What is your view of organized religion?

[jennifer_bloom]

I always viewed it as a bonus I did not have access too because I believe the majority of the religious lifestyle is something you discover independent of higher authorities, such as obeying the teachings in proverbs or in the torah or in the psalms or the 4 gospels.

[ChiTown33]

I thinks it's best if you keep the message simple that's why I like Matthew 22: 37-40 and quote it frequently. Because when ask what was the greatest commandment Jesus replied, love God and love each other. What bad can come from that? Let's not quibble over the details Jesus's message in it's simplest for was "love". If you do this it's kind of hard to break any commandments.

[TroyDT2]

Speaking strictly to Christianity, there are good congregations and bad ones. There are multimillion dollar rich ones who do little to nothing to help the needy, and tiny struggling ones where the pastor takes no salary so that more can go to help the needy in the community. Added bonus: the smaller ones tend to be more Gospel oriented.

[DubiousIntentions]

Good points!

[DubiousIntentions]

Jesus hated organized religion. His letters to the 7 churches showed that as well as His dealings with the Pharisees. Too many pastors have sold their souls to the devil, teaching what men want to hear in order to have their ears tickled and not teaching what the Bible teaches. It's all about money and popularity today. Humbleness is out, just like Joel Osteen.

[BCRanger10]

Where do you get that idea?

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 From reading the Bible.

[BCRanger10]

What in the words of Christ lead or ought to lead to that conclusion?

[BCRanger10]

*leads

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 Didn't you read my reply about the Pharisees?
Names Jesus Called the Scribes and Pharisees

1. Ye blind guides ( Matt. 23:16 ).
2. Ye fools ( Matt. 23:17 ).
3. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees…for ye are like whited supulchres…full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness ( Matt. 23:27 ).
4. Ye serpents ( Matt. 23:33 ).
5. Ye generation of vipers ( Matt. 23:33 ).
They were the organized religion of the day. Did Jesus seem thrilled with them?

[BCRanger10]

I did. In what way does that imply a contempt for formal religion itself?

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 You will have to ask the atheists that. They are the ones who hold religion in contempt. They would rather serve the devil than God.

[BCRanger10]

Okay, so then why did you make the original claim and on what do you base it then? Because you're essentially lumping Him in with them.

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 Lumping in who?

[BCRanger10]

Lumping in Jesus with the atheists, unless I misunderstood something. Your original claim was that Jesus hated organized religion, but then also said atheists hold religion in contempt (there is no substantial distinction between them).

[BCRanger10]

And it ought to go without saying, I mean there's no substantial distinction between hate and contempt.

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 Atheists also hold God in contempt. They call Him every name in the book. Jesus doesn't hold God in contempt because he IS God.

[BCRanger10]

Okay so let's return to the original question then. Where are you getting the idea that Jesus hated organized religion? He straight up told Peter that He would "build [His] Church", told His followers to "go to the Church" if they had a dispute, and not only said of the bread and the wine at the Last Supper "this is My Body" and "this is My Blood of the new covenant", but also commanded the Apostles to "do this" in memory of Him, which implies that the action ought to be repeated.

[DubiousIntentions]

@BCRanger10 The Lord's Supper is for believers. Heathens have no use for it or any other church function. By the way, are you Andre64, because you seem to just love arguing no matter what someone tries to explain to you, just like he does. Tell me your religious beliefs. Let's put you on the hot seat for a bit, shall we?

[BCRanger10]

No, I'm not him. In fact, I've argued with him a couple of times and I agree with your assessment of him.

At any rate, I am a practicing Traditional Catholic.

[Agape93]

By and large, it's meant to simply control the weak willed and weak of mind, not to mention laughably obsolete.

[DubiousIntentions]

Sounds just like the US Government.

[Agape93]

Yeap

[BCRanger10]

If I may ask, how is it a bonus and not an essential?

[jennifer_bloom]

I say it’s a bonus because it beautifies religion and makes it ideal but I’m suggesting personal discipleship is necessary too and over reliance on religious figures does not always benefit people

[BCRanger10]

Personal discipleship is important, yes. But what gives that personal discipleship its authority or its justfication?

[DubiousIntentions]

We are given authority by God. He told us to go throughout the world and preach the Gospel, that all might be saved. When God tells you to do something you do it. Just like you do when your boss - who is nothing in the grand scheme of things - tells you to do something.

[BCRanger10]

@DubiousIntentions What credibility does that personal discipleship have if it does not enjoy the blessing or guidance of an institution?

[xColinx]

Religion like most everything else is a learned thing.

[SpokenTruth]

What is wrong with organized religion? To sum it up quickly, if it's not in the Holy Bible it isn't true.

[DubiousIntentions]

The Catholics and Mormons are not even considered as Christians because of their beliefs and doctrine.

[Anonymous]

It kills freedom and critical thinking. It is also corrupt and they pay no taxes.

[collie22]

Seems they go for the rapture

[coolguy919]

The devil made that shit