Your best example of Corruption = Religion

My entire life I've absoluted hated organized religions...at first it was because I was ignorant and spiritually empty....but even as I grew up and my understanding that there was so much more in the world than conventional science explains, and personal spritual growth developed I took another look at organized religions....specifically Christianity in many of its offshoots mainly because living in N.America its hard to get much first hand exposure and finding people to talk to about other religions and also because christianity has always seemed hypopritical to me. For instance, the for a religion than professes tolerance and understanding, I found many christians to be among the most close minded and openly intolerant and condenscending bunch of people ever. Not to mention having the weakest arguments for their beliefs (cuz it says so in the bible see!) lol. anyway last semester I took a 3rd year class in Psychology of Human Sexuality and one of our guest speakers was a former preacher for the catholic church who had to leave his church cuz he himself couldnt stand the hypocrasy of it all. It was thru him I learned and since then have heard elsewhere the same that the OFFICIAL stance of the Catholic Church and the Pope himself was regarding condoms and HIV/AIDS, was that it does NOTHING in helping prevent the spread of disease...if that wasnt enough, their ongoing attempt to convert the entire freaking world (I guess for our own good, cuz even though they are supposed to be caring and understanding equally to all people, the rest of the world apparently should be told what to believe)...sorry ok back to topic....in their ongoing crusade to christianize Africa....they not only tell these poor people who are dying in quantity from AIDS and overpopulation in some areas that not only do condoms do nothing to help prevent disease but they actually HELP the spread and they have been encouraging villiages to burn their condoms!!!!!!!! This is immoral and practically murder...For the record I have nothing against belief in god (any god) and myself consider myself spiritual but organized religions, the catholic church being among the largest, and richest (ironic) and influential using their influence to spread lies such as this is disgusting. I'd spit in the popes face if I ever got the chance.

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Or_Die_Trying]

Mod Edit: CAP title

[edit on 14-9-2006 by kinglizard]

Originally posted by Or_Die_Trying
My entire life I've absoluted hated organized religions...at first it was because I was ignorant and spiritually empty....but even as I grew up and my understanding that there was so much more in the world than conventional science explains, and personal spritual growth developed I took another look at organized religions....specifically Christianity in many of its offshoots mainly because living in N.America its hard to get much first hand exposure and finding people to talk to about other religions and also because christianity has always seemed hypopritical to me. For instance, the for a religion than professes tolerance and understanding, I found many christians to be among the most close minded and openly intolerant and condenscending bunch of people ever. Not to mention having the weakest arguments for their beliefs (cuz it says so in the bible see!) lol. anyway last semester I took a 3rd year class in Psychology of Human Sexuality and one of our guest speakers was a former preacher for the catholic church who had to leave his church cuz he himself couldnt stand the hypocrasy of it all. It was thru him I learned and since then have heard elsewhere the same that the OFFICIAL stance of the Catholic Church and the Pope himself was regarding condoms and HIV/AIDS, was that it does NOTHING in helping prevent the spread of disease...if that wasnt enough, their ongoing attempt to convert the entire freaking world (I guess for our own good, cuz even though they are supposed to be caring and understanding equally to all people, the rest of the world apparently should be told what to believe)...sorry ok back to topic....in their ongoing crusade to christianize Africa....they not only tell these poor people who are dying in quantity from AIDS and overpopulation in some areas that not only do condoms do nothing to help prevent disease but they actually HELP the spread and they have been encouraging villiages to burn their condoms!!!!!!!! This is immoral and practically murder...For the record I have nothing against belief in god (any god) and myself consider myself spiritual but organized religions, the catholic church being among the largest, and richest (ironic) and influential using their influence to spread lies such as this is disgusting. I'd spit in the popes face if I ever got the chance.

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Or_Die_Trying]

All true, good post, they thrive in poverty ignorance and suffering...
the money available to the Church could buy half of Africa but they keep hoarding.

