I love God but hate religion - agree?

Question

We don't need religion. We don't need old, irrelevant, biased corrupt doctrines, we don't need a set of rules, we don't need corrupt officials of the church telling us how to live. Lets get rid of the churches, all of the bibles, everything. Just love God without all of that extra nonsense that is garbling the message all up and preventing peace on earth.

We need to throw all of that in the trash because all that matters is we start loving everyone and healing the world right now- no more religion. You can love God but love your neighbor the same way you love God.

All we need to do to heal the world right now is to stop talking about how and why and just do it- we all know how, we don't need anyone to tell us how, and religion is just getting in the way.

Proverbs 1:7... you need someone to tell you how to love? I sure hope not.

You don't need someone to tell you these things; if there is not scientific proof of God, then why do you think he has anything to do with these doctrines? Doctrines are human creations, not creations of God.

God is a feeling that lives within us. You can choose to believe that it is real, or not real, your choice. But only pain can come from trying to sit down and figure out why and how God wants you to do this and that and one must realize that if God exists, no one knows what his true word is for sure (since there are so many floating around) so how could he (or it, or the life force, whatever you specify as God(s)) ever get mad at you for tossing out religion and healing the planet without it?

Tracy; I did not quote from the Bible; that is someone's user name, which would have been strikingly obvious to you if you would have actually read the words following it.

Doesn't anyone understand? Don't you see how many religions there are? If you pick one, you automatically clash with some of the others... as long as this is going on there will not be peace.

...And, someone said we need Church to keep our faith alive; but why? Is your faith so weak that you need to have it reinforced constantly? If you truly have faith nothing could ever make you doubt it, therefore you don't need all the extra.

Am I the only one who sees all of this pain? Religion has never been able to solve it; what makes you think thats going to change?

If we stop worrying about how and why and what we should do to love and just do it using our intuition we will find the way... don't you think? If you believe the word of God has manifested in all of these other things, why not within yourself?

The Bible is not a love letter from God. It is a book, written by people, just like you and me, with their own motivations and desires. Accept this fact and maybe, just maybe, you can love the way God truly wants you to; the kind of love that doesn't take need definition and words. Even if you were wrong, and the Bible is the word of God, do you think he would smite you for attempting to heal the planet without it?

So proverbs, you are saying that your religion is better than all of those others? You, and they, are all part of the problem. You completely illustrate my point.

Answer 1

i do agree. I think that religion makes people stupid, flat out. On the other hand, spirituality in its many forms makes us better.
I wouldn't say throw out all the Bibles, cuz it's historically relevant and helpful for spirituality in some parts.

Answer 2

Let's define terms first.

Religion is created by humans who think they're doing something that God wants them to do.

A relationship is what God actually wants with humans.

Loving God is good, but without the history of God's relationship with humans, that might be tricky. And I can not love my neighbor in the same way I love God - I'm not going to pray to my neighbor, worship my neighbor, or be saved from judgment by my neighbor - totally different kind of relationship and a totally different kind of love!

Mostly I agree with you - people tend to have an inborn sense of right and wrong. I love God and hate religion, but the Bible isn't part of religion, it's a love letter from God, so I'd hesitate to toss that out. Churches are meant to support people on a regular basis as they go about healing and loving, so I don't really want to get rid of them either. Otherwise, yes, people need to get up off the sofa and do something.

Answer 3

I see what you trying to say now. You are undoudebtly very smart. But I don't whether I should add more detail by using references from different religions? Do you want me to keep going into it becuase I have a lot to say?

Most definetely. YOU are your own salvation. Just look around. Find a park or favorable spot to stroll by and watch GOD in action. It is that inner-knowingess that everything is already perfect, which is going to get you where you want to be.

As a buddhist, we believe that truth comes from within and not necessarily from without. (Truth = GOD = Soul = reality) Of course, the oppose is also true: I can never know anything to be true. In the end, you are what you believe because you are an of extension of God's infinite power to create from within. That is all that matters.

Mostly I agree with you, but some religions do stress tolerance and are able to live in harmony with others, the first two being one of them. One day Islam will be producing the same level of cooperation that Christianity is now:

1) Taoisism and Buddhist are disciple-level religions (live for others + beyond)
2) Christianity is an Aspirant-level religion (democratic-thinking)
3) Islam is an Individual level religion (live for oneself)

In responce to Tracy's answers below: That may not be entirely true. The first act of sin preceding humanity's sin was when Lucifrer claimed he would usurp the role of GOD. He then tricked Adam and Eve to repeat sin in the garden by trusting the devil to teach them about good and evil instead of letting GOD do it...can you ever really know that he had no other input?

Answer 4

Not all church officials are corrupt and not everything that is called "religion" is necessarily bad--what matters is where these things point people after everything is said and done. Christianity is a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, not a system of rules or a hierarchy of officials. We can't expect to find God if we throw out the Scripture He has given us that tells us who He is and what He is like.

Answer 5

Not exactly! There has to be some guidance from some source. If there is no authority accepted at all it's simply meaningless, there can be no hope, no higher teaching, no understanding about the condition of the dead and if there is any way to become alive again, once dead. However, in one respect I agree, I also do not accept any of the churches at all. They all demand that you accept their teaching, and the teaching is not theirs, it is from God. Thus one must make sure by oneself that what is believed is really true and from God. Talking and discussing things with others is a must for nobody can find out all things from scripture by themselves. However, a serious study must be undertaken of various subjects to determine oneself what is true and good in the eyes of God.

Answer 6

Couldn't have said it better. Religions are just "Who's God's best mindless slave" contests. The whole point of most religions is to accept a pre-written belief, surrender your own thoughts, and mindlessly worship...just so you don't "get in trouble" at the end. If there really is a God, then he'd want people to make up their own minds. Only a megalomaniacal vindictive sociopath would condemn people for "getting it wrong" and not following the right religion. I just don't think an all powerful being would ever do something like that. A loving creator would want us to take care of each other and the planet we live on...not fight over who can bow down and worship the best.

Answer 7

I agree that there's a difference between faith and religion, to be faithful and not religious. Sounds healthy and rational. Yet I think this extremism regarding anti-religion stuff is as damaging as the religion itself. If you're trying to gather people to fight against religion, you'll end up creating a new religion.

Answer 8

I agree with you that religion is not beneficial to anyone. However, chuch can prove to be very beneficial and necessary. The rules we do need to follow are outlined in the Word of God. Without God, nothing could be possible.

Answer 9

You want to throw away the Bible, but then you quote from it. The Bible is God's Word, how are you going to know how and what to do if you don't read and study the Bible. God has set down laws, we get those laws from the Bible.

Answer 10

I think that is a cop out.... but then, it depends on your definition of religion. If it's church you are talking about.... we need it. We need to be surrounded by a body of believers, it is powerful and we need it. We grow complacent on our own, and, we can be renewed by praising and worshiping God together. Also, I do know that the bible says that God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those who would believe, and for us not to for sake the assembling together of ourselves in his name.
As far as denominations... I could live without them, but I'm not going to go around bashing them. There are other things to bash higher on my list.