Are Organized Religions Good For Us?

[Minor Axis]

This may be controversial, but my intent is not to cause trouble. And my intent is not to paint all religions with the same brush. I currently have a low opinion of the organized religions I'm familiar with. (I'm ignorant on the Eastern Religions.) Their intent attempts to better the world but overall I don't see that as a success as any possible true message has mostly been subverted by man for his agenda. Feel free to disagree with any of these statements.

1. More people have been killed in the name of religion than any other single cause.

2. Organized religion is one of the central causes of violence in the world today and one of the primary sources of intolerance between different groups of people.

3. Organized religions who become rich by means of teaching the word of god, are by definition corrupt.

4. Like any large bureaucratic organization (corporate or political) religions often protect the bureaucracy over individuals who have been harmed. Example: The Catholic Church abusive Priest scandal.

5. Preachers, ministers, fathers speak to us as if they are teaching facts or like they are the personal mouth piece of god, when really they are teaching theology, in other words their best guess.

6. Religions do teach a moral standard but it's not uncommon to have those standards twisted to suit the moment, the group, or the movement.

7. People take from the Bible (or any holy book) only what suits them.

 

[GraceAbounds]

This may be controversial, but my intent is not to cause trouble. And my intent is not to paint all religions with the same brush. I currently have a low opinion of the organized religions I'm familiar with. (I'm ignorant on the Eastern Religions.) Their intent attempts to better the world but overall I don't see that as a success as any possible true message has mostly been subverted by man for his agenda. Feel free to disagree with any of these statements.

1. More people have been killed in the name of religion than any other single cause.

2. Organized religion is one of the central causes of violence in the world today and one of the primary sources of intolerance between different groups of people.

3. Organized religions who become rich by means of teaching the word of god, are by definition corrupt.

4. Like any large bureaucratic organization (corporate or political) religions often protect the bureaucracy over individuals who have been harmed. Example: The Catholic Church abusive Priest scandal.

5. Preachers, ministers, fathers speak to us as if they are teaching facts or like they are the personal mouth piece of god, when really they are teaching theology, in other words their best guess.

6. Religions do teach a moral standard but it's not uncommon to have those standards twisted to suit the moment, the group, or the movement.

7. People take from the Bible (or any holy book) only what suits them.

I don't have a high opinion of 'organized religion' either. I don't think I mean those words in the same sense as you do though.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were all about the law and religion being governed and organized.

God wants us. He wants our heart and soul. When men turn that into what they want instead of what God wants ... it is no longer something holy and spiritual unto God, but something evil and dark unto men.

 

[Obdurate]

Yeah organized religion (meaning churches and the like) have never worked for me. They were so boring and dry. The people were so quick to pass judgments and they thought so highly of themselves. I wasn't inspired by what was being sad.

But that's just me.

Some people are inspired and entertained by it.

Just as long as people don't get out of hand and just generally make a mess of things, who am I to say if organized religion is good or not? Needs to be judged on a case by case basis, like most things, I would imagine.

 

[Minor Axis]

I don't have a high opinion of 'organized religion' either. I don't think I mean those words in the same sense as you do though.

While ignoring our divergent views about the here-after, it's possible we are close to agreement on this issue.

 

[GraceAbounds]

Yeah organized religion (meaning churches and the like) have never worked for me. They were so boring and dry. The people were so quick to pass judgments and they thought so highly of themselves. I wasn't inspired by what was being sad.

But that's just me.

Some people are inspired and entertained by it.

Just as long as people don't get out of hand and just generally make a mess of things, who am I to say if organized religion is good or not? Needs to be judged on a case by case basis, like most things, I would imagine.

Believers are the church, not a building. God is the head of the church, not a man. While people need to be 'organized' as in anything else they do, they are not to be organized in such a way that is unto men. Leaders of a church body have to be in constant prayer over this to maintain such a delicate balance. All church bodies were not created equal that is for sure. I started in the A's in the yellow pages and ended up in the R's before I found a church body where I knew the Holy Spirit was truly at work. It took me 2 years to find a church body that I know was of God and not of men (so to speak if you kwim).

 

[Peter Parka]

Well I pretty much disagree with all religion so I'd say no. Up to others what they do though as long as they dont go around imposing their opinion on others and hating people who have different lifesyles. I guess that religion can do some good in peoples lives but in most of the situations I've seen it's done more bad than good.

 

[memento_mori]

maybe organised religions are good for us? it's hard to say.

i can imagine some ways organised religions have helped us, but if i tried hard enough i could probably imagine some ways a failing stock market can be good for us.

i'm an atheist, so if everyone abandons religion and joins my team then that's all cheers and giggles for me. except for the pedophiles. organised religion can keep them

 

[luc154]

This may be controversial, but my intent is not to cause trouble. And my intent is not to paint all religions with the same brush. I currently have a low opinion of the organized religions I'm familiar with. (I'm ignorant on the Eastern Religions.) Their intent attempts to better the world but overall I don't see that as a success as any possible true message has mostly been subverted by man for his agenda. Feel free to disagree with any of these statements.

