mark@altos86.UUCP (06/14/83)
Religion, by my definition is a practice. It is a form. It is a predefined way of doing or not doing something. I am not criticizing any particular religion, but the part of all of us (me included) that tends to fall back on a habitual way of doing things. This results in systems of religion that cater to peoples tendency for this. The problem with this is that then the people in these systems value the system more than the still small voice within. This causes us to want to "reform" the system, when actually, a reformed system is still a system. So when some finally realize that they can't reform the system, they leave and start their own religion. Still another system. It seems to me from reading the four gospels, that the people that Jesus most condemned were not those people that were sinning and breaking the Law, but the major beef he had was with the Scribes and Pharasees. He called them viper's brood. He intimated that their father was the Devil. He said they pointed out the specks in other's eyes while neglecting the logs in their own. In the end, it was not the sinners and tax-gathers that put Him to death, but the Religious System of that day. Why didn't Jesus try to reform the Jewish religion into a better religion, one that would please God? Because no religion can please God! He came to abolish all the dead practices of religion and give us Himself instead as the way to please God, and the way to reach God. Religion is in our blood. We would much rather have everything spelled out for us; how to act, what to do, what not to do, etc., than listen to that still small voice within. He is perfectly willing to lead us, but we are not always willing to follow. If we create "Laws" and "Rules" about how we should live, we may keep the law at the expense of God's will for us. Religion is not only apart from God, it is against God! (How can I say that, when it has done so many good things? You may say.) The system of religion gathers up almost all of the seeking ones, the ones that are looking for God and substitutes practices and works for the real thing, subverting God's plan to work His Life into man. There is a story about a man named Nicodemius in the New Testament that I can use as an example. Nicodemius was a good man. He followed all the commandments (probably "went to Church every Sunday"), but still he had a sense that something was missing. He asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Because of his religious upbringing, he had the concept that if he could just "DO" something, he would receive the reward of eternal life. What Nicodemius really needed, however, was not another practice. What he needed was another life! This is what he sensed he was missing. Therefore Jesus answered, "You must be born again." Even after most born again Christians receive this Life, they are immediately inDOCTRIN(E)ated with the idea that THEY must be good, that THEY must resist temptations, and that THEY should strive to please God, never realizing that they were given this new Life for this purpose. This Life is already good, It has already resisted all temptations, and It is the ONLY thing that can please God.
hutch@dadla-b.UUCP (06/15/83)
Mark, you are right as far as you go, but the fact is, "religion" as you described it is a necessary thing for most people. Say that I am reborn. Then, how am I to retain that gift of new life? What am I to do when I am tempted to lapse back into old habits? There has to be a way to develop the strength to resist the lapse. This can most easily and reliably be done by joining with others who are also in possession of this gift. Furthermore, what am I to do now that I find that the "still small voice" has instructed me to join together with these very people? Humans have social patterns of interaction, if we didn't we wouldn't be (sane) humans. By formalizing our habits of worship and celebration of the new life we are given, we can not only strengthen our ability to listen to that "voice within" but we can also make the truths which have given this new life to us, more visible and accessible to others so that THEY can also gain the gift. So please, don't condemn religion, organised or otherwise. If it does things you don't like, change it. If there are people in it who do things you feel are wrong, confront them and work to remedy their actions. Steve Hutchison Tektronix Logic Analyzers
liz@umcp-cs.UUCP (06/20/83)
I think you are using slightly different definitions for the word "religion". It is true that as a Christian, it is necessary to do things which are "religious" but only in the sense that it helps you to grow in knowing God. It is >not< necessary for salvation. This is where Christianity differs from other religions. There is nothing you can do (such as attending church on Sundays) to gain salvation, but when you have received the gift of salvation, your response to God is love and thankfulness which shows in your life as you desire to get to know God better. Now, it turns out that getting together with other people who believe like you do is a big help in knowing God better. So, you go to church on Sunday. The danger is that after you've known God for a while and after he's begun changing you into someone better, you might begin to think this is because of what you're doing and how good it is that you're always in church on Sunday and how you don't steal or kick your dog (...) and how you're so much better than all the other people out there... This is the kind of religious hypocrisy that Jesus hated in the Scribes and Pharisees, and it's the kind of hypocrisy that has turned more people away from God... -Liz Allen