You picked up on Africa which in my eyes is the biggest disgrace. To further your quite heated argument, many churches also promise miracles to locals (money, cures etc) if they donate a major chunk of their money to the church every year. The local vicar often has a high standard of living/ nice car all paid for by the most needy.

On the other hand, instead of attacking the whole religion we do need to bear in mind their are also many good Christians who have helped in many African countries, just look at Christian Aid who have help in many countries worldwide- regardless of creed or colour. Not all Christians are bad, religion has often played a big part in keeping crime low in pretty much lawless communities.

Similar to Muslims, because their are afew extremists, it doesn't make all Muslime suicide bombers.

As a young child in England (and a Catholic by baptism but now an atheist), whenever we used to go and see my Irish catholic grandparents, we would usually be taken into the working mens' club next door to their local church. I was amazed that the local priest was always in there drinking. He certainly didn't lack beer money.

As an adult, my ex-wife and I had to go to the local catholic priest where we lived for marriage preparation. In an affluent area he lived in absolute splendour in a huge well-furnished mansion, obviously owned by the church. Even in a very nice suburb his house stood out for its sheer opulence. A beautiful new large detached house had only just been built in the grounds of his church, yet he did not live in it, obviously because it was not grand enough.

A few years later, I was fortunate enough to work for a large company which gave me private medical insurance and allowed me access to private treatment (for our American friends on here, most people in the UK use the National Health Service, a free service available to all. There is a certain privilege associated with private medical treatment in the UK, as it is generally only available to the wealthier members of society). In the private hospital I encountered our local catholic priest, enjoying treatment for what I knew to be a minor knee injury. No NHS treatment for him. So much for living a modest life.

The sheer hypocrisy of religion appals me. I have seen the contribution plate passed around catholic churches in poor parts of the UK during services. Why??? The catholic church is one of the richest organisations on this planet? Why do they ask their 'flock', many of whom number amongst the poorest people on this planet, to swell their coffers? Why doesn't it work the other way and they hand money out every week to the poor and needy of their area instead of taking it from them?

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Englishman_in_Spain]

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Englishman_in_Spain]

Originally posted by Knights
You picked up on Africa which in my eyes is the biggest disgrace. To further your quite heated argument, many churches also promise miracles to locals (money, cures etc) if they donate a major chunk of their money to the church every year. The local vicar often has a high standard of living/ nice car all paid for by the most needy.

On the other hand, instead of attacking the whole religion we do need to bear in mind their are also many good Christians who have helped in many African countries, just look at Christian Aid who have help in many countries worldwide- regardless of creed or colour. Not all Christians are bad, religion has often played a big part in keeping crime low in pretty much lawless communities.

Similar to Muslims, because their are afew extremists, it doesn't make all Muslime suicide bombers.

the problem with donating to funds such as Christian Aid is oftentimes along with the aid, the beneficiary also a healthy dose of christianity....it comes with the help....if these religious based charities would actually help people without using it simeoutaneously as a vehicle to push their religion then not only would their contribitions be true charity and altruistic but more people would donate

oh yea not to mention that these so called "fundamental" or "traditional" values and beliefs we always are told about change all the time to reflect either current politics/culture or simply for their own benefit. I cannot make sense of how being a "good christian" which as many will tell you if u ask why, they behave in certain ways and the answer is because that is what their religion teaches and that they will be rewarded with heaven and not punished with hell....WELL LAST TIME I CHECKED...BEING GOOD TO AVOID PUNISHMENT OR FOR REWARD OR FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN BEING GOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE ISNT BEING GOOD AT ALL...its actually called PRETENDING

Originally posted by Or_Die_Trying
For the record I have nothing against belief in god (any god) and myself consider myself spiritual but organized religions, the catholic church being among the largest, and richest (ironic) and influential using their influence to spread lies such as this is disgusting.

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Or_Die_Trying]

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that the Catholic Church is a Christian organization.

