controlling? I am a Christian, of a Missionary Baptist background. Just curious as to what the controller/controllee is when you say such a statement.
2006-12-23 13:49:14 · 20 answers · asked by thstuff9946 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The only place my money goes is to help our local church. Also I don't do anything because someone says it. I search it out for myself. It's pretty much what I do since I am in school to do it. Nor have I ever DEMANDED anyone do anything. My Bible says to tell, not demand.
2006-12-23 13:57:59 · update #1
Do you do what your church tells you or are you a heretic?
2006-12-23 13:51:55 · answer #1 · answered by God 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Well, I am a Christian of nearly 20 years - raised in the Southern Baptist church. And there is more I could say along those lines, but to answer your question, you really ought to study church history if you don't know what they are talking about. For that matter, take a look in the New Testament and read about what the Pharisees were up to. Religion is all about control. I believe that it is demonic in nature, because it resists the true message of Christ and His power. How about Paul's instruction to Timothy in II Timothy 3:5, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Religion tried to squelch the Reformation by means of control. Religion is the cause for the crusades, when people were slaughtered in the name of Jesus - the end effect being that the church lost credibility and the name and cause of Christ was defamed.
Religion has always been around. And it would lke very much to keep everyone controlled with fear and greed, and keep averyone in their spot - serving the religious machine and funneling money into the higher archy's pockets. Meanwhile, no miracles, no healings, no salvations, and the world goes to ruin. Just look around.
2006-12-23 13:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by firebyknight 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who is controlling you? The heads of the church. They tell you what the bible means and you follow it. Why do you need a priest. Can you not read the bible and chose for yourself how to apply it to your life? Who are you controlling. All the people that do not believe in religion yet have to follow certain laws that are influenced by religious voters. Gays not being able to marry for example. That is one of many examples. Did you know in the middle ages the church had more power than the king? Gladly we have moved away from this practice because our forefathers were smart enough to include separation of church and state. It is the whole reason that we rebelled against England. Hope that answers your questions.
2006-12-23 13:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Danny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several possible answers.
The religion itself has language in its text that tells you that if you don't believe, horrible things will happen to your soul. Therefore, the belief gets you with fear if it doesn't get you with love.
Then, there is the church. The hellfire and brimstone reverends who tell you that your immortal soul is in danger. They repeat the rhetoric of the texts.
But then there's you. If you are being controlled by your religion, you are allowing it to happen. It's like an addiction. You are ultimately responsible for what you do while under the influence of an addiction, and only you can break the addiction if you are ready to do it.
All of that said, I do believe that belief is more than a controlling tool. It's just that many people are coerced into the religion through controlling tools rather than sheer faith. The people who believe in Christianity as love rather than condemnation of sinners' souls . . . . those are the ones who are not being controlled by anything but love for their fellow human.
2006-12-23 13:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There have been instances where religion has been used to control people but I would not say that every church purposefully controls people. That being the case, and considering I know nothing about you personally other than you're a Baptist, nobody could possibly pass judgment on what you use your religion for.
It could be said however that religious dogma does control people. Religious doctrines containing laws said to be passed down by god do in fact tend to influence people's behavior. The problem with such doctrine is that there is no way to prove or show by any means that these laws do in fact come from god. If one examines the bible closely one will no doubt find so much error and contradiction that it brings the source of such doctrine into question. Surely anything coming from god would stand the test of time, but instead we find things that in today's time we have deemed as a society to be archaic and grossly immoral.
Are we to keep slaves? Are we to look unto women as less than men? Are we to beat our children with a rod? Should we murder homosexuals? Should we go to war over land and differences of faith? Should we constantly worry over our every action for the fear of eternal damnation? What kind of benevolent god would condone such things? Some like to say Jesus preached otherwise but if you really pay attention there are plenty of passages where Jesus commands his followers to uphold the law of the old testament. He also condones keeping slaves.
What one believes has a lot to do with what one does. If you believe that the bible is the flawless word of god and that disobeying those words will lead to everlasting damnation you would probably feel compelled to do what it says. Am I wrong to see that as a type of control? The evidence points to the Bible being the work of man. The evidence is its lack of omniscience. So if men were to write a book where in it they put laws into the mouth of god and along with those laws horrible punishments for breaking them it could be legitimately said that it is a means to control people. Take Muslim suicide bombers as a perfect example. They do what they do because of what they believe. They believe what they believe because of what the Qur'an says. I'm sure you see their religion as an abomination but they believe what they believe just as strongly as you believe what you believe and with no less evidence to support those beliefs.
