You seem to be agreeing that religious people are easily led, but that you are not.
But all your replies are based on comments about control.
You don't need a crutch to live a correct life.
I still don't understand why you follow a new religion. If you want to believe anything then you have to believe the original, earlier stories. This thing about Jesus, a marketing ploy. People follow star wars and star trek like lambs. Does it make their story right, or wrong ?
If you need to be controlled, or to feel the need to control others, then you are totally opposite to what religion should be about.
You are all piping out the standard responses, never answering, most likely because you can't, any reasoning about religion.
certain people who are in certain christian religious groups are easily led...that is why they are called religious
i am not led because the group i am in are bible based...since the reformation and thereafter again at the advent of the evangelical church movement...no goblets, no robes, no smoke or mirrors, no man made up stories
only what is written in the first draughts of scripture...some of the early religious organisations christianised their pagan religions but not enought to leave out some pagan parts, so modifying the bible stories to fit their needs and
give them power over the people...the nicolaitans...rome!!
that was reformed in the 17th century during the time of henry 8th leading to mass butchery and executions in the name of ?God?....you know about the crusades...it was mandatory for european aristocracy and the kings to "take the cross" to jerusalem to drive out the muslims who held jerusalem
the crimes for heresy then were not agreeing to substantiaton, the king as head of the church of england, not attending church and more...they were controlled in the most vicious ways imaginable.
i am relating a small portion of the abuse which took place as men of power did via religion control the lives of the common man.
fast forward to 1960 ish...the pentecostal or charismatic revival...gloves off now, thank God!!
all the past error and forced beliefs were discarded...right teaching on biblical principals without the old errors and vague superstitions about relics, icons and control procedures..
so
i am a christian, i am not controlled, i can voice my opinion on any biblical issue,
after i check it out for myself...if any leader suggests any issue not biblical they are admonished by the congregation and does accept that...we all can be led astray.
now
you chaps have brought forward good points and meat for thought which i have taken on and have benefited from it
i can say i sought not to mention any christian group which some of my comments pertain to and if i have given any bad feelings to...truth is a double edged sword cutting deep...
in closing
i havent referred to the 1820's and 1870's pseudo biblical groups in the usa who now have 15 million and 9 million members worldwide..all of whom are controlled.
this is religion, the corruption and control of the individual by pressure and discipline from their elders.
man made!!
christianity as it is today by the valuable work of evangelical movement has at last returned to the precepts and faith of the early church as it formed after the crucifixtion
,
when Paul came up with the doctrine that would turn Christianity from a small sect of Judaism into a worldwide faith that was open to all, regardles of any jewish laws on many subjects...those having the most impact were circumcision, food laws, working on the sabbath, facial hair, and many other controlling
laws from the torah and talmud....the result...the books of the gospels.
cheers
geof
