Is there Truth in orginized religions?

[china]

What do we mean by religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Christianity- which are all organized beliefs with their propaganda, conversion, proselytism, compulsion, and so on. Is there any truth in organized religion? It may engulf, enmesh truth, but the organized religion itself is not true. Organized religion is false, it separates man from man. You are a Muslim, I am a Hindu, another is a Christian or a Buddhist - and we are wrangling, butchering each other. Is there any truth in that? I,m not discussing religion as the pursuit of truth, but considering if there is any truth in organized religion. We are so conditioned by organized religion to think there is truth in it that we have come to believe that by calling oneself a Christian, one is somebody, or one will find God. I think that's absurd, to find God, to find reality, there must be virtue. Virtue is freedom, and only through freedom can truth be discovered - not when you are caught in the hands of organized religion, with its beliefs. And is there any truth in theories, in ideals, in beliefs? Why do you have beliefs? Obviously, because beliefs give you security, comfort, safety, a guide. In yourself you are frightened, you want to be protected, you want to lean on somebody, and therefore, you create the ideal, which prevents you from understanding that which is.

 

[Sparrow]

As far as I am concerned most religions have a basic truth. However problem is that man has added his own agenda to these truths. Religions that teach love of each other are good. It is when man add what they call doctrine that it gets sticky. Orginized religions are judgemental and try to control what you say and do with your life contrary to what God gave us "Free Will". The truth is in there and it is simple if you can peel away all the extra baggage. I can remember my father saying that when Jesus was on earth and talked to the people he talked to the simply so that they would understand. He said Jesus was smart and would never have spoken in paraboles because no one would have understood him. He always said that it was man who took the teaching of Jesus and complicated them so that we would have to look up at them for enlightenment and explanation. As far as I am concerned Jesus taught us love and forgiveness and I sure don't need organized religion for that!

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Is there Truth in organized religions?

Not much, in a literal sense. The guys who wrote the Bible, for instance (and I'm sure it *was* entirely men), had a deeply intuitive understanding of human nature, but not much knowledge of anything else, which is why it can't be used as a history book, a science book, a biology book, a geology book, or anything else literal, despite many heroic and misguided attempts to understand it that way. But as didactic literature it's superb.

 

[L Gilbert]

lol The ultimate truth is that man invented faiths, but that's ok, there's still some of we rational people around.

 

[china]

Sparrow:You have a smart father.

 

[AndyF]

china:

The truth would lay in the "Institution" that was established by God. It becomes a task of every person to seek out and belong to that true Church. 2000 years ago that new Church was established, nullifying any church that existed then, and any one that would occur from that day on. An indicator would be that it be Apostolic and that it still exists in the form God intended it to remain in.

If it changed or reformed, then it could only be man that did this, as we would need to assume that God can err, and we know that is impossible. Also it would imply that those worshipping in it from it's inception would be doing so within an imperfect Church that is destined for change.

There are many frauds existing today, and these by definition are merely "organiziations" by the true meaning of the word, as they were "organized" by man, not by God.

AndyF

 

[MikeyDB]

Since you seem to claim insight and knowledge of "god's" thinking...what's the score on the Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup this year???

 

[annabattler]

Religion,and all its' attendant institutions,is,in my opinion,man-made.
The churches' powers,in earlier times,was absolute,very autocratic,and usurped the fledgling government powers of that time.
In North America, churches proved to be the "community hubs',in earlier times,acting as social service agencies,providing schools,etc.
It seems to me that if you hold a certain belief,there is a congregation just waiting to support that belief....God can be whatever you want him to be...
That being said,there are a lot of very spiritual people, who don't need the churches and their hierarchies to support their beliefs that there is a higher power.

 

[hermanntrude]

is there organisation or religion in organised religion?

 

[AndyF]

(double post, deleted)

 

[AndyF]

Since you seem to claim insight and knowledge of "god's" thinking...what's the score on the Maple Leafs winning the Stanley Cup this year???

:thumbup:

Mike, your too kind.! If I had that insight, I wouldn't waste it on the games, I'd go for the 647.

No. Simply passing on the word as we're all instructed to, keeping in mind of course this forum is inter-denominational, ....not that I claim denominations OK. There really should be a sub forum of Christian categories. If there was a Catholic only forum then everyone would recognize the platform in the context.

AndyF