do not always justify the means. It is wrong to do something bad for a good result.
I am sorry you had to deal with churches such as that. Truly hypocritical of them. It is unfortunate but it seems that most of the people who call themselves 'christians' are anything but. How can you call yourself a Christ follower yet ignore his teachings on not judging others? *sigh*
Peace be upon you.
| Soulfire wrote: |
Religion is an excuse for judgement. Take out the ability to judge someone else, and all of the fun of religion is lost. There is a huge difference between being religious and being spiritual. Being religious is buying into the tradition, rituals, and dogma of man-made and man-produced religion. After all, Churches are only businesses. How does it work? You pay 10% of your income, and they offer you (the illusion of) eternal salvation. And if you don't come to their business, then they threaten you with Hell. They twist your arm and tell you to conform and believe. At what cost? All self-identity and all personal freedom.
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Maybe some churches are like that, but not all.
Besides, i think it's unfair to put say that all religion is an excuse for judgement just because some churches are hypocritical.
may God bless you. I love God. And I love Jesus, but I am questioning the relationship between God, me, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I'm not sure, perhaps it's time for change...
Dude, add me on msn, I wanna chat to you on msn at the weekend. I'll add you (i've got light in my msn address), and add me too.
Note: i won't be on frihost for the next few days due to personal circumstances, so i can't see what you reply is.
Thanks. Peace.
I believe that a large reason for the hypocrisy is because the basic foundation of Christianity has been lost. The stories and characters in the holy text have become glamorized and taken literally and have created a notion of hierarchy that many Christians seem to think is the foundation for following a basic doctrine of morality. Yet, the irony lies therein- morality should assume that hierarchy is unjust and, in Christian terms, evil.
Every human on the face of the our planet has a unique DNA structure, unique background, and has developed a unique perspective of life throughout the course of his existence that ultimately provides a sense of individuality. However, on a very basic level of definition, all humans are essentially equal. The illusions of property, power, good and evil, etc., are all created within ourselves- these things do no physically exist. Thus, to pursue a religious doctrine of hierarchy that attempts to take the meaning of morality into its own hand and dismisses any contrasting ideas is to negate the equality of one's "brothers and sisters" who may not accept this doctrine.
| Soulfire wrote: |
Religion is an excuse for judgement. Take out the ability to judge someone else, and all of the fun of religion is lost. There is a huge difference between being religious and being spiritual. Being religious is buying into the tradition, rituals, and dogma of man-made and man-produced religion. After all, Churches are only businesses. How does it work? You pay 10% of your income, and they offer you (the illusion of) eternal salvation. And if you don't come to their business, then they threaten you with Hell. They twist your arm and tell you to conform and believe. At what cost? All self-identity and all personal freedom.
Spirituality, however, is different. Everyone is on their own spiritual path, trying to figure things out. Why is it right for Person A and wrong for Person B? More importantly, why is it right for Person A to condemn Person B to Hell for being "wrong"? It's not right, it's %^$*ed up if you ask me. The words "good" and "bad" are [almost] totally subjective. You may think it's wrong to lie, but in certain circumstances, you would more than likely say okay to lying. Why do rules bend like that for you, but not others? Are you still not bearing false witness against your neighbor? You are. You lied. You sinned. And it doesn't matter if it was for the best at the end. Basic morals tell you that the ends do not always justify the means. It is wrong to do something bad for a good result. |
I totally agree. God was invented for feeble minds who couldn't grasp the perplexity of the Universe. Possibly the original followers of religious sects knew they were fables merely to teach moral lessons but eventually generation after generation zealots appeared who interpret religious texts as actual events. Now religion has become a dogmatic practice where individuality is sacrificed for the collective and non-conformation with the religious laws are threatened with hellfire.Religion is about control, power and solidifying the 'Us' to help separate 'Them.' Peaceful, well meaning, or otherwise, it is a means of division.
And yeah, the countering idea that religion unifies and is fundamentally about drawing people together is ludicrous. Sure, if everyone in the world shared a faith, but that will never happen. Every one Western Christian is disparate from the rest of the world.
