I find that once religion becomes organised on a large scale, has its own building, own staff, official recognition, etc, it can often stray from its original purpose. I would like to say that not all forms of organised religion (e.g. churches, mosques, synagogues, etc) stray drastically from their truth, but from my experience most have to some degree. Even if they don't, religious establishments surely should be a place that people come to willingly and continue to be involved with WILLINGLY. These establishments should not be unnecessarily guilt tripping people or trying to force people into things. If these things happen, I feel it's extremely dangerous.
I'm going to expand on what I mean by that. In the Torah, which I think I have mentioned before that I have read multiple times in the original Hebrew and in English because I have my own copy, says that converts are welcome to the religion. People can be converted. The Jews were chosen because they were the first to accept the Torah, but so can others at any time. Jews should accept converts and Rabbis can convert gentiles to become as Jewish as if they were born Jewish. However, I am aware of some synagogues that won't convert people. They think for some reason no one can change to be Jewish because it's an ethnicity. If you're not born African you can't become African no matter what you do. The same goes for Judaism. Well, read your Torah folks because THAT'S WRONG. But but a Rabbi up on the bimah and get him saying that and before you know it, a whole congregation is holding incorrect views because the head honcho says so. In my opinion that's extremely dangerous. What if he decides all blond people should be excluded from services, are you gonna go along with that too cause he said so? Even though you know better?
You might think that's a bit trivial, but that's just one example of how something so plain and clear in the Torah can be changed by those in authority via organised religion. (If you want the specifics of where to find that info, please leave a comment). Another more serious thing in Judaism is that women ARE allowed to read from the Torah in public. However the Orthodox don't think so, so women are kinda pushed to the side in my opinion by being denied this honour.
In Christianity, eugh, where do I start. Like I said in my last post, I am a Christian. But there are many ways in which I've seen this religion improperly practiced. From my own experience, I was almost forced into baptism when I was about 16. Why? Because the church connected to my youth group (that's right, I never attended this church, just went to a youth group run by the church) seemed to have a hang up on how many new converts and members they could brag about. They didn't care about parental permission, or how long I'd been a Christian, or that I wasn't an adult by UK law, they just wanted me baptised after 1 class about it. From people that are supposed to be loving, caring and genuine, I was shocked at the guil-tripping and force tactics they used.
I also heard a preacher say in a service that "if you're a true Christian, you never sin anymore. If you're still sinning you have not turned from your old life". Again, the congregation go along with it because the minister says so. Well, if you read your Bible, you'll realise that if you NEVER sin then you are perfect. No one is or was perfect except Jesus himself. So now this minister's got a whole congregation scared that they don't have salvation because he's the one in charge, so he must be right, when in fact he is clearly wrong. The most shocking thing I have heard recently of churches straying from the truth, was when a boy with cerebral palsy was escorted out of church for making "distracting noises". Did Jesus ever shun anyone with a disability? NO. I'm sure people who are there to listen to the Word were listening to the Word. I think people were probably more distracted by an innocent child being removed and excluded than by anything else. Appauling, that is not Christian behaviour.
But even if your church isn't doing things like that, tell me, is your church practising infant baptism? Because most seem to and that is completely unbiblical. Jesus and his disciples never baptised babies. The Bible says 'believe and be baptised' (Mark 16:16), a baby can't do that. You BELIEVE first and then you baptise. Does your church teach that you're not saved if you're not baptised? If so then they're wrong. They're trying to flaunt their members because if you recall, Jesus said to the prisoner beside him on the cross "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Was he baptised? No.
These are the common teachings in churches that are taught wrong, that people accept without question because of who the person teaching this stuff is. Many clever theologians, pastors, ministers, deserve respect for their knowledge but they are not always right. Some are misguided but some are deliberately doing wrong. We must be wary of this within organised religion. I don't think I even need to mention the many ways in which religion has been hijacked and used as a tool for political and other dangerous motives.
To try and summarise, people in organised religion can become power hungry and twist the religion for their own personal gain. Maybe to put their individual views across and get followers, maybe to get money through certain 'charitable causes', maybe to get a merry band of obedient followers, the reasons vary. So don't let them prey on your obedience if you're trying to do good.
