Organized religion

[chaunceygardner]

Can someone explain to me the objections against organized religion? I don’t see how someone could be against Catholicism, Orthodoxy, etc. just because of its leadership structure and/or liturgical aspects. Or is it more to it than that?

I think there could be several reasons, probably as many as there are relgious denominations. Those reasons would vary by individuals. Some people rebel against what they perceive as the oppressive rules and structure of some religions. Others may have had negative personal experiences with a church, a parish, a priest or minister, etc. Some people may have a closer allegiance to a local church than to a national or international organization (we are currently seeing splits in some denominations over doctrine that are resulting in local churches breaking off from the larger organization). Some of it may be due to the history of that religion and what some would see as great hypocrisy between what they preach and what they do.

Some people may not like having to adjust their particular views to those of the organized church. There are people who, if they can’t find a church that fits them, will start their own!

I don’t think that people are against organized religion as a whole due to liturgy; but they may choose one church over another because of it.

 

[Drawmack]

I agree they are certainly not opposed. Unfortunately the lines are blurred in some churches who equate anything formal as continuation of the OT Law, legalism, institutionalism, etc…etc… If I had to guess, I would guess this occurs more in so-called “non-denominational” churches.

First, I think it is a bit rude to say a particular Christian group is so-called and to put their identifier in quotes. This is actually the fallacy of the accent.

Secondly, I don’t think that any group is more prone to it than any other group. I think that it is on the individual. After all, I once heard a Bishop, during the Homily in a Liturgy of the Word, condemn spirituality as heresy and say we didn’t need spirituality because we had religion.

 

[Drawmack]

You missed the point completely!

No, Simon – I think you did.

 

[Drawmack]

Drawmack Wrote:
Re: Organized religion

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Quote:

I don’t think Simon X has explained what was meant by the posted comment about comparing organized religion to other forms of gov’t etc. What I see from the post is that humans being as they are need a form of unity and organization to help form themselves properly. That is what I would gleen from the comment. Hope this helps.

mdcpensive1

My problem with those post is not what Simon intended, it is what Simon said. You see, I’m human and as such my ability of perception is limited. Therefore I can never know what someone means, I can only know what someone says. If Simon meant to create a thesis statement then he should have done so in the form of a statement. Instead Simon decided to as a question and in the process he compared his faith to secular entities. If you want someone to know your intent, tell them your intent. If you want someone to give you an affrontatious and childish response then ask them an affrontatious and childish question.