BEFORE I go into my difficulty with organized religion, I will say there is good in religion. Garrett Bolles, for example, growing up troubled, found peace in the Latter Day Saints religion. He is NFL first round draft now, and I hope the millions he gets paid do not mess him up. There ARE GOOD elements in organized religion, so I grant that FACT.
But ANY hypocrisy or betrayal of trust by organized religion blows up the entire "package." There are too many abused kids and Jimmy Swaggerts in religion, defended by religious bureaucracy for me to ever trust or believe in organized religion.
The old saw, I bring you the "truth" can be ugly, and wrong. Or "One Way" to heaven thru MY God, not your God / religion is myopic and insensitive.
It is often hypocritical as well since "the gospel of His love" is to demand, not ask, for others to believe what they, whatever religion is saying it, want you to believe, and accept THEIR deity over any and all others. That is not what I call love.
Love is open, realistic, and not demanding. Love comes of a free will. Love is kind and generous, and like the bird. Let it go it's own way, if it returns, it is your friend. If not, so be it. Let us be whom we choose to be, and let us believe what we choose to believe.
Say your words, but then leave me to decide my fate.
Typical religious arrogance and vanity about selfish faith and beliefs are defined in "Silence."
Yes, it is no surprise organized religions seek converts, and they would like everyone to believe and have faith in their particular religion. The religions always say their deity says they MUST convert everyone they can. More converts puts more powerful and money in their hans. SAD!
It is an absolute truth that spirituality is important, it is good, and religion important, but religion has been used as a weapon, and a force for human evil. Giant organized religions are the most vulnerable to hurting people, to wit we examine historical wars fought on behalf of one belief against another.
Religion has been incredibly detrimental in human history.
People murder people in the name of religion. That makes religion a crime against humanity.
In 1641 we, the world of religions, should have learned from the lost priests. Rigion is the ultimate cruelty to mankind, ironic and sad.
We might ask why can't the Jesuits bring their religion to Japan? If there is an established religion in Japan, where is it the right of the Jesuits to try to compete. The Christian Bible says thou shall have no other God before me. Japan's religion was Buddhism. The chose a non-deity religion and the Jesuits came to Japan with THEIR "TRUTH," so the Jesuits were competing. This angered the Buddhist priests. Why wouldn't the Buddhist priests have the "TRUTH?"
What right does any religion have the rights they choose for themselves. Look at the history of religion throughout time. THINK. Has there been any harm done by religions? The answer is "Yes." So, to me, spirituality, ideally honest and kind treatment of all human and animal kind, is the ideal. Religion perverts our hearts to demand obedience cell and commitment at any cost, the "One Way" mantra is actually evil.
