Rick' s Blog on Writing

Organized Religion and Other Thoughts

Getting away from politics a bit......

I thought I'd give a few of my thoughts on the "other" topic that not's discussed with family or friends....lol.....religion.

I grew up "Methodist", and although I attended "Sunday school" weekly when I was a kid, as an adult, I am not active in the Church - in actuality, I pretty much don't attend church unless I'm attending a wedding or funernal..lol.
I have some major "issues" with "organized regigion" -primairly, that (in my opinion) the vast majority of "ceremonies/rituals" are mindless and of "questionable" relevance. I believe in God, but have never believed in a "vengeful" or "sadistic" god.....but a God of Love, mercy, fairness and support. I have read the entire "old testiment" and it if filled with accounts of a "vengeful/angry" god who plays favorites, uses "fear tactics" to control humans, makes "unreasonable" demands......in fact kills whole groups of people/civilizations simply becsuse they oppose or are obsticles for his "chosen" people. Frankly, I simply don't believe these accounts and stories describe the "true" God.....I believe the stories were written by men to control other men......I believe God is total love and does not chose sides or "punish" people for wrong-doing.

I did have a "bad" experience with the Catholic church many years ago - some friends of ours chose us to be god-parents for their son. To make a long story short, because we were not Catholic, the priest decided that we were not "worthy" to be god-parents, and chose "stand-ins" for us. In fact, it was made quite clear to us that we were "literally" not good enough to stand on "their alter". It was arrogant and, I believe, not what God or Jesus would have done.....it was simply a "man" or "group" exhibiting how they feel "superior" to everyone else.

I would consider myself, simply, a child of God. I don't feel that I need anyone else (priest, etc...) to act as a "go-between" for God and myself. I believe God is love - that "he" forgives us for our short-comings (sins) - and that he wants the best for us. I don't believe that it makes any difference whether or not we take part in any "hocus - pocus" rituals or cermonies of "organized religion"
I believe it is absolutely simple - the Key: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" Period! The end!

I belive that what happens in my lifetime is between God and me. I also believe that everyone will be somehow "accountable" for thier actions and deeds in this life - not by being "punsihed" by God, but by a "life review".....we will ultimately know and understand what we did "right" and what we did "wrong".......Karma.....

and then........there's the issue of "rebirth" or "reincarnation" - to learn the lessons that we need to learn.....(but that's a whole other topic...lol.)

Any comments?

Have a great day! and God Bless!