1. More people have been killed in the name of religion than any other single cause.

I have to correct you on that. The second world war had more victims than all wars put together ever fought in history of man. And this war wasn't due to religion but due to man's hunger for power and honor.

2. Organized religion is one of the central causes of violence in the world today and one of the primary sources of intolerance between different groups of people.

Not true. There are many instances of violence indicating racial hate, jalousy, greed, intolerance of free speech. Of course among these is religion but not the central cause.

3. Organized religions who become rich by means of teaching the word of god, are by definition corrupt.

Very true.

4. Like any large bureaucratic organization (corporate or political) religions often protect the bureaucracy over individuals who have been harmed. Example: The Catholic Church abusive Priest scandal.

Very true.

5. Preachers, ministers, fathers speak to us as if they are teaching facts or like they are the personal mouth piece of god, when really they are teaching theology, in other words their best guess.

Not all of them, there are true prophets of God in our days as we speak. But many pretend to be.

6. Religions do teach a moral standard but it's not uncommon to have those standards twisted to suit the moment, the group, or the movement.

I agree.

7. People take from the Bible (or any holy book) only what suits them.

Many do this indeed.

 

[All Else Failed]

No, its ultimately not.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

This may be controversial, but my intent is not to cause trouble. And my intent is not to paint all religions with the same brush. I currently have a low opinion of the organized religions I'm familiar with. (I'm ignorant on the Eastern Religions.) Their intent attempts to better the world but overall I don't see that as a success as any possible true message has mostly been subverted by man for his agenda. Feel free to disagree with any of these statements.

1. More people have been killed in the name of religion than any other single cause.

2. Organized religion is one of the central causes of violence in the world today and one of the primary sources of intolerance between different groups of people.

3. Organized religions who become rich by means of teaching the word of god, are by definition corrupt.

4. Like any large bureaucratic organization (corporate or political) religions often protect the bureaucracy over individuals who have been harmed. Example: The Catholic Church abusive Priest scandal.

5. Preachers, ministers, fathers speak to us as if they are teaching facts or like they are the personal mouth piece of god, when really they are teaching theology, in other words their best guess.

6. Religions do teach a moral standard but it's not uncommon to have those standards twisted to suit the moment, the group, or the movement.

7. People take from the Bible (or any holy book) only what suits them.

I agree with all the above you quoted.

 

[Minor Axis]

I have to correct you on that. The second world war had more victims than all wars put together ever fought in history of man. And this war wasn't due to religion but due to man's hunger for power and honor.

I have to disagree- it was power but WWII at it's heart was a religious War. I'm counting the approximate 6 million Jews who were sent to the camps and perished because they were Jewish. You might counter that good Christians would never do this and I'd agree. But I have no reason to change my opinion about religion caused deaths.

Not all of them, there are true prophets of God in our days as we speak. But many pretend to be.

The trick is determining who the real prophet is. I see no way to do that. Yes I know, all you need is faith.

 

[luc154]

I have to disagree- it was power but WWII at it's heart was a religious War. I'm counting the approximate 6 million Jews who were sent to the camps and perished because they were Jewish. You might counter that good Christians would never do this and I'd agree. But I have no reason to change my opinion about religion caused deaths.

I believe the Jews were killed in such great number not for religious reasons but for racial reasons.

The trick is determining who the real prophet is. I see no way to do that. Yes I know, all you need is faith.

Amen, faith is where it all starts (ofcourse in my humble opinion).

 

[FreeWorkVest]

depends on if they get me a shot at Betty

 

[Minor Axis]

I believe the Jews were killed in such great number not for religious reasons but for racial reasons.

Not to get technical with you but Jewism is a religion not a race.

 

[GraceAbounds]

Not to get technical with you but Jewism is a religion not a race.

Actually if you want to get technical, the US Supreme Court declared 'Jew' a race in 1980.

 

[luc154]

Not to get technical with you but Jewism is a religion not a race.

If Hitler tried to destroy the Jewish people because of their belief in God, why did Hitler have the belt buckles of his soldiers engraved with 'God mit uns', which means 'God with us'. Hitler also 'believed' in a God. I think it was pure hatred for the Jewish race.

 

[pladecalvo]

If Hitler tried to destroy the Jewish people because of their belief in God, why did Hitler have the belt buckles of his soldiers engraved with 'God mit uns', which means 'God with us'. Hitler also 'believed' in a God. I think it was pure hatred for the Jewish race.

You're probably right luc. I don't think was anything to do with the Jew's belief in God. He envisioned a world full of " Pure Breed Aryan" people.

 

[Peter Parka]

Hitler hated the Jews because of all the money they had during post WW1 Germany which was in poverty. He used all that anti semite hatred to get people on his side so he could grab all their money for Germany, pretty much like what Edward I of England did 8-900 odd years ago.

 

[luc154]

Hitler hated the Jews because of all the money they had during post WW1 Germany which was in poverty. He used all that anti semite hatred to get people on his side so he could grab all their money for Germany, pretty much like what Edward I of England did 8-900 odd years ago.

I would agree with you on this one.

 

[sharpies]

It is my opinion that religion is the worst invention that mankind ever came up with.

Allan