Organized religion question..?

Question

Are most organized religions, and religious people, inclined to learn and teach ethics, or is control often the primary focus? I can see the Christian Bibles'(all versions) teachings are, in a lot of cases, intended to teach people ethics, values..However, in some instances I see religious leaders attempting to control their peers, through covert tactics, and some of the stories in the Bible can be perceived as attempts to control people with fear. Example:"do as I say, or go to hell and burn for eternity"-that type of thinking is found throughout various religious organizations. Didn't Christ teach us to love one another? What does love have to do with burning up in hell?

Answer 1

Why did Jesus have such hatred for the Pharisees?



"Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform. 4 They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. 5 All the works they do they do to be viewed by men; for they broaden the [scripture-containing] cases that they wear as safeguards, and enlarge the fringes [of their garments]. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues, 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. 8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. 11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt. 23:1-12)



Especially note verse 4 and 6-7. Those things they did and present day clergy still practice to be above ordinary men. Yet verses 8-12 identify what must not be done, that the clergies relish.



What they will never admit is that they practice false Christianity. They lie frequently without regard for what the Bible truly teaches. They have not in the last thousand years. Why start now?

Answer 2

Yes, there are extremes in everything, even evangelism.

Some coerce believers into giving by making rash promises, etc.

Then, of course, there are the cults who really DO control people.



God is the ONLY one who knows what you’ve been taught, what you’ve suffered, what you’re thinking and what you’re going thru. He loves you passionately and wants to be your BFF. He has a super-deluxe custom-made plan for your life that’s beyond anything you ever dreamed of. But He waits for us to ask. Invite Him into your heart, ask Him to take over your life. You will instantly feel better. You are His special masterpiece. He planned for you before He even created the universe.



Watch Him ease the stress and give you peace in it's place. He is on YOUR side. He never stops thinking about you. His thoughts toward you are more than the grains of sand on the beach (Psalm 139). He loves you more than you can possibly imagine!



Find a big happy church and join their youth group. Read your Bible, find Christian support groups. Watch Christian programs like Joel Osteen, 700 Club, Daystar, TBN TV. Read Christian books, watch Christian DVDs.

All the above and churches also have wonderful counselors that can help you.



There's so much fascinating information to learn. Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine. You’ll have fun and the rest of your life will be the very best of your life.



Since the bible is the best-selling book of all time, nobody can claim to have even

a basic education without having read and studied it.



I hope this helps; it sure made a huge difference for me :)

They who seek The Lord shall not lack any good thing. Ps. 34:10



Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Ps 37:4-6



Pour out your heart to Him (Ps 62:8) Nothing you say will shock or surprise God.



"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 cor 2:9 WOW!!

Answer 3

The entire concept of Christianity is based on fear, without fear it probably wouldn't be very popular. Religious people control other people by making them fear hell, then saying they can only be saved by doing as the religion says. So basically religious people are always using fear as a means of control. Historically, many civilizations have used peoples fear of hell to make them fight in armies, perform sacrifices etc. Most aren't worried about ethics, they are only worried about doing right "in the eyes of god" so that they will be rewarded, or if they are political leaders, gaining power over others.

Answer 4

No. Teaching ethics is just a cover up.



If I sound evil like the Bible, will you easily follow me? NO



If I sound like I care, I love, I'm a good dude ... I'll have much better chances in brainwashing you



PS: i'm tired to hear the Bible has good moral values. Besides "dont kill" and "don't steal", all the rest is a mean to control humans. It's sad we can't cure believers and save them from that sect

Answer 5

This is a valid question and right on target...you get the ethics, values of the Bible. Primary reason for it is to teach. The writers also added the signs of their times and the way they chose to live their lives and is merely there to teach what not to do, as with religions. Within the contents it explains in varied accounts what is God's laws and how they differ from man's ways or their own laws...and that also applies to the varied beliefs. There is a right way and a wrong way but it's not up to me or anyone else to make someone see this...I can only suggest it..in hopes that they find what I've found.

Those stories that promote fear are examples of those times which were handed down traditionally to this day...some of these stories were meant to be applied with other aspects or books of the bible for reference on how and what to believe in and in some instances the fear factor has been taken out of context because of the use of hell which means common grave when you interpret the Greek and Hebrew words for hell onto the pages of the Bible. The burning of corpses or criminals corpses were done in those days instead of a burial and it was said that they burned in tartarus..which someone replaced with hell...misconstruing the whole concept behind the verse. That is just an example and I may have left out quite a bit of information..but I don't have that info at this time available for 100% accuracy. Gehenna, tartarus, sheol, hades and hell are all used as hell holding different meanings to the verse...which in turn promotes a hell fire for some believers...yet since there really is no contradiction you have to take in mind that that other verse explains that you are not conscious of anything after dying...that the wages for sin is death...you simply die and there will be a resurrection for those who pass judgment and with those not passing judgment they will be unable to have a shot at a second life even in spirit form...Verse speaks of creating a new earth..which means reconstructing the old and those who enter heaven are the ones chosen to lead the new earth and those still in it..toward a totally different way of life...one that was originally intended for us....

