Shunning Organized Religion
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BamBam
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 Posted: 11/09/04 - 09:13 Post subject: Shunning Organized Religion
Do you think people do this because of the disillusionment with doctrines, a bad experience with a particular church, tired of the associated guilt or just plain laziness?
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keltic63
the kilted one
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 09:32 Post subject:
all of the above, plus disillusion with God if they perceive some inequity, for example, losing a loved one even after much prayers and petitions have gone up on that loved one's behalf.
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MechEngDropout
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 09:42 Post subject:
I'd say I went through all of the above, in the order that you posted them. Rejecting the institution of the church was in part due to the people in the church and my school (Catholic). Outside of a priest, it was nearly impossible to have a serious discussion with anyone about faith.
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keltic63
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 09:55 Post subject:
| MechEngDropout wrote: | | I'd say I went through all of the above, in the order that you posted them. Rejecting the institution of the church was in part due to the people in the church and my school (Catholic). Outside of a priest, it was nearly impossible to have a serious discussion with anyone about faith. |
and there's another factor: it takes work to develop and think about your faith. I'm not saying that those who shun organized religion are lazy, but I am saying that it takes a real conscious effort that many people may not realize, and/or they may feel that it's not worth the effort because of the reasons listed above.
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bburgoyne26
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:20 Post subject: Re: Shunning Organized Religion
| BamBam wrote: | | Do you think people do this because of the disillusionment with doctrines, a bad experience with a particular church, tired of the associated guilt or just plain laziness? |
From what was posted in the thread that was closed yesterday, and from personal experience, I see a lot of people who have a bad experience with a particular church....maybe internal politics or just a clique within the church that hurts their feelings somehow in a personal manner.
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prohemp
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:24 Post subject:
That’s a great point Steve. I’m catholic and there are a lot of things wrong with the catholic church. I realize that organized religions are run by people, and people are not perfect. If they want to go to hell that’s fine by me, but they’re not taking me with them. I’ve fought some things at my parish and my parish school, sometimes with success and sometimes I’ve run into a brick wall. For instance, currently my archdiocese (lay person - director of 'stuff') is trying to deny me my right to follow my moral conscience (fully developed moral conscience mind you) on a specific issue – however, the right to follow one's Moral Conscience is sacred to the Church. It is primordial, it is inalienable. This person, I hope would know that. Regardless, I have what I believe to be church doctrine on my side and I plan on raising the issue further up the ladder and I expect to get satisfactory results. For them to deny me would be suicidal – especially since they are fighting to maintain conscience clauses for the Catholic health care facilities. Perhaps this is a little game they play, I dunno. But at the end of the day because of my faith I’m still a catholic and I won’t let the people running the catholic church push me out or make me waiver. In my mind it's worth it.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:26 Post subject:
I was disillusioned by some of the members' behavior when outside of church, I've seen better "Christian" ways among atheists. I also disliked how certain sectors of Christians behaved or spoke out against other Christians. Being raised Catholic, I've heard what was wrong with my beliefs from just about every other Christian faith. (usually our lack of Bible knowledge). Maybe it's because of my experiences that I've come to understand my Jewish friends best. They are never quick to tell me what is wrong with my beliefs. They freely explain their traditions and ways without saying "our way is the right way" to me.
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jrjo
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:34 Post subject:
The way I see it, whether it's bad experiences, laziness or disallusionment, it all boils down to priority. If some earthly person or earthly organization can diminish your walk with God to being back burner or even further, nonexistent, that tells me the priority of seeking out God and eternal life are just not a priority. Religion should be a personal relationship between one and their maker/savior. All the earthly hurdles/excuses do little but try to lower the priority of God in your life. Like everything in life, it's a choice. Choosing daily.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:54 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | | The way I see it, whether it's bad experiences, laziness or disallusionment, it all boils down to priority. If some earthly person or earthly organization can diminish your walk with God to being back burner or even further, nonexistent, that tells me the priority of seeking out God and eternal life are just not a priority. Religion should be a personal relationship between one and their maker/savior. All the earthly hurdles/excuses do little but try to lower the priority of God in your life. Like everything in life, it's a choice. Choosing daily. |
but why do you have to seek out an institution? Can't you seek God everyday in your home? Maybe your right, and sitting in the pews amongst hypocrisy and sinners is a testament of my faith.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:55 Post subject:
In my experience, when I actively work to be engaged at some organized place of worship, it's fine. And when I have nothing at all to do with a place of organized worship, it's also fine.
But when I go to a place of worship and I don't work hard to really gain from what's going on, I get nothing out of it and I become kind of angry and resentful. Really, I have no one to be angry at but myself, but I kind of forget that when it's occurring.
I think it's very easy to see what's wrong with a particular organized religion and much more difficult to see what's right. When I go to whatever place, I try to see what's right, so I won't be so turned off that I find myself in that unfortunate space I described above.
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phillycat
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 10:55 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | | The way I see it, whether it's bad experiences, laziness or disallusionment, it all boils down to priority. If some earthly person or earthly organization can diminish your walk with God to being back burner or even further, nonexistent, that tells me the priority of seeking out God and eternal life are just not a priority. Religion should be a personal relationship between one and their maker/savior. All the earthly hurdles/excuses do little but try to lower the priority of God in your life. Like everything in life, it's a choice. Choosing daily. |
I don't believe in God but I do have a very strong faith that I take seriously which has nothing to do with religion. I don't feel that it is an excuse why I don't believe in God or organized religion rather I feel that it was an educated decision that took me many years to make.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 11:07 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | In my experience, when I actively work to be engaged at some organized place of worship, it's fine. And when I have nothing at all to do with a place of organized worship, it's also fine.
But when I go to a place of worship and I don't work hard to really gain from what's going on, I get nothing out of it and I become kind of angry and resentful. Really, I have no one to be angry at but myself, but I kind of forget that when it's occurring.
I think it's very easy to see what's wrong with a particular organized religion and much more difficult to see what's right. When I go to whatever place, I try to see what's right, so I won't be so turned off that I find myself in that unfortunate space I described above. |
hmmmm, I'd have to agree. I still defend the Catholic church, but I've felt it failed me. So maybe you are right, maybe I just expect too much.
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 11:14 Post subject:
I agree with keltic and jrjo
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robp
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 11:26 Post subject:
| runaroundsue wrote: |
but why do you have to seek out an institution? Can't you seek God everyday in your home? Maybe your right, and sitting in the pews amongst hypocrisy and sinners is a testament of my faith. |
I don't believe you have to seek out an institution if you want to seek God. Having had many friends of many different faiths over the years I don't think any one religion is "right". Hypocrites come in all different shapes, sizes and faiths.
The way I see it, if there is a God and I am going to be judged upon my death then I want to be judged by the way I lived my life here on earth. I try to treat other people with respect and I try to obey the laws that govern me. If that isn't enough, so be it.
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jrjo
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Posted: 11/09/04 - 12:11 Post subject:
| runaroundsue wrote: | | Maybe your right, and sitting in the pews amongst hypocrisy and sinners is a testament of my faith. |
There is no pew, including the one I sit in, without hypocrits or sinners, that's the catch.
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