| Q: Religion is slavery! You become automatons, incapable of enjoying life's pleasures. |
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In our country you can be forced to join the union, at work. (You'll be fired if you refuse.) But nobody ever makes you join a church. But you religious nuts can't stop! It's an addiction. You're helpless, like alcoholics and smokers. As Karl Marx said, it's "the opium of the masses". The DSM4 defines "addiction" as something you can't stop, but want (and need) to stop because it's damaging you. Most smokers will tell you sadly "I wish I could stop". But when did you ever hear a Christian say that? We're not helpless - we're having a wonderful time doing what we want. And it's not damaging us. We actually live longer! Ah, but you're not free - you're slaves to fear! Terrified of this mythical "Jealous God". Yes. You're right ... for some religions. They say you'll go to "Hell" (Hades, Gehenna, Sheol, whatever) if you're not a good boy. Jesus himself told religious leaders "You scour the earth to find one convert, and then you make his life twice as miserable" (with all your regulations and fears). But what does Jesus offer? "God sent Jesus to die for us, so that we have been made right in God's sight. We have been restored to friendship with God, by the death of His Son, and will certainly avoid eternal punishment." Jesus has paid the price, suffered in Hell for us, we are forgiven and won't go there. So no, we aren't terrified! We won't go to hell, even if we don't behave well. We don't act out of fear - we act out of GRATITUDE, for the amazing thing that Jesus has done for us. Well, I still say you're fanatics. You're indoctrinated, unbalanced, driven - you can't think about anything else - you have no choice.
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If you live near Pakistan and you tell them you've become a Christian, you may lose your job, your house, and maybe your life. But hey - there are no countries where you get punished for LEAVING Christianity. We're actually free, to believe or not.
Comments
cheers
Dave
pastor john is a friend of dr tony. they come to guyana and do voluntary work primarily at st joseph mercy hospital. however, they also do some other stuff and our church, the king of glory lutheran is one of their chosen sites. they both preach here.
pastor john focused on slavery and freedom in the two sermons he delivered. we like him because he forces us to think outside the box.
he using the scriptures shoowed us that as christians we are really selling ourselves into the service of others so that we reflect the same self sacrificising love that our Lord Jesus Christ embodied.
Paul often boasted of such self enslavement.
Now concerning the fear of racism. i am a product of colonial enslavement and my intention is not to ofend any one. i meant no harm and sincerely apologise if i cause any. but most of the time when i look at what my pastor does and what dr tony and pastor john do for us the image of voluntary enslavement come to mind.
they ask for nothing, they are constantly working, they never complain, they use their own resources and they make it look as if we are doing them a favour.
it is experiences like these that keep people like me grounded when the going get rough. i see Christ's self sacrificising love in the work they do.
I try not to interpret my views solely from my own experience or wounds.
there is alot of different kinds of churchs, and some are legalistic for sure, but many are journeying together. One beggar showing the other beggar where the bread is.
It can be a healthy community learning together (not pretending to have all the answers)
Dave
In light of this type pf reasoning it could be argued that the christian reigion endorses slavery. In this regard St Paul boasts of his captivity.
(actually they are a cult)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQeUtfFoRG0
hopefully soon they will lose there tax exempt status. the problem is that may open the door to challenge the tax status of real churchs that are out there helping their communities and providing services like food banks etc.
People see unhealty religious stuff and paint all churchs the same
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