Do you agree?

Question

The way I see it.......religion can be restrictive and opressive?

It is man made, guilt laden rules, rituals and regulations on how to worship God. It can be very legalistic in nature. That doesn't make religion bad - it just makes it restrictive and oppressive.

On the other hand..............

Christianity (in its truest form) is basically accepting Jesus as your savior, confessing your sin, following and living life according to His teachings and commandments of love God with your whole being and love others as yourself.

Being a Christian is not about being religious. When you are a Christian you are free to worship God in your own way. You are free from man made guilt, rules, regulations, rituals and legalism. You have freedom in Christ with no weights (religion) to burden you down and get in the way.

Now, I want to make it very clear that I believe there are many "religious" people who are also Christians.

Answer 1

Very well said.

Although I am an Atheist (reared as a Catholic) I have always believed that Jesus was one of (if not the) best teachers this earth has ever known, I have adopted many of his teachings and used them as a guide in my day to day living ie: being truthful, honest and kind to my neighbours.

Religion is totally oppressive and restrictive and in my opinion has twisted his teachings to suit it's own ends.

We are all too quick to judge others, for example, as an art student many moons ago I would have to sit out in the city drawing and one day I met a homeless man in his late 20's who started chatting to me and offered me a sweet in exchange for a cigarette and whilst talking it turned out that he had a Masters degree in Mathematics, but had suffered a breakdown and suffered from alcoholism, he had lost everything. One lesson Jesus taught was 'the poor will always be amongst us and the only way to deal with them is to love them', that day was a turning point in my life, up until then I had never met anyone in my religion (as I was still a Catholic) who had spent one single minute with someone who was down and out, and realised that I did not need the regimentality of religion to learn from those wiser than us. I also meditate upon the words and wise teachings of the Buddha, but I do not see either of these wise, good and kind men as saviours.

We should listen to their teachings and learn from them.

A good friend of mine told me once that I was 'the most Christian Atheist they had ever known'.

Cozy xx

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Yep, you've got it pretty much right. Only problem I see with what you've written is that it almost sounds like Christians are therefore free to sin and be guilt free as a result of thier belief in Christ. Be careful of what you say, because somebody will slam you for even the most minute slip.

Answer 4

Yes, I do agree.

The Bible is a great instruction manual on how to live your life. We all miss the mark that is why we need Jesus.

God guides us also by His Holy Spirit within us. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour the Holy Spirit comes to live with us.

Any "rules" in the Bible are for our own good. God knows how things will affect us and He wants the best life for us.

Answer 5

I semi agree, i am a christian but i am not religious.
However, the opposite extreme of being legalistic is using grace as an excuse to do whatever you want.
I would say, if you do the latter, how much do you really believe about Christ in the first instance?

Answer 6

I was brought up in a Christian family, but didn't really have a relationship with Jesus! When my Grandfather died, the family became a 'nominal' christian family (hatch/match/despatch).

I had learned at the age of five that it is dangerous to argue with anyone - especially men, so I spent until I was thirty-four living as a cameleon! I could agree with a room full of people and offend none, I thought that it would make for an easy life! Instead I found a lot of things happening but really wasn't happy about, but didn't have the strength to say "N0! This is not what I want!"

Then Jesus Burst into my life (twenty-three years ago), He has Turned me into an 'Overcomer' by His Grace! He has Turned my life upside-down, inside-out and back-to-front, but I truly wouldn't have it any other way! He has Brought me to a place where I can honestly say that if I had a choice between an easy life without Him in it and the life I have with Him in it, I would choose the life I have!

The Bible is A Wonderful Truth, full of God's Wisdom and Loving Guidance, but sadly many people twist it to their own ends! As the Pharisees of Jesus' day did and He Warned against it in Matthew 16:6-12 "Watch out!" Jesus Warned them, "beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They thought He was Saying this because they had forgotten to bring bread.

Jesus Knew what they were thinking and told them, "O men of little faith! Why are you so worried about having no food? Won't you ever understand? Don't you remember at all the five thousand I Fed with five loaves, and the basketsful left over? Don't you remember the four thousand I Fed, and all that was left? How could you even think I was Talking about food? But again, I Say, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then at last they understood that by 'yeast' He Meant the WRONG TEACHING of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

There are many people today who are modern day Pharisees and Sadducees in the christian teaching circuit and they weigh people down more and more with wrong teaching! It makes them lots of money and keeps the rest of us constantly trying to 'better' our faith and walk with Jesus, whilst breaking our spirits under the strain! I fell for it for awhile, because I thought that they must know Jesus better than I do - otherwise I'd be up on the platform wouldn't I?

But then Jesus Intervened and Drew me back to walking with Him as I did in the early days of my walk with Him! He is my Saviour, I love Him and He Loves me! Through His Grace in my life and because of my love for Him, I don't want to hurt Him anymore than He was Hurt on The Cross at Calvary for me! However, I am human and sometimes make wrong choices but He is Quick to Forgive and I don't have to grovel with my face in the dirt! I do ask Him to Enable me to learn from my mistakes and for His Grace to not repeat them! This is how I live my life and my walk with Jesus and I can honestly say that I HAVE NEVER FELT SO FREE!!!

If The Bible is used simply as a set of rules and regulations, then that is all it will ever be! However, if it is used alongside a relationship with Jesus, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, then it is THE most liberating Truth!!!

Jesus Set me free SO much that I can now share my opinion on the internet and not care a jot what anyone thinks of it!!

Love in Jesus,

Margi

Answer 7

i always found christianity a religion of guilt. i was brought up a christian, but found that i was made feel like i was always doing, thinking or feeling things that were against the rules, but that i enjoyed, and gave me pleasure. i also found a high incidence of hypocrites, people, who said one thing in church and then another in their homes.
i find it interesting that you feel it can be something different. i have always felt it was restrictive. i am glad that it works for you. religion should feel good.

Answer 8

When you say "christian" that is so broad and obviously "religious" people will fall into that category. It is about a relationship with Jesus,knowing the truth in your heart and feeling free. There are people out there who manipulate the bible, and look at themselves as "christian" and they are very religious, you can even go to church "religiously"but that's how it is with the truth, there are manipulators everywhere. i agree with you.

Answer 9

Just keep it simple.The difference between right and wrong is clear.That's more important than icons and rituals.I'm sure God doesn't mind if you forget a rule!

In Greece they say you must cross yourself with your right hand only...if youre driving?honestly it just seems to distract from the actual point of trying to be good and better people.

Answer 10

I have NEVER felt burdened or restricted or oppressed. I feel loved and free. I feel joy and happy..I know I am not the only Christian to feel this way!