Why do people not like Organised Religion?

[jlhargus]

I would say that many people just don’t like institutions micromanaging things that are considered personal. One sees this preference also with politics and the distrust of the federal government.

I wouldn’t like nor belong to an institution that micromanages. I want one that teaches the gospel truth in season and out. That’s why I’m Catholic among other reason.

And disorganized religion? I wouldn’t call it that. There are many religions throughout the world, from Hinduism to Shintoism to Christianity. Lots of choices, which is something we tend to like. At least those in the Seeker generation do. Others have different ways of finding faith.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. It is a gift of God we can choose to accept or choose to reject at anytime, we always have free will choice.

Those who choose NOT to go with an organized tradition have strong reasons from my experience.

My experience those who choose not to go with organized religion are those who want to be their own pope and many times because they want to live contrary to the gospel.

 

[Holly3278]

I am not entirely sure why people do not like organized religion but I think perhaps that it is because of all the rules that often goes along with organized religion. What people don’t realize though is that those rules, in the case of the Catholic Church at least, are for their benefit.

 

[auctoris]

That is a good point. Although, if all of the people who ran your favourite restaurant were found to be child molestors you probably would no longer eat at that restaurant. And, if even only one of the employees were found to be a child molestor, but the owners covered it up, and kept the offender employed, then you would probably still not eat at that restaurant. So I could see why some people could be disillusioned if there is a cover up in the Church.

I understand, and you have a good point. However, my analogy was imperfect. Imagine there is a hospital filled with thousands of doctors and nurses. It is the only hospital available to you. You learn that some of the doctors have molested children and that some in the administration covered it up. However, the situation is now being handled appropriately although it wasn’t for years. Problems could still arise, but they are aware of it and working on it.

You get an acute case of appendicitis with the possibility of a rupture. Do you stick it out on your own because the hospital had some child molesting doctors and poor administrators? Do you stay out of the hospital because it’s filled with sick people and you don’t like sick people? Do you go to the hospital and try to get it fixed understanding there will be sick people? Doctors included.

We are all ill with sin. We only have one hospital–the Church. Either we work with the imperfect human organization we have or stick it out on our own and home our disease doesn’t make our lives miserable.

Also, some move to Protestantism because it doesn’t have the same problem. But it does have the same type of problems. Due to its decentralized structure, there’s is even less accountability for many in the church. It’s not that problems don’t occur, it’s that you don’t hear about them.

So we are left with the same dilemma. Attempt to handle our illness on our own or use the hospital Jesus created and told us to use in spite of humans being involved with it.

 

[neophyte]

Why do people not like what is known as organised religion,… Any reason?

In my case, it was because I wanted to be able to do whatever the hell I wanted while still congratulating myself for being “spiritual, not religious”.

 

[auctoris]

In my case, it was because I wanted to be able to do whatever the hell I wanted while still congratulating myself for being “spiritual, not religious”.

Thanks for the honesty.

 

[Kay_Cee]

Why do people not like what is known as organised religion

Perhaps they prefer disorganized religion.

 

[fred_conty]

Any time the subject of the Church Hierarchy coming into conversation it is usually in a negative tone, and this is common. Why do people not like what is known as organised religion, what is the main reason, is it because of the scandals but even though all major institutions has had the same problem. Can someone explain it to me because even when I wasn’t religious I didn’t dislike or hate the Church, I just didn’t think of it.

I see it now more than ever and I cant get my head around it. Any reason?

I believe if people saw Catholics really care and love one another, that this attraction would draw people to the church.
The church isn’t the buildings, but people gathered together to share their faith and love for God and for one another. And people who want no part of organizations do not see this as a group of people sharing and inspiring each other ideas about Jesus and thus growing closer to Jesus and each other. So they draw the conclusion that it won’t help them to belong.

But everyone needs fresh ideas. A person becomes stale if they keep mulling around in their head their own thoughts. There is no growth there in doing that. They need the help and experience of other warm bodies to help them further in their journey with Jesus.

One of the greatest advantages of organized religion, that is the bishops and priests, is making available to those who come, the real manna from heaven … the body and blood of Jesus. To receive forgiveness in the sacrament of forgiveness. And to share prayers and concerns with others in the mystical body of Christ.

So the error made is not understanding what an advantage it is to have what Jesus left to us when he said “I will be with you all days until the end of the world.” And “I will not leave you orphans.” Which we see on Pentecost with all the followers of Jesus together in an upper room when the Holy Spirit came down upon them.

As social beings we also owe to God to come together to give him the love and praise from his family gathered to do this. As a hymn expresses it, “we are one body…”

 

[Tomdstone]

Any time the subject of the Church Hierarchy coming into conversation it is usually in a negative tone, and this is common. Why do people not like what is known as organised religion, what is the main reason, is it because of the scandals but even though all major institutions has had the same problem. … Any reason?

My guess is that it is more than one reason. And it very likely will be a different set of reasons for each different organised religion. For example, I have heard some say that they do not like Catholicism because of:
the Inquisition
the Jesuit slave trade (Georgetown university)
Burning at the stake was permitted for heresy
Artificial birth control being a mortal sin, particularly for married couples with several children suffering under economic hardship.
scandals
celibacy of priests
only males allowed to be priests
Jesus never mentioned Purgatory or Indulgences
Statues are forbidden by the Protestant Ten Commandments.
Jesus said to call no man father.
An all loving and all merciful God would not send a person to everlasting fire in hell for eating a hot dog on a day of abstinence, supposing that the person was a virtuous person otherwise.
the fourth Crusade
Political situation in Croatia during WWII, Jasenovac camp, with some members of the clergy involved.
etc.

 

[phil19034]

My guess is that it is more than one reason. And it very likely will be a different set of reasons for each different organised religion. For example, I have heard some say that they do not like Catholicism because of:
the Inquisition
the Jesuit slave trade (Georgetown university)
Burning at the stake was permitted for heresy
Artificial birth control being a mortal sin, particularly for married couples with several children suffering under economic hardship.
scandals
celibacy of priests
only males allowed to be priests
Jesus never mentioned Purgatory or Indulgences
Statues are forbidden by the Protestant Ten Commandments.
Jesus said to call no man father.
An all loving and all merciful God would not send a person to everlasting fire in hell for eating a hot dog on a day of abstinence, supposing that the person was a virtuous person otherwise.
the fourth Crusade
Political situation in Croatia during WWII, Jasenovac camp, with some members of the clergy involved.
etc.

What are reasons you’ve heard for not liking the Eastern Orthodox Church?

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

A friend of mine, an atheist does not like organized religion for they all “grub for money.”

You may want to show your friend this article: patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/17/the-economist-estimates-the-catholic-church-spent-171600000000-in-2010/

The writer, an atheist, was shocked that the Catholic Church, by estimates of The Economist, spent around $170 billion in 2010. He thus concluded that the world would be better served by selling the Vatican and use the proceeds to feed the world.

And then, of course, the commenters noted that, by the same estimates given by The Economist quoted by that same writer in that same article, the Catholic Church used around 90% of that budget for charitable work.

LOL