My answer is, stick to people you know are believing what you believe, read your holy book so you go direct to the source. Don't take instruction and guidance from any one individual. Question everything. If those around you have nothing to hide they will gladly accept your questions and help you answer them. If they try to distract you or cover up the truth then you know you have hit a dead end, that they are after something else from you than your truth faith.
I'm going to expand on what I mean by that. In the Torah, which I think I have mentioned before that I have read multiple times in the original Hebrew and in English because I have my own copy, says that converts are welcome to the religion. People can be converted. The Jews were chosen because they were the first to accept the Torah, but so can others at any time. Jews should accept converts and Rabbis can convert gentiles to become as Jewish as if they were born Jewish. However, I am aware of some synagogues that won't convert people. They think for some reason no one can change to be Jewish because it's an ethnicity. If you're not born African you can't become African no matter what you do. The same goes for Judaism. Well, read your Torah folks because THAT'S WRONG. But but a Rabbi up on the bimah and get him saying that and before you know it, a whole congregation is holding incorrect views because the head honcho says so. In my opinion that's extremely dangerous. What if he decides all blond people should be excluded from services, are you gonna go along with that too cause he said so? Even though you know better?
You might think that's a bit trivial, but that's just one example of how something so plain and clear in the Torah can be changed by those in authority via organised religion. (If you want the specifics of where to find that info, please leave a comment). Another more serious thing in Judaism is that women ARE allowed to read from the Torah in public. However the Orthodox don't think so, so women are kinda pushed to the side in my opinion by being denied this honour.
In Christianity, eugh, where do I start. Like I said in my last post, I am a Christian. But there are many ways in which I've seen this religion improperly practiced. From my own experience, I was almost forced into baptism when I was about 16. Why? Because the church connected to my youth group (that's right, I never attended this church, just went to a youth group run by the church) seemed to have a hang up on how many new converts and members they could brag about. They didn't care about parental permission, or how long I'd been a Christian, or that I wasn't an adult by UK law, they just wanted me baptised after 1 class about it. From people that are supposed to be loving, caring and genuine, I was shocked at the guil-tripping and force tactics they used.
I also heard a preacher say in a service that "if you're a true Christian, you never sin anymore. If you're still sinning you have not turned from your old life". Again, the congregation go along with it because the minister says so. Well, if you read your Bible, you'll realise that if you NEVER sin then you are perfect. No one is or was perfect except Jesus himself. So now this minister's got a whole congregation scared that they don't have salvation because he's the one in charge, so he must be right, when in fact he is clearly wrong. The most shocking thing I have heard recently of churches straying from the truth, was when a boy with cerebral palsy was escorted out of church for making "distracting noises". Did Jesus ever shun anyone with a disability? NO. I'm sure people who are there to listen to the Word were listening to the Word. I think people were probably more distracted by an innocent child being removed and excluded than by anything else. Appauling, that is not Christian behaviour.
But even if your church isn't doing things like that, tell me, is your church practising infant baptism? Because most seem to and that is completely unbiblical. Jesus and his disciples never baptised babies. The Bible says 'believe and be baptised' (Mark 16:16), a baby can't do that. You BELIEVE first and then you baptise. Does your church teach that you're not saved if you're not baptised? If so then they're wrong. They're trying to flaunt their members because if you recall, Jesus said to the prisoner beside him on the cross "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Was he baptised? No.
These are the common teachings in churches that are taught wrong, that people accept without question because of who the person teaching this stuff is. Many clever theologians, pastors, ministers, deserve respect for their knowledge but they are not always right. Some are misguided but some are deliberately doing wrong. We must be wary of this within organised religion. I don't think I even need to mention the many ways in which religion has been hijacked and used as a tool for political and other dangerous motives.
To try and summarise, people in organised religion can become power hungry and twist the religion for their own personal gain. Maybe to put their individual views across and get followers, maybe to get money through certain 'charitable causes', maybe to get a merry band of obedient followers, the reasons vary. So don't let them prey on your obedience if you're trying to do good.
My answer is, stick to people you know are believing what you believe, read your holy book so you go direct to the source. Don't take instruction and guidance from any one individual. Question everything. If those around you have nothing to hide they will gladly accept your questions and help you answer them. If they try to distract you or cover up the truth then you know you have hit a dead end, that they are after something else from you than your truth faith.
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