Does organized religion miss the whole point about God?

[nutshell]

really?
Can you cite an example?
You can do it through PM if you don`t want the wrath of the MOD`s to come down on you.

It just seems logical to me that if a "religion" has no dogma then it cannot admonish a person.
I take the pagans and wiccans and those who follow other less common spiritual paths less dogmatic, more tolerant and understanding, than any of those who follow any of the standard Abrahamic faiths in this forum.

I'm constantly being told by non-denominational Christians that I'm going straight to hell because the Jesus/God I believe in are not the Jesus/God of the Bible.

 

[Smoke]

I'm constantly being told by non-denominational Christians that I'm going straight to hell because the Jesus/God I believe in are not the Jesus/God of the Bible.

Just because they don't belong to a "denomination" doesn't mean they have no organized religion. As you've experienced, their religion is not only organized, but is often quite rigid.

 

[nutshell]

All the great teachers are the same: they tell you to seek the light, or the kingdom of God, or whatever metaphor they use to describe it, within. Then those who are spiritually dead erect religions around them. Jesus no more founded a religion than Krishnamurti did.

Jesus did organize a religion.

Remember Peter being the rock, which would act as a foundation for the kingdom?

 

[linwood]

Part of the greatness of Krishnamurti is that he declined to found a religion, though many of his followers expected him to, and were mightily disappointed when he didn't.

Thats the part that blows my mind.
From just a half hour of reading about him it seems he actually disbanded a religion that appeared to be based around him because it wasn`t "truth" and could never be "truth".
I may have that wrong and will correct myself later if so since I think I`ll be studying him awhile.
However that act is ..well it`s entirely alien to what I know of religious icons..it`s absolutely selfless.

 

[nutshell]

Just because they don't belong to a "denomination" doesn't mean they have no organized religion. As you've experienced, their religion is not only organized, but is often quite rigid.

Hmmm...perhaps it's a language issue for me then. I'll think on this.

 

[Smoke]

Jesus did organize a religion.

Remember Peter being the rock, which would act as a foundation for the kingdom?

Is your religion built on Peter?

 

[Smoke]

From just a half hour of reading about him it seems he actually disbanded a religion that appeared to be based around him because it wasn`t "truth" and could never be "truth".
I may have that wrong and will correct myself later if so since I think I`ll be studying him awhile.
However that act is ..well it`s entirely alien to what I know of religious icons..it`s absolutely selfless.

He did, and poor Annie Besant never quite got over it. But it's one of the reasons he impresses me, too.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm constantly being told by non-denominational Christians that I'm going straight to hell because the Jesus/God I believe in are not the Jesus/God of the Bible.

Are you being told that here on RF? If so, please let me or one of the other mods/ admins know.

Right now, on these forums, I'm being told that my faith is somehow less valid because it's not the 'correct' one. The implication that I am going to hell for this is a helpful one, but I wish those that feel persecuted would not turn around and do so to others.

 

[linwood]

Jesus did organize a religion.

Remember Peter being the rock, which would act as a foundation for the kingdom?

I would have to agree with you here and not just for this reason.

The gospels lead me to believe that at first Jesus wanted to "fix" his religion and when he realised it was too corrupt to do so he wanted to establish his own.

I really haven`t given much thought on this aspect of Jesus establishing a dogmatic church so my mind could be changed if I could be shown a different interpretation that made sense.

However it seems pretty straightforward to me that you are correct.

 

[linwood]

Very interesting. My understanding is that AA promotes a belief in a "higher power." It doesn't necessarily have to be "spiritual" or about God. Is that right or am I off?

Thats how I see it but I`ve only been to a few of their meetings.

 

[nutshell]

Is your religion built on Peter?

Yes. It is.

Do you know what that means?

 

[Smoke]

Yes. It is.

Do you know what that means?

Please tell me, bearing in mind that we're talking about organization.

 

[nutshell]

Please tell me, bearing in mind that we're talking about organization.

Well, lets look at the scripture.

Jesus has gathered his apostles and asks them who they think he is. They give the answers they've been hearing from the crowd and tell Jesus some think he's John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremiah, etc. Jesus asks, but who do you say that I am and Peter boldly proclaims:

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

After a brief line explaining how Peter knew this, Jesus then says:

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (See Matthew 16).

Jesus clearly proclaims he is building a church and Peter was given the authority or keys of the kingdom (which to me equals the power to organize and run said church).

My religion teaches that we have this same authority passed from Peter to a modern day prophet and thus, we are the same organization that Christ established when he was on the earth.

 

[Smoke]

My religion teaches that we have this same authority passed from Peter to a modern day prophet and thus, we are the same organization that Christ established when he was on the earth.

I can't think of any greater leap of faith than that, and I suppose there's no point in disputing a belief that relies on blind faith.

 

[Mister_T]

Well, lets look at the scripture.

Jesus has gathered his apostles and asks them who they think he is. They give the answers they've been hearing from the crowd and tell Jesus some think he's John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremiah, etc. Jesus asks, but who do you say that I am and Peter boldly proclaims:

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

After a brief line explaining how Peter knew this, Jesus then says:

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (See Matthew 16).

Jesus clearly proclaims he is building a church and Peter was given the authority or keys of the kingdom (which to me equals the power to organize and run said church).

My religion teaches that we have this same authority passed from Peter to a modern day prophet and thus, we are the same organization that Christ established when he was on the earth.

Where does in scripture does it say that church is a building that we must go to every Sunday and listen to some guy preach? Some guy who is no different or better than I? I can read the Bible anytime I want and praise God anytime I want. Thus eliminating the need for church as society knows it. God tells us in the Bible that if we put our faith in man that man will fail us. But if we put our faith in him (God) we will prosper. I choose God.

 

[Mister_T]

But if organized religion works for you and brings out the best in you than more power to ya! It just doesn't work for me.

 

[nutshell]

I can't think of any greater leap of faith than that, and I suppose there's no point in disputing a belief that relies on blind faith.

Faith is what it's all about. It's how God's truth is revealed. Sorry we disagree on that. We might as well not continue this discussion.

 

[nutshell]

Where does in scripture does it say that church is a building that we must go to every Sunday and listen to some guy preach? Some guy who is no different or better than I? I can read the Bible anytime I want and praise God anytime I want. Thus eliminating the need for church as society knows it. God tells us in the Bible that if we put our faith in man that man will fail us. But if we put our faith in him (God) we will prosper. I choose God.

Christ clearly says his church would be one of authority. Peter received his authority directly from the savior to run His church. The commandments about meeting together often are in the Bible.

The purpose of the Church isn't just to preach. It has the authority, given by Christ, to conduct the affairs of his Kingdom.

 

[jazzalta]

I can't think of any greater leap of faith than that, and I suppose there's no point in disputing a belief that relies on blind faith.

I agree 100%. But then I'm not a follower of organized religion. I recognize a supremeness, but not dogma.

 

[Squirt]

I can't think of any greater leap of faith than that, and I suppose there's no point in disputing a belief that relies on blind faith.

What kind of religious belief doesn't rely on blind faith? As I recall, Jesus was more impressed by those who could accept Him on faith than He was by those who required proof.