The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion
The people I've met at church (WARNING: GENERALIZATION AHEAD) have generally been judgemental, intolerant, and condescending. Where God would have acceptance and love, they quote random sections of the bible to condone their intolerance for homosexuality, pre-marital sex, and countless other "sins". They openly sneer and profess their "superiority" as moral creatures, thereby rendering the entire premise of "drawing in" others to religion obsolete by mere snobbery alone. Peasants don't feel comfortable hanging in the presence of a king.
Atheists and agnostics are either pitied or damned. Nothing is so insulting as pity and nothing as judgemental as being damned. I thought that it was God's place to judge and yet countless Christians (or other applicable religion) are eager to let those inferior souls know exactly what God has in store for them - as if they could possibly even know.
Re: The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion katelyn: There are alot of good churches too, they're just not as common as the snobby ones.
Also, I don't pity or damn athiests. It is what it is.
So, you believe in God but not the Bible? Jesus taught love but he also taught accountability. That's why you get Christians acting "judgemental" as you call it. They're likely just trying to be holy like God wants them to be. But - In my opinion, its rarely for a person to judge. You don't know what's going on in their heart. God sees their heart.
Trust me, I know how much it stings to feel totally judged by another Christian. There is no way to argue that it is not hypocritical. No matter how good a Christian they are, they have their own sin no matter how small. So it is inappropriate for them to bring up your sin.
Does this mean I am beyond correction? Not at all. But it is a very sensitive issue and it takes a special person to be able to correct others without insulting them.
Anyway now I'm rambling. That's all for now.
Re: The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion snkpack: I don't believe in the bible as the infallible work of God, no. It was written by men who interpreted a message. Therefore, it is prone to error and quote possibly interjected with their own "spin".
Re: The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion katelyn: I've researched some of the history of how the bible was written. It is pretty shocking the lengths that were taken to ensure complete accuracy in transferring texts. I really doubt there were errors. I think that's a cop out arguement that athiests state.
Furthermore, if you understood the way that the Holy Spirit works, I also don't buy the arguement that mere men interpreting the message is bogus. But, alas, those who don't understand it view it as foolishness and that is just the way it is......
Oh well.
Re: The Hypocrisy of Organized Religion pluscachange: [quote author=Snkpack link=topic=45793.msg538153#msg538153 date=1182806288">
I believe in God, but I don't believe in church. As a matter of fact, I borderline loathe what the institution of church has become. I don't think its at all what God intended.
The people I've met at church (WARNING: GENERALIZATION AHEAD) have generally been judgemental, intolerant, and condescending. Where God would have acceptance and love, they quote random sections of the bible to condone their intolerance for homosexuality, pre-marital sex, and countless other "sins". They openly sneer and profess their "superiority" as moral creatures, thereby rendering the entire premise of "drawing in" others to religion obsolete by mere snobbery alone. Peasants don't feel comfortable hanging in the presence of a king.
Atheists and agnostics are either pitied or damned. Nothing is so insulting as pity and nothing as judgemental as being damned. I thought that it was God's place to judge and yet countless Christians (or other applicable religion) are eager to let those inferior souls know exactly what God has in store for them - as if they could possibly even know.
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I say this as a full fledged agnostic.
Homosexuality and pre-marital sex are sins in Christianity, no matter the church in question. Always have been, always will be. Modernity and current trends are not reasons for them to change their behaviors, the "word of God" should in fact be timeless, not based on circumstance, for it to have any lasting power.
Judge not lest ye be judged doesn't mean don't make any distinctions and don't judge, it is simply saying those who are comfortable with their adherence to God's word/plan are safe to judge, those who are not...are not.
If they didn't feel that their way was THE way, then they wouldn't be a church to begin with, that's always been a trait of every religion, you know, The One True Path. Though they are condescending, some of them.
What I think a lot of agnostics/atheists miss is that because they personally do not buy into the concept of sin, doesn't mean others don't and won't act on what they believe are the righteousness of their beliefs. We may take a "don't judge" attitude, but others do. Some to extremes, some not, but all do it, otherwise they wouldn't be able to "love the sinner and hate the sin", as that requires judgement as well.
I don't put a lot of credence in what religious folks say when it comes to moralizing, but that's because I reject a lot of their reality. They are not, however, compelled to follow my guidelines and for me to judge them for NOT following MY guidelines seems a bit absurd and doing a lot of what I think they do, if you follow.
