Can you be addicted to religion (christianity)?

Question

My childhood best friend became a born again christian just before he got married. He got a good job, he and his wife had a couple of kids bought a big house and they joined the local country club. With their renewed faith, life seemed pretty good. But as the years have worn on his faith became more and more of a priority in his life to where I stopped seeing him socially. Eventually he dropped out of the country club and more recently he quit his job to become a student at a baptist seminary. I could never bring myself to criticize him for his faith, despite my personal feelings about it, because it made him so happy. But this ongoing trend has me scratching my head wondering if this source of hapiness hasn't taken him a step too far.

Answer 1

Absolutely.

If you REALLY believe in the reality of the Christian God, then you have a responsibility to do the will of God and seek his way for your life.

Reading the bible will lead you to the realization that following the tenants of Jesus requires you to give up on material things like homes, jobs, cars etc and preach the good news about Christ. Just like the disciples.

Christianity leads honest followers to ruin almost every time. Only Christians who are not willing to give up on material wealth and worldly happiness can survive, and it is a direct result of ignoring Jesus' teachings.

Answer 2

I've always wondered why I got along so well with recovering alcoholics and drug addicts and their family members, even though I have neither of those problems. Then I thought about the effects of religion in my life, and it became clear that my life was strongly affected by the hyper-religiosity in my household. It had an impact on every aspect of life, and I was kept sheltered from other types of people just so I would not become contaminated by them.

So I believe that religion can become an addiction in that it takes over your life, you become obsessed with maintaining contact with it, you feel uncomfortable with people who are not similarly afflicted, you see the non-religious as somehow unworthy so different that you cannot accept them, you continue to seek the same "spiritual highs" that have happened at retreats and revival meetings, and you deny any of these things are having a deleterious impact on your life.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 3

Sounds like he is on the right track.

Why don't you look into it.

Many people say that Christianity is boring.
Then you haven't experienced it. No one who is a Christian will ever say that it is boring.
How do you know? Have you tried it? There are millions of Christians who have a lot of fun being Christian. We just do it with a lot less sin, and therefore, a lot less problems. Maybe it's only your problems that keep you from getting bored.
What do you think we do all day, sit around fireplaces and read Bibles? We ski, swim, play sports, read, have friends and problems like anybody else. Christianity is not boring. It is an adventure.

Answer 4

You can be addicted to anything.
But as long as his bills are paid and his kids are fed and its not negatively impacting his life...then no its not really much of an addiction. Now if he is for closing on his house and his kids aren't eating all to be in seminary school...well that's just wrong on several levels.

Answer 5

See thats the one thing I dislike about religion, the people get to big about it and think that there goal in life is always religion, you gotta live life the way you want to, being christin is ok as long as it don't control you.

And even worse are the people that think they are better than everyone because they go to church and wroship god.

Answer 6

I think what you are seeing is the difference between "Religion" and a "Relationship". All "religions" with the exception of Christianity believe that they can "earn" their way to heaven by doing "good deeds". We can not earn our way into heaven...."for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10 However, Jesus was the perfect and never sinned. He was blameless and upright. Jesus was perfect. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 1 Peter 2:22 God knew the only way to restore our relationship with him is to sacrifice himself on the cross and take all our sin and he nailed it there. Jesus died and conquered death and rose again on the third day and Jesus is very much alive now and he promises he will return again someday when no one expects it. But he also warns us not to be deceived in Matthew 24:23-31. The creator of heaven and earth wants to have a personal relationship with you! He not only knows and took the time out to number every hair on your head like in Matthew 10:30 says. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 You see something different in your friend and you want it too. You just can't seem to put your finger on it. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah" 29:13 I firmly believe you can be "addicted" to anything even religion, but when you seek God with all your heart and cry out to him and ask him to come into your life and be Lord of your life you will be excited because you will see incredible things God will do for you just because he loves you not because we deserve it or earn it. (See Luke 11:9-11 and James 1:17) He is faithful even when we are not. (he is closer to you right now than I am miles away).
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:10-11 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 You can say a prayer right now and accept Jesus to come into your life and be Lord of your life. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 If you decide to do this...accepting Jesus into your life (God has given you the choice to either choose him or deny him) then YOU MY FRIEND will find out how EXCITING life is and how much better it is with him. (Without him who can protect you?) "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 I prayed for you and I am adding you to my prayer list. Hugs to you!

Answer 7

Life is about balance. Yes, I believe people can become addicted to religion/Christianity. BTW - religion and christianity are not necessesarily the same. If you have a religion that does not mean you are a Christian. You are a Christian if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior. You can be religious AND a christian.

Answer 8

Obsessed is a better descriptive word than addicted. Your friend sounds like he has an obsessive disorder. My father has an obsession with Christianity. It ultimately resulted in him praying for my mother while she was having a stroke, rather than calling 911, resulting in her aphasia and other neurological problems she now suffers.

Answer 9

Hey, you seem to have it all wrong. He has just followed what God wants him to do. Have you?
Listen I guess you could be an addict on anything. I believe loving and serving God is the most wonderful way to be an addict!

Answer 10

You are feeling left out of his joy. His family is fine, his life is fine (by his standards, the standards that count). He has found his calling in life. He is not breaking any laws.

I think you are being selfish, becuase his life that involved you is no longer as happy as the rest of his life. Your insulting your friend for not hanging out with you.