Organized Religion = Communism

[Squirt]

I agree. But some religions do not want you to question. They expect you to believe what they tell you to believe.

Yeah, I suppose you're right. As a Christian, I think you have to rely on the Holy Ghost to know whether what you believe is right or not. I would be uncomfortable with any religion in which I was told that I had to accept a set of beliefs or be ostracized or asked to leave. After all, you can't force yourself to believe something that just doesn't ring true to you.

 

[d.]

Seems to me that some religions are very similar to communism. You must believe what you are told to believe, do what you are told to do, pay what they tell you to pay, and if you don't, you're... well you might not get thrown in jail, but they kick you out. You're not allowed to have a mind of your own. You might think you do, but you're told what to believe.

if this is your definition of communism, then ok. totalitarianism might be a better word IMO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totalitarianism

 

[jeffrey]

Jeff, actually I agree with you I'm 37 years old and every church I have been to rejects a certain level of questioning particularly authority figures in the church. I have found it very difficult to have a reasonable open debate on any topic that goes against the primary theology of the church. I have learned that I don't go to church to have a deep understand of my faith I go there to meet with my friends and family.

I totally agree. I think learning about religion is best done on your own. It's good to get ideas and concepts from other sources, such as churches, but to keep from being just another sheep,

Use the brain that God gave you to decide what's best for you.

 

[dawny0826]

"Applied" communism is totalitarianism, not communism.

Yes it is.

Can you give an example of a religion within the United States of America, where a person is forced into church...forced to believe what's being taught in that church...and your life is at risk if you resist?

Edit: Question is for Jeffrey

 

[dawny0826]

I totally agree. I think learning about religion is best done on your own. It's good to get ideas and concepts from other sources, such as churches, but to keep from being just another sheep,

Use the brain that God gave you to decide what's best for you.

Jesus actually refers to his followers as Sheep. I'm one of those jumping woolballs. Proudly so.

 

[jeffrey]

Yes it is.

Can you give an example of a religion within the United States of America, where a person is forced into church...forced to believe what's being taught in that church...and your life is at risk if you resist?

Edit: Question is for Jeffrey

If you would have read my posts, you would have figured out what I meant. Your question had been raised before.

 

[dawny0826]

If you would have read my posts, you would have figured out what I meant. Your question had been raised before.

Figures. That'll teach me to read before I post, huh?:biglaugh: LOL!

 

[jeffrey]

Yes it is.

Can you give an example of a religion within the United States of America, where a person is forced into church...forced to believe what's being taught in that church...and your life is at risk if you resist?

Edit: Question is for Jeffrey

Not forced to believe, but as I stated before, but told to believe in one way, and if you question that specific belief, your admonished. I gave examples of what I was talking about. And not all churces are this way. Just some. Look at Pat Robertson. He does have a following.

 

[dawny0826]

Not forced to believe, but as I stated before, but told to believe in one way, and if you question that specific belief, your admonished. I gave examples of what I was talking about. And not all churces are this way. Just some. Look at Pat Robertson. He does have a following.

Yeah he does. But some of us think he's goofy and choose not to follow.

 

[jeffrey]

Jesus actually refers to his followers as Sheep. I'm one of those jumping woolballs. Proudly so.

I refer to the term sheep as one who follows blindly. One jumps off the cliff, the rest follow without question. Christ warned about following blindly.
Matt 7:15-23

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

 

[dawny0826]

I refer to the term sheep as one who follows blindly. One jumps off the cliff, the rest follow without question. Christ warned about following blindly.
Matt 7:15-23

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Gotcha! You know where I'm coming from, I'm sure...

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

 

[dawny0826]

I was reading out of context again.

 

[jeffrey]

I was reading out of context again.

Dawny, I'm sure you have your own brain, a religion that you formed, not someone else formed for you, which there are people like that. Believe what they are told to believe. I'm sure... at least I hope so, that if someone in your church told you someting that just didn't sit right, that a lightbulb would go off and a voice in your head would go "DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER, DANGER!".

 

[dawny0826]

Dawny, I'm sure you have your own brain, a religion that you formed, not someone else formed for you, which there are people like that. Believe what they are told to believe. I'm sure... at least I hope so, that if someone in your church told you someting that just didn't sit right, that a lightbulb would go off and a voice in your head would go "DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER, DANGER!".

For me, you know, it's not about religion...it's about individual faith in Christ and building a personal relationship with Christ. And although I don't know who Will Robinson is ...I'm sure the sirens would go off in my head if something felt "off" during a service at a religious institution.

 

[jeffrey]

For me, you know, it's not about religion...it's about individual faith in Christ and building a personal relationship with Christ. And although I don't know who Will Robinson is ...I'm sure the sirens would go off in my head if something felt "off" during a service at a religious institution.

You never seen the old tv show 'Lost in space?'

Edit http://www.lostinspacetv.com/

 

[Aqualung]

Not forced to believe, but as I stated before, but told to believe in one way, and if you question that specific belief, your admonished. I gave examples of what I was talking about. And not all churces are this way. Just some. Look at Pat Robertson. He does have a following.

Well, I don't know about Dawny, but I've been reading this whole thread, and you have yet to give an example of a denomination that does this.

 

[jeffrey]

Well, I don't know about Dawny, but I've been reading this whole thread, and you have yet to give an example of a denomination that does this.

It's not necessary . But if you cannot figure things out on your own, ... Which, of course, is what part of this thread is about. Figuring things out on your own.

 

[nutshell]

It's not necessary . But if you cannot figure things out on your own, ... Which, of course, is what part of this thread is about. Figuring things out on your own.

Your veiled attacks are tiresome.

Those of us in organized religion are not told what to believe. We are presented with a message and we choose whether or not we will accept it. If we don't accept it, then that religion obviously isn't for us.

There are many other non-religious groups that "kick people out" if they don't follow the "rules" of the organization. Here are some examples:

My employer
My school
Boy Scouts of America
ACLU
The RF
McDonalds
The Army
Dance Clubs

The list goes on and on. Every establishment has rules and each of us, as individuals, are free to choose whether or not we will frequent an organization...religion is no different.

 

[nutshell]

Is there no response to my previous post?

 

[jeffrey]

Forgive me for working for a living. 1st, if you would just take a few moments to try and understand what I was saying, Never mind. 50 + posts later and still trying to twist it. But that's cool. I understand.