So the controller is not you but the doctrine you follow. If you happen to preach that doctrine then you are helping to pass that control on to others - intentionally or not.
For a much more in depth look at how beliefs can be dangerous I highly recommend, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason" by Sam Harris.
2006-12-23 13:53:47 · answer #5 · answered by DiRTy D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The control is the limitations of the Bible and the "official" interpretation's of its scriptures by those who push the agenda of the belief.. You are guided to think and act according to the whims of your leaders. You are part of a group and playing your roll accordingly.
The control over you is certainly of your own doing.. You know you can walk away at any time - with some shame, of course - but nonetheless you are free to choose. Walking away begins with a giant step though, doesn't it?
The rest, all the little ways about you including your haircut, is less optional without facing the day to day peer pressure and possible indignation of the group, (that is, if you are honest and open to them about your thinking and your actions.) Belonging to a "club" means following its rules... you are in a club, per say, and the rules include your profession of faith in God and following his, (the churches,) dictations. Your mates apply pressure on you to conform and you return the favor.
Choose to remain and say "Baa" like the rest of the sheep; or, leave and say, think and act according to what you understand to be true.
But you already knew all of this, didn't you? You must remember for the future that telling fibs, no matter how small they are, isn't a nice thing to do... and when you tell them to yourself, it is not only you who gets hurt in the end but all of us... Please don't.
Get real...!!!
Quoting a wise person, "Atheism is the only logical choice."
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
.
POST SCRIPT: If your church serves Kool-aid, take a pass on it... some churches have gone so far as to spine their punch bowls ----- WITH POISON...!!!
2006-12-23 14:05:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The controllers are the people raking in the big money. Many heads of churches are millionaires with salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. You just have to listen to them with an open mind to see that they are just used car salesman with a better gig. The controllees are the sheep that swallow their 'message' and fill the collection plate The controller can also be a government that uses religion to further anti western agenda. The controllees in that case are terrorists.
2006-12-23 14:05:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, let's say this. The sinister rulers of this world are using religion as a tool to confuse and deceive us into starting wars, and killing each other off. I too am a Christian, and believe, hope, and pray, that the time of Jesus' return to earth is drawing near. But I also know that before He gets back here, Satan and his angels of darkness will completely take over the earth, and rule for 7 years.
2006-12-23 13:59:16 · answer #8 · answered by oceansoflight777 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its obvious.
It controls by DEMANDING that people do as it says. AND YES it does DEMAND that you tell people, because its "gods word" and he doesnt ask anyone to do anything, he says DO IT or burn. And it DEMANDS that followers CONVINCE as many people as they can to BELIEVE as they do. AND its controlling in that it is permitted TAX FREE exception which is completely unfair. Money for your church? WHY DOES A CHURCH NEED MONEY???? Wake up!!!!
If I say I believe the universe was FARTED OUT by a cosmonic pink elephant, then I too should be allowed to have free donations and get as many followers as possible to get others to believe in the farting pink cosmonic elephant and give give give give money today so starving children can OWE their full bellies to the belief in the cosmonic farting elephant.
OF COURSE YOU DONT REALIZE that youre being CONTROLLED.! Adicts are in DENIAL. Mentally ILL people are in DENIAL of their MENTAL ILLNESS.
You believe in a God you cant see hear NOR TOUCH, THATS A MENTAL ILLNESS.
Get help and stop imposing your ILLNESS on others.
2006-12-23 13:52:51 · answer #9 · answered by . S 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hey Brother Stuff,I guess these people answering your question think us Christians are being "controlled" like robots. Pity the poor fools as someday standing in Judgement they shall find out the truth but it will be to late. The teachings of JESUS and the 10 Commandments are what guide, not control our actions.We pray on decisions for guidance from above and with what we know as right and wrong gives us the right path to travel and it is straight and narrow. And we do occasionally cross out of it but his all forgiving love because WE know he is THE SON OF MAN ARE FORGIVEN!!! P.S. Don't let these people upset you as we know what lies ahead
2006-12-23 14:03:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is a construct, it causes a person who follows it to think inside a little box, where everything inside the box is "good", everything outside the box is "bad"(effectively eliminating the need for free thought).You are not free to do or think or feel as you wish, nor are you free to decide what limitations to place on YOURSELF, therefore christianity controls you.
2006-12-23 13:56:32 · answer #11 · answered by enslavementality 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