What would you do if someone told you they hated organized religion?

Question

This question is to people who believe in organized religion.

Answer 1

I think there are more people in this world that hate organized religion than most people realize. This includes me. I was raised Catholic, but that doesn't mean that I have to believe in it. My father is a very faithful person, and he thinks that some day I will be as well. But for now, there are too many contradictions for me to be able to believe in it. I believe in God, I just don't believe in a set religion. I pray, and I live my life as a good person. I just don't go to church.

If I lived down south, where a lot of my relatives live, I'd probably be shot for saying that. Well, I wouldn't really, but I'd get death glares. Or, with my luck, I'd come upon that idiot above that thinks 'getting the boys together' would solve 'the problem'.

I don't hate people for owning guns, why should people hate me because I don't believe in their religion? I thought that the founding fathers came here so there could be freedom to practice whatever religion people wanted to. I choose not to, why doesn't that count?

Airman: Thank you for making the point that I was trying to make. It isn't *necessarily* Christianity that I don't believe in .. I've been told many times that my arguments sound like someone who was raised Catholic. My problem is with people who proselytize and judge, when that isn't what being a Christian is about. Everyone judges nowadays, and covers it under the cloak of being Christian.

I'm not trying to offend anyone here. I understand that everyone is entitled to their beliefs, and that is okay with me. Here is the one question that I have always had:

I always get that I am going to hell because I don't believe. What is really meant is that I don't believe in what *they* believe, so I'm going to hell. But I ask you ... If I believe in something different, what makes you so sure that *you're* not going to hell in the eyes of what I believe?

I respect people for having firm belief in their faith. All I ask is that people stop judging me. We all answer to our God in the end, and as long as I have been a kind and loving person, I have nothing to fear.

Answer 2

Well, I would first commend them on such an incredible feat of knowing enough about all the organized religions in the world to make such a blanket statement. I've been studying religion for a couple decades now, and I know I don't know enough about all of them.
I would then ask them why it is that they hate organized religion. Their response would most likely be something to the effect of "It controls people". The fact is there are many religions that do control people. However, I would point out, not all organized religions control people. Protestant Christianity, which I believe in, is one of them. Puritan preaching in the 18th century brought back the way of thinking that one should critically analyze all the data present, and examine contextual evidence to come to conclusions, rather than just assume that the person preaching is correct. (People will say that the puritans burned people as witches, which I would inform them that there were a couple of incidents where radicals did do such a thing, but was far from something that was common, and went directly against puritan teaching.)
I would conclude by showing how vast the world is, and how none of us can know all of the organized religions inside and out, but it is important to search for the truth. It is only possible for one to be correct, unlike post-modern thinking states. Breaking someone of the slavery to post-modern thought is the biggest obstacle, because it means getting them to actually physically change the way their brain works to become more open rather than closed to an idea that "All roads lead to Rome" mindset. It takes a lot of time usually, and patience.

Answer 3

I dont like religion the way it is today. I do love Christ' doctrine and what He ment it to be. I love the organized part where there are sunday schools, visitation, camps, mission trips, vacation bible school, and of course just going to church to worship my God and fellowship with other Christians. Church has changed alot since the disciples started the organizing of it in homes but the Gospel of Christ has stayed the same but man has perverted it and thats why we have so many "christian" religions today. Christians arent being the example we are supposed to be like being a servant or having the unspeakable joy through Christ shown to others. I dont blame people for disliking christianity not because of Christ but because of Christians.

Answer 4

You should find out WHY they hate organized religion... and then you should investigate their claims on your own. Hating organized religion is a very rational point of view for people who are aware of the dangers it presents (look up 'Dominionism') and the tremendous amount of damage it has done to civilization (the dark Ages) and to humanity.

Answer 5

I'd listen to what they have to say-- they just MIGHT have a point. I'm a Christian and a believer in the Bible but I'm also a MAJOR skeptic of *organized* religion-- and anyone with sense who thinks for him/herself should be also. Organized religion has done a lot of harm in this world and has provided great proof that absolute power corrupts absolutely. By blindly following it (and I pray for those who do), you enable it to go wrong. Far from being shocked when someone says they have trouble with it-- you should hear them out and see why.

Answer 6

Not sure how organized religion differs from disorganized.
Anyway I would invite them to my friendly Church where they would hear about the love of Jesus for them.

Answer 7

Organized religion gives me a structure and method to honor my deities and it helps me to connect to people of a like mind. It works for me. If it doesn't work for someone else, that's fine with me. They need to find their own path. My way isn't the only way---nor is it the best way for everybody.

Answer 8

If they hate it, they have to answer to God, not to me, so it doesn't bother me in that sense. it does disturb me in the manner that someone could be so callous as to hate something that's ordained by God. I do realize that zealots and people who don't fully understand the love that's supposed to be behind their witness messes it up for some people, but I can't imagine evere hating it, or making someone hate it because of my attitude. I couldn't bear the thought that I had anything to do with something like that.

Answer 9

I used to be one of them. In my case, I just hadn't found the right place yet. As for what I would do... tell them I'm sorry to hear that, because I would be. The day I found my parish is the first day in a long time I felt rejuvenated. I'm sorry that everyone hasn't felt that, I wish they would... no matter what their beliefs.

Answer 10

Then I would tell them to get out and turn from religion to relationship--with Jesus. He came to save us from man-made religion.