Threads Challenging Religion: Why???

originally posted by: TheAnarchist
a reply to: Boadicea

It's because the motto of this site is 'deny ignorance'. And most forms of brain-washed, sheep-following religious doctrines are pure ignorance. That is all. Some people do take it too far, of course, but what do you expect?

Spirituality is welcome here in my observations. It is only organized religions that cop a beating. And for good reason in my opinion.

What do I expect? I don't really expect anything. With so many different perspectives and opinions and experiences to share, I'm ready for anything and everything I guess, including detractors of course. And while I have my problems with organized religion, I also know that organized religion has brought much good to the world, as well as evil. This may be good reason for religions copping a beating, I don't see that it serves any good purpose either. I certainly don't see it as denying ignorance.

Maybe I should have asked if anyone has ever changed their religious beliefs because they got beat over the head for them!

a reply to: Boadicea

I changed the way I worship when I was thirteen or so.

After years of my family being looked down upon by most of the rest of Christendom, or so it felt, I took it upon myself to stop going to Church, and spend my time more wisely, around those who did not scorn me for being poor, who did not look down on me for enjoying the music I prefer, who did not pontificate and display their piety like a membership club badge, but whose love and companionship had actual worth, as opposed to being a begrudging formality.

As I aged, I expanded my horizons to include bars and metalhead hangouts, and I shone my little candle in those as well. I have not taken communion, a ritual involving a small bit of bread which signifies the body of Christ, and a swig of wine, representing his blood, for more than a decade. The reason? I break bread with the people who matter to me, in the act of having dinner with them on a Sunday. I do not limit my worship to Sundays, but worship in every moment of joy, and laughter, and love that I share between myself and those around me, both strangers and close companions. I give thanks for all of it, all the time, and I require no priest or pastor to validate me before my God. I will be judged not against my piety and observances of petty ritual, but against the people whose lives I have touched positively with the influence of Jesus, and indeed against those moments where I have failed, being just yet another flawed human being, as we all are.

I even give thanks to The Lord that I am no longer a member of any congregation, other than the greater congregation of all humanity, because by severing myself from that toxic environment, I have been able to spread more light around this world than many who have held fast to the perfidious entity known as organised Christianity, even many who have taken up the position of clergymen and women, and certainly more than the awful man who once held court in our local Church, and had been screwing a parishioner on the side for five years before he was caught, leading to a mass exodus, and even people denouncing their faith!

I still believe in God, in Jesus, but I believe that organised Christianity, requiring a building to practice in, requiring a network of money, and titles, and bishops and priests, pastors and vicars and deacons and diocese, is by its very definition, anti-Christian. It creates a human-centric hierarchy on Earth, which more often than not comes between Christ and his followers on Earth, in direct contravention of his instruction that "I am the way, the truth and the life. None come to the Father, but by me." You will note that he does not say "by me, and my legion of flawed mortal men, dressed in the wrappings of faith, but just as weak and capable of vast sin as the rest of you".

No, by CHRIST shall I know God, and by Christ shall his work be done on Earth. I need no mortal conduit to feed me his love, or allow me access to his being. I need only faith. This is a change I made because I was beaten over the head by other Christians, judged in contravention of yet another of Christ's edicts, and cast aside.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Thank you for sharing that. I can relate to much of it! I was fortunate in that I grew up in a family and a church that encouraged us to read and learn, and to even test our faith so to speak. But when I moved to a new state, I never found a church that matched the ministry I received growing up, for many of the same reasons you've encountered. I haven't "belonged" to a church for many many years, but I do my best to live my faith. Jesus gave us just one commandment and the church can't fulfill it for us, we have to do it ourselves.

a reply to: Boadicea

People have been battling over beliefs for literally thousands of years. At least they are less bloody on ats than they are in real life.

a reply to: tinyDAWK

At least they are less bloody on ats than they are in real life.

Ain't that the truth!!!

ATS -- and other forums -- do provide a valuable a service in providing a "safe" venue for folks to rant and rave and vent their frustrations (one way or another).

a reply to: highfromphoenix

it's simple if you understand the reason for life and the purpose of life.

The reason for life is to experience the self, something that is impossible as a fully integrated part of the conglomerate consciousness.

The purpose of life is to prepare to once again become a part of the conglomerate consciousness.

The very nature of experiencing the self requires that there be both positive and negative experience.

Death, loss, suffering is a requirement to be able to enjoy, gain, feel pleasure.

It''s a misnomer that heaven is bliss. It just IS... there's not a negative or positive aspect to it... It's true perfection, neither negative nor positive.

So, why does God allow these things? Because we asked God to allow these things along with pleasure, bliss and peace.

Jaden