Lack of Religion

[brendar buhl]

I seem to get along just fine without any religion. I find that it rarely comes up as a point of conversation, mostly at weddings and funerals. Most of the people that I know or run into don't hold it against me because I don't believe in any particular religion. I respect and understand the importance of religion as a part of a person's life. I'm new here and like the fact that there is a place here to openly discuss a person's beliefs. I look forward to learning new things in the future.

I like what you've said here Ben. I feel the same way, the only problem is that I'm deeply religious. Many Christians have recently been going through some growing pains where we are questioning many of the things that we have always been taught. There is a general underlying feeling of discontentment with organized religion. If you look at 98% of what the Church says and does and you say, "I don't get it." You are not alone. I have very deep beliefs and have found them to be at odds with the general consensus of Christianity and yet I am a Christian. So, in short...welcome.

 

[Bustem' Down]

I like what you've said here Ben. I feel the same way, the only problem is that I'm deeply religious. Many Christians have recently been going through some growing pains where we are questioning many of the things that we have always been taught. There is a general underlying feeling of discontentment with organized religion. If you look at 98% of what the Church says and does and you say, "I don't get it." You are not alone. I have very deep beliefs and have found them to be at odds with the general consensus of Christianity and yet I am a Christian. So, in short...welcome.

I'll start off by saying I'm not religious, but I see organized religion as just an outgrowth of the beaurocracy of the Roman Empire, and then in the Middle Ages, no one wanted to give up that power. Jesus himself never once established a "church" per say, but a doctrine. He was a traveling shepherd preaching to his flock and never once told them to gather in a building and listen to what one man has to say about him.

 

[brendar buhl]

You're absolutely correct Bustem. The "organization" is just the way humans try to get things done. If you look at the essential message of Jesus it is this:
1. Love God.
2. Love your fellow man.
Now, if you don't believe in God then loving God is a problem. But that problem is made worse when you feel like people are pushing you into a prescribed, organized form of worship. I don't think this pleases God. It is interesting that Jesus also said that people would understand where we are coming from if we Love them. There is a shortage of love in the church sometimes because we try to do things "our" way and make up a bunch of goofy rules.

All of the worlds religions are basically built upon the idea of being good. The problem is where do we get our idea of what "good" is.

 

[Vince]

You're absolutely correct Bustem. The "organization" is just the way humans try to get things done. If you look at the essential message of Jesus it is this:
1. Love God.
2. Love your fellow man.
Now, if you don't believe in God then loving God is a problem. But that problem is made worse when you feel like people are pushing you into a prescribed, organized form of worship. I don't think this pleases God. It is interesting that Jesus also said that people would understand where we are coming from if we Love them. There is a shortage of love in the church sometimes because we try to do things "our" way and make up a bunch of goofy rules.

All of the worlds religions are basically built upon the idea of being good. The problem is where do we get our idea of what "good" is.

I like the way you think. I go to church every Sunday or Saturday because I was brought up Catholic and that's what Catholics do, but sometimes I don't agree with everything the Church says and does, or my religion. One thing I can say when folks say they don't believe in the Bible or God.... Is there something in the Bible that tells you to go out and do evil? Does the Bible tell you to kill folks or steal things, etc? The Bible tells you to do good. A belief in God is a belief in good. Nothing wrong with any of that in my way of thinking.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I'll start off by saying I'm not religious, but I see organized religion as just an outgrowth of the beaurocracy of the Roman Empire, and then in the Middle Ages, no one wanted to give up that power. Jesus himself never once established a "church" per say, but a doctrine. He was a traveling shepherd preaching to his flock and never once told them to gather in a building and listen to what one man has to say about him.

But He did tell them and by association, Christians, to go into all the world and make disciples.

Matthew 28:17-20

16But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.

17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.

18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Christians weren't even called Christians until Paul, who was called Saul before he came to know Jesus, establish the church at Antioch.

Acts 11:25-27

25And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

The church is the entire body of believers. It is not a building. It is not a particular group of people or denomination. It is not everyone that goes to a church building on Sunday or Wednesday or Saturday. The church is that group of people that believe that Y'shua, son of Mary, step-son of Joseph, Son of Man, is God, is the Messiah, is the Savior, and have accepted Him as Savior and Lord. That is not my definition; that is gleaned straight from various scriptures in the Bible which is the only written authority for Christians.