Religion....
By meeandnotyou
@meeandnotyou (2548)
United States
March 1, 2007 1:59am CST
Is religion truely a gift from a Higher Power or is it simply a control mechanism? It seems that so many people are not truely free when it comes to their lives and that lack of freedom comes from their religion. So I am wondering how great can this gift be if it is so very restrictive to you?!? Is it really a GIFT or truely CONTROL?!? Please tell mee what do you think?!?
4 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
11 Mar 07
Religion is not a gift. Religion is a curse.
However, the gift of salvation, the gift of adoption into the family of God, the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and His abiding presence are very precious gifts.
Freedom? For the first 22 years of life I enjoyed freedom from parental control. I basically did what I liked - but I didn't enjoy freedom, not real freedom.
Since becoming a Christian, I have rejoiced in freedom! I became free from everything that had me bound before. I am free from the burden of sin. I am free from the curse of the Law. I am free from having no control over my own sinful desires. I am free from slavery to self. I am free!
My faith in Christ does NOT restrict me!
I am not restricted in any way!
My faith in Christ gives me freedom! - true freedom!
Please tell me in which way you think Christianity is restrictive?
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
20 Mar 07
Restricive in the way that if I want to get drunk, I get drunk, if I want to have an immoral relationship I can. There is no "RULES" for the non-religous (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc..) But folowing a religion gives you a set of rules of conduct thus restricting you. For mee as a Thelemite there is NO SIN thus NO RESTRICTION, NO RESTRICTIONS thus FREEDOM!! Our only rule is "Do what thou wilt" That is not giving free reign to do any/every thing but rather tells us to follow our TRUE WILL nomatter what it may be.
Thank you for the response and have a great day!!
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
27 Mar 07
Because of the law of gravity I have freedom to move around happily in this life - until I step outside the law of gravity. I have no desire whatever to step outside of that law. If I do step outside the law of gravity, (by say, stepping off a high bridge) I become a captive of that law. I have lost my freedom.
As I said in my response, I do not feel restricted in any way in my Christian life. I delight to walk in God's will for me, which is the healthiest and happiest way to live. (Yes, I do know what it is like to live without Him. I DO know what I'm talking about there!) I believe my Christian faith gives me TRUE freedom and is not the slightest bit restrictive.
By saying that I am not saying you have no right to live the way you like. That is your choice and entirely up to you, but you cannot tell me I live a restricted life. I don't.
1 person likes this
@arseniajoaquin (1732)
• Philippines
31 Mar 07
The Christian religion is given by God. Its doctrines or teachings are laid down in the Holy Bible which is the Word of God. There are 2 kinds of people in the world - the children of God and the children of the devil. The children of God follow the Holy Bible. The children of God are subject to God and therefore they are supposed to follow what God says. However, God does not compel anybody to obey Him. The Christian religion is a gift for the children of God to be saved and given everlasting life to be with God in heaven forever. The children of the devil will be thrown into hell on the last day.
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
1 Apr 07
You said that God does not COMPEL anybody to obey him?!? How can you say that since either you obey him or burn in the lake of fire on the last day?!?!? That is REALLY COMPELLING!!!!! Either burn FOREVER or OBEY!!! Sounds like a GANGSTER TO MEE!!
Either you obey and give mee your purse or I BURN YOU FOREVER!! Pretty compelling to give mee that purse eh?!?
Thank you for the response and have a great day!!!
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
31 Mar 07
Religion is just a way of controlling people by influencing there minds. If you can influence what people think then you can get them do do what you want them to do and control there lives. Maybe it's donating a 10th part of your earnings to the church (god will thank you) actually you are giving the money to the elite group who run the whole scam. Or maybe you have to do things in a particular way or not eat certain foods and so on. These are all ways of controlling what people do and think while the people who run the whole show gain power, influence and wealth at the expence of the sheep. (It's no coincidence that Jesus is referred to as the good shepherd)
1 person likes this
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
31 Mar 07
Jesus/Yahshua never asked anything from his followers except to "FOLLOW ME" and "sin no more". Never did he try to sell a prayer cloth, or make a person feel like they had to give. As a matter of fact the apostle when approached by a beggar said "silver and gold have I none but what I have I give onto thee.... arise and walk" and the beggar was instantly healed. Not a once looking for a donation for the "Church"/"Ministry" just helping others as Jesus/Yahshua did.
But it is man that put the whole CONTROL twist on it.
I Corenthians 10:23-24
23"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Jesus/Yahshua finish the old law of sin and punishment and at the same time ushered in the law of redemption that allowed the preceding statement to be made.
Thank you for the response and have a great day!!!
