Do you think organized religion is a deterrent to personal spirituality?

Question

I do...

Answer 1

It really depends on the person.

For some people creative thinking, self direction, and self motivation are difficult. They tend to be passive learners and can do well in a traditional classroom type setting. These sorts of people do well in traditional churches. They can sit and listen and hopefully apply the things they are taught to their lives.

Free thinker, self motivated learners, and folk who think outside the box do not do well with structured religion. For these sorts of people traditional religion tends to stifle their spirituality.

One is not better than the other. They’re just different.

Answer 2

Sometimes, yes. When a person forgets why the religion was established and starts putting the religions rules ahead of God's Laws it's definitely a spiritual deterrent. Many times people start to worship the organization instead of the God it was meant to serve. We need to continually question and search our hearts to see if we are truly on the narrow path.

Answer 3

Great question. Yes, I do. I was very religious as a child (strangely enough)-- I had a very powerful "relationship with God" then (that is, I believed that I was one of two or three people on the planet that God thought was special). As I got older, I realized how much hogwash religion was, so I threw it all away for years and years.

I still consider myself an atheist, but it was that clearing of the mind that was necessary for me to come back to spirituality and realize that it's the spirit and the connectedness that God was originally intended to represent.

I do believe if you're deeply steeped in religion, you have a very small chance of actualization your spirituality.

Answer 4

Yes, but the devlopment of personal spirituality takes dedication, the sincere desire to quest for a relationship with a higher power, and the ability to clearly look at oneself. That's too much work for most people, hence organized religion.

Answer 5

Religion is overrated. Going to church does not mean you are a good person. Many people have this excuse for the things they do. If you believe in God, great! Religions are only different versions of what groups of people interpret from The Bible.

I believe in God wholeheartedly. I am not religious, I am spiritual.

Answer 6

No, there are pitfalls to organized religion, especially trying to make laws to enforce spiritual liveing ie. thoushalt not smoke or drink or swear or play cards etc. But on the other side of the coin, Christianity is not an individualistic self centered faith, it is the opposite, we are all necessary pieces of a greater whole, so although it's hard to live with it, we truly can't live without it either.

Answer 7

Of course it is...by design. It is the churches that need the money to support the pastor and his life style..the more members, the more money in his pocket. And today, for some reason, the highly dogmatic churches seem to be in favor..there is little freedom to discover when everything is being spoon fed to a follower...nothing but cookie cutter religious folks come out of these mills. Not good for anyone. Good luck

Answer 8

Organized religion and organized crime, Both take your money and give little in return. Organized crime for your money will give you drugs to get high on and if you don't do as they say may kill a family member.. Organized religion will take your money tell you, you are saved and if you don't do as they say will not allow you to ever see your mother again.

Answer 9

Not at all. Jesus told Peter that upon the words of his testimony "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" He would build His Church [greek, ekkleseia, meaning 'assembly'].

The Church is the bride of Christ and to love it is to show him you love him. Wouldn't it be crazy to tell Jesus, "Yo! Jesus! I love you and think you're great, but I hate your bride!" The church is called "the bride of Christ".

God wants things to be decent and in order. Organization does that for us. Having a family to meet with each week is a highlight of my week! I love to worship God! The only thing better is to do with others who love to do the same! For that, we need a meeting place and a time to do it--that takes organizing!

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, going to church as a 'duty' can get in the way of growing spiritually simply for the reason that one may think he is a Christian because he goes to church. We need to be in church, we should want to be in church, and we will be in church if we have a healthy love for God and Jesus. Why? Because Jesus said, "If you love me you will do what i ask." And the Bible tells us to not "give up/forsake assemling ourselves together--as some have" but to meet with each other and spur one another on to love and good deeds and encourage one another. WE NEED EACH OTHER...at least other believers!

Answer 10

I think so, especially if you're intelligent, but remember, that most organised (English spelling) religion has a particular purpose, and that is, money, power and control.

Consider this. Sam has a lunatic in his head, but God tries to cure him with another religious Bible con-trick.

For far too long we have been inundated with religious preachers knocking on doors, screaming on street corners, babbling in church, and worst of all, using TV to ram their beliefs down our throats and those of our children. Prophets or profits? I think the answer is obvious. Hands raised upwards, then into the pockets, let’s give money money money.

A little old lady comes on stage, push her forehead, she falls over and low and behold, she’s cured of her mental and physical woes. Hands raised again, yep you’re on to it, let’s give more money money money. Check out the preachers shiny white teeth as they count their gold.

Here’s the truth. Sam has a lunatic in his head, crippled legs, done his bit for the country, but Sam manages to come on stage smiling, gets pushed over, falls flat on his rear end and he’s still got a lunatic in his head, and he’s still a cripple. Guess what, no money money money. That’s the real truth. All of the magic cures are just fake organised stage plays, and they do it for money, money, money.