2006-12-16 03:15:41 · 8 answers · asked by Reality is a perspective 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I would say it tends to contrain it. H.L Mencken had a great quote:
"A Puritan is someone who is terribly afraid that someone out there might be having a good time." That is how most of organized religion today tends to operate--it is focused on constraining reckless behavior in various flavors. No doubt evil stuff like hurting others in its various forms is bad, but Jesus promoted childlike, reckless behavior, having fun as key to success in life. In fact, in the book of "Matthew" in the Bible he told his followers to become like children. I believe Jesus loved to tell jokes and go to parties, just like a kid. Heck, he created a huge amount of wine from water at a wedding party where people were so wasted because they had drunk all the wine. Jesus liked to have a good time 24X7. Granted, he did not encourage habitual drunkenness. But the point is he was and is like a kid. Heaven is much more like an infinite Disney World than a Seminary. But I would say 95% of organized religion does not operate this way and they tend to place restrictive burdens on people. Tragic, indeed.
2006-12-16 03:24:08 · answer #1 · answered by Lighthearted 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion saves no one. Religion is self-righteousness, doing things your own way instead of God's way. In effect, anyone who does not follow God's plan according to the Bible is a religion unto himself. Organized religion is nothing more than a group of self-righteous people who have agreed to assemble in one place once or twice a week and participate in group self-righteousness. This may be comforting to the ego, but it is damnation to the soul. If there is no conviction for sinning and no solution to the life of sin, then i can hardly see how organized religion can be viewed as comforting. It will create problems and solve none. Christianity is not religion, but is organized under the word of God in the name of Jesus Christ. If Jesus is absent from a church (which he is in most churches that call themselves Christian) then it is not a Christian church---it is something else.
2006-12-16 11:23:00 · answer #2 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Constrain it.
Read, "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris and his follow up book, "Letter to a Christian Nation".
2006-12-16 11:17:25 · answer #3 · answered by DiRTy D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It actually frees up the mind....but does not close it to any and all growth potential.
2006-12-16 11:16:56 · answer #4 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 16:25-For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
2006-12-16 11:19:32 · answer #5 · answered by Maurice H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no freedom in religion.
2006-12-16 11:19:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is relative.
2006-12-16 11:18:57 · answer #7 · answered by Eva 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it puts God in a little box you can keep with you and use when you want.
2006-12-16 11:19:40 · answer #8 · answered by zee zee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