About those religions that instill fear...they are promoting what they know...the Bible says all scripture is beneficial for learning...it warns you that if you teach someone it should be with accuracy or you will be responsible for what they believe, as well as responsible for your own actions in judgment. So not only are they risking their own lives they risk the lives of those trusting their knowledge or lack thereof...and this is only if you can grasp the concept of living in a world where it could be forever.

No one really has anything to fear if their heart is in the right place and in fact they do not know anything but what they know. The cruelest punishment is death itself and today that's all we know...that we grow old and die... It's up to an individual to question things out of place or not making sense and to ask for God's spirit to guide you to an explanation that fits the Bibles standards, not our own...and because someone believes differently doesn't mean we turn our backs on them,..we just question the authenticity of what they preach to us or someone else.

In the first few verse of Revelation God isn't pleased with one "Culture" way of practicing his word,in their congregation because they forgot about HIM...the father. He said they did everything right except for that one thing....You can't blame people for handed down traditions..it is all they know and it is on them whether or not they don't question their beliefs or want to know the accuracy behind their beliefs. God will take care of all of this and there will be no more bibles or unanswered questions when the new reign begins...when...I don't have a clue.....

Answer 6

It varies. Wildly. There are fire-and-brimstone "You are all damned sinners who are going to hell" types. There are thoughtful preachers cogitating on moral lessons. And there are at least a few preachers and churches that just seem determined that people know what's in the Bible, and don't seem to care much what they do with the knowledge...

Answer 7

the purpose for all religions is to teach the truth

To teach ethnics and self control

Not to teach hatre, war, murder, mor slavery

to teach the true word of god and to have hope.

The first settlerss in America escaped their native lands in order to practice their form of religion and to escape religious persecution from their own country.



the constitution was designed upon religious principles and ethnics.

Answer 8

You asked, "what does love have to do with burning up in hell?" Long answer perhaps, but it should all make sense in the end.



God commanded Adam and Eve to leave one tree alone and they disobeyed. This shows three things. 1) that obedience to God is voluntary, 2) that disobedience brings consequences, and 3) God loves us enough to pay the penalty for our disobedience if we'll let Him.



If God wanted to prevent sin, then He would have either destroyed Satan before Adam and Eve ever came along or not given them the power of choice. His goal was never to prevent it, but to show His love for us by redeeming us from it.



When Satan sinned, God had a rebellion on His hands. It wasn’t a surprise to Him when it happened, but it did raise two questions that had to be answered. Was He righteous and just in condemning Satan (and by extension all who would follow him), and was His condemnation a sign that he really didn’t have a true sense of love and mercy for His creation?



To answer these questions God created man, a being similar to angels in that both have intellect, agency (free will) and eternal life. Then He gave man a set of laws to live by. If man kept God’s laws he would dwell with God forever, but if he broke even one he would be condemned forever. There would be no loopholes, no favoritism, no exceptions. Righteous laws, perfect justice.



Knowing that man could never keep His laws and would be condemned to eternal punishment, God became a man Himself and bore the penalty for all of man’s sins saying that whoever agreed to accept this substitution would be regarded as though he had never sinned and would have eternal life. Unconditional love, unquestioned mercy.



All of God’s righteous requirements were met by this, there’s no contradiction between His word and His deed. His justice, His righteousness, His mercy, and His love were displayed simultaneously, and because He left the decision to man to accept or reject His act of unconditional love, He did so without violating man’s free will.



At the End of the Age when God gathers all of His creation for judgment, both those who want Him out of their lives and those who want Him in their lives will receive exactly what they asked for forever. It’s absolutely fair and the questions about God’s motives and His integrity will be resolved.

Answer 9

God told Adam for what you have done you will return to the dust. No mention of hell or eternal torment. Wouldn't this be cruel if it were true to not tell your child about what could happen?

Unscrouplous men have used religion to distort men's thinking and get them to do terrible things.

It is humans who came up with the idea of hell and eternal torment.

Answer 10

nicely, prepared faith components an enterprise, this is, human beings that may assist you on your adventure. human beings to help you on your desire and grant an highway on your provider. while you're speaking approximately Christian religions, then you definately ought to evaluate the biblical kind, which evidenced an prepared faith with leaders, and doctrine, and formality. while you're only speaking a pair of thoroughly individual perception equipment, then that is completely individual.

Answer 11

As Joseph Smith taught, "teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves."

Answer 12

Cults of the sixties and the Inquisition. I agree with you; organized religions have nothing to do with what Jesus was sent to do ie spiritual freedom. Thats why I don't go to church.