"organized" religion

[graveflower]

graveflower1971: religion is all about control

graveflower1971: they know that if they can control the minds of those in the congregation...they can then send them out to recruit others...it is a trap of self-inflicted fear that only leads to mass conformity *barfs* gah!! LOL

acetroubleshooter : All they want is their money

graveflower1971: very true...I have watched the same parents who disowned me for not converting to their religion, write checks for thousands of dollars written to the same man who advised them that if they continued to have a relationship with me or my children, their own souls would then be at "risk"?! what the f**k is that?! INSANITY!!!!

acetroubleshooter : Religion is an 8 letter word for mind control

acetroubleshooter : What gets me is why people try to preach to you and you say leave me alone and they just keep dragin on and on

graveflower1971: because that is what they are trained to do...they are told to go out and "witness" to others and to try to convert them on the spot, which is why you will notice that they try to make you pray with them right then and there...very awkward and rude, I think.

acetroubleshooter : Yes
acetroubleshooter : especially jehovah's witness's

[Xombie]

Please dont post anything like this again. This bothers me. I am a Christain and proud of it. This is being ,as you said,"very rude" if you ask me. I dont know why I haven't deleted it yet...

[acetroubleshooter]

Forseeker this is a message board where people speak their minds...You post things about jesus so we will post things about what we want to post


-Ace-

[Xombie]

Yes but is this not supposte to be a peaceful website?
AceTrobleShooter said:
Religion is an 8 letter word for mind control.
That was the thing that offend me the most. Im sry but like you said I'm just speacking my mind....

[graveflower]

Foreseeker, I do sincerely apologize if anything we discussed was offensive to you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having your sense of pride in your beliefs...you should always stand for what you believe no matter what. However, you must respect the fact that I, much like yourself, will stand for what I know is truth. It may surprise you to know that I attended a Christian school for several years and studied religion walking away from it with straight A's. So yes, I am well aware of these ideas that you believe and do not condemn you or anyone else for it.

But do understand that it was this "religion" that you hold so dear has completely destroyed my family beyond reconciliation. It has been over 12 years since my father and I have actually held a normal conversation. He doesn't even know his own grandbabies. And no, I do not have a mother, as she abandoned me when I was 7 years old. So I have chosen a path that is right for me and mine, after watching "religion" destroy the only love I knew.

I find peace and balance just as you do, only in different ways. We are individuals and have to nurture our minds, bodies and souls in whatever way is appropriate to our specific needs. I should, however, be allowed to express my own personal thoughts and feelings on any thread posted in this forum, just like anyone else. I close here with peace of mind in knowing that I have addressed this subject with only good intent...peace and brightest blessings to all of you!

Namaste

[Xombie]

Thank you. That makes me feel better.
- I wish you the best in life-

[acetroubleshooter]

Forseeker have you not thought that youre posts about jesus have not offended us? You must think abou these things thouroughly before saying things like that.


-Ace

[Xombie]

Ace, I have no idea why you are angry. If you aren't angry you are acting like it. I wasn't upset I was just saying that, that didn't make me too comfortable. You are always saying at school stuff like," How come people judge my religion and stuff?" The question is why do you? I was never upset about this. And I chould care less about what you think about my God. But I just dont like it when people post stuff like that. That is what PMs are for. I dont come up to you and say. You are just wasting your time. If you are mad I dont care. Be mad.

[acetroubleshooter]

I never said i was mad...Just agitated that you keep trying to force youre religion on me I try to tell my dad how i feel but he just rejects and denies it...And the point that i have a chemical balance doesnt help me any so please be patient

-Ace-

[whatthedeuce]

Maybe you've had some bad experiances with religion graveflower, but that isn't what religion is intended for at all. Maybe some religious people are corrupt, but the point of religion is a strict moral code, that people can live by. Many of the Bible's stories aren't intended to be taken literally, but for the deeper meaning underneath.

And Ace, I like you, but you seem to have troubles telling the difference between expressing your opinion, and try to convert someone to your faith.

[SageStranger]

There is no doubt that some churches, pastors, and congregations have agendas that are not what they should be. I have heard many many stories about how people have been hurt by different forms of organized religion. And beyond the stories, I have personally experienced quite a few of those things myself.

The thing I think we need to remember is that the bad apples don't make up the whole barrel. There are many churches who are full of genuine people of faith who only want to love each other and worship God. However, even within these good congregations there are the occasional people who are misdirected in their ideas.

The Church (universally) is not perfect because it's made up of people who likewise are not perfect. The same could be said however about any type of organized unit, even the really good ones who's goal is genuinely possitive.

I'm not trying to push any of you in any direction. I'm just saying that it's difficult to speak in absolutes about anything isn't it?

In example: If I were to say "all people from Germany are Nazis" I would be very close minded and totally wrong wouldn't I? (No offence! B. Just an example ) We all know that isn't true, there are many good people from Germany who are wonderful members of society. Not all Muslims are interested in terrorism and war. Not all Jehovah's witnesses are bothersom and pushy. Likewise we shouldn't judge anyone as being one way or another just because they are part of a group, whatever that group may be. We need to instead take each person as they are and accept them in Love.

I hope I haven't offended any of you with these words, if I have I appologize in advance.

Thank you all, and
Blessings 2 u!

[christofer]

ok - this is the third (and last time) Ill post this here - lol - but it fits so well to the conversation -

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

the whole blueprint for the modern church is born of the Roman Catholic Church which can be proven to be heavily influenced by pagans - not Jesus - it is also evident that MOST churches are 'businesses' surviving off of member donations - although Jesus taught us to give to the poor - not the church - so while it may be upsetting to some - aggravating to others - the truth is that the Way of Jesus is not the same Way of the Catholic (and Christian) religions - as far organized religions go -

James 1:27 says it all - help the widows and orphans (aka the poor) and stay clean from the ways of the world (ie - sin)

Just sharing - not preaching