Originally posted by Sun Matrix

Originally posted by Or_Die_Trying
For the record I have nothing against belief in god (any god) and myself consider myself spiritual but organized religions, the catholic church being among the largest, and richest (ironic) and influential using their influence to spread lies such as this is disgusting.

[edit on 12-9-2006 by Or_Die_Trying]

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that the Catholic Church is a Christian organization.

perhaps you could educate me then on my missight because as far as ive ever understood is that christianity itself is an offshoot of judaism which itself is an offshoot of a religion that used to worship an entire pantheon of gods....then from christianity offshoots like catholics, mormons, lutheran, baptist and so forth are just differing forms of practice but with similar underlying belief in the same general ideology such as the one god and so forth.

Originally posted by Or_Die_Trying


perhaps you could educate me then on my missight because as far as ive ever understood is that christianity itself is an offshoot of judaism which itself is an offshoot of a religion that used to worship an entire pantheon of gods....then from christianity offshoots like catholics, mormons, lutheran, baptist and so forth are just differing forms of practice but with similar underlying belief in the same general ideology such as the one god and so forth.

No problem.

First Judaism is not an offshoot of anything. They follow the one true God of the Old Testament.

Christianity is those that follow the belief that the Bibical prophesied Messiah has come and paid the price for the sins of Men. You are saved because of your faith in the Messiah not of your works.

It is prophesied that the Jews would reject the Messiah and that the Gentiles who accepted the truth of the Messiah would be saved. At the end of the last days, the Jews will recognize their Messiah who they have killed.

The Roman Empire whose god was Sol Invictus or Apollo did everything they could to kill the believers in the Messiah. They could not kill off the truth so Constantine the Roman Emperor declared that Christians would no longer be killed. Constantine backed the bishops of Rome and formed the Catholic Church. As Pontifus Maximus he decreed that the Son of God would not be worshiped on the Sabbath but that the Lords day would be SUNday. Baal means lord. Through all the smoke and mirrors Baal the sun god is being worshipped on SUNday. The Cathilic church is not a Christian organization, but there are Christians within the Catholic Church.

You can trace religions of the world to Babylon just as the Bible says. The Catholic Church is Mystery Babylon of the book of Revelations.

Take a religion..........Mormonism........Look at the symbols of the the sun and moon on their temple. Mormonism is a religion of works. Mormonism came from Masonism. Masonism came from Egypt. Osiris, Isis and Horus. This came from Babylon and Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz. All different versions of the the lie.

enlightening thank you...one point i am confused about tho is that I've recently been reading into much of the newer egyptology literature seeing as how classical interpretations of egypt are the modern equivalent to newtonian physics...and i might be wrong or nobody could be right since pretty much all "facts" regarding the origins of religions cannot be proven and most records have been (mis)translated and edited or lost or misinterpreted over time, but as far as judaism goes i recall reading that they were orginally worshippers of a pantheon much like the greeks, the romans, egyptians and so on....but were forced into believing only in the one true god.....and isnt it true that in older versions of the old testament and other related texts that often god is used in plural form and referred to as many not just one?

I am a very spiritual person. However, not very religious. Religion plays a part in moral understaind & such, but it has also caused alot of death & major probelms with the world. Just for the record, I hate ALL churches.
The church I used to go to(When I was younger and less knowldgeable) always threw bar-be-cues & collected alot of money via the lunchings & offerings. (They said this money goes to charity)
Several years later(After I stopped going), the church(building, in this case) grew immensely in structure. Now they have more room and a nicer surrounding to attract 100s more poor people to rub. The pastor and his family & other head members of the church live in total luxury. And I'm yet to learn if any money whatsoever actually goes to charity. I highly doubt it though.
I know of no small, neighbourhood churches that donate any money to anything.

exactly....someone who has truly found god or their own personal salvation does not need a church to go to, or people to keep telling them what to believe...they dont need this because church is in their hearts, and their beliefs dont need to be reinforced or influenced because they come from their own thoughts and feelings...