Why is "Religion" Hated so Much?

[LittleSoldier]

One of my friends is very much against organized religion. He believes in God but he is against organized religion such as Christianity. The reason is because he thinks that Christians take too many rights away from people like him. He thinks that Christians restrict rights to things like abortion, various types of media, and such. He thinks that Christians are too pushy when it comes to their beliefs and that they shouldn’t “shove their beliefs down everyone’s throats”.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am all for restricting and even eliminating abortion. I am also completely for restricting certain types of media; namely pornography. I believe that there are some things that exist in our world which are gravely immoral and which should be eliminated. He thinks its wrong to do that. He thinks is a violation of his and others’ personal freedom.

I get the impression that he is a moral relativist.

 

[LittleSoldier]

You must follow what each person says individually about religion – what they think it is. Then, you may find their misconception.

Jesus said that upon this rock he would build HIS church. There’s only one. We don’t pick and choose the terms.

Religion is ALL about any system of belief and discipline associated with it, including liturgy and worship. You must remember, Protestants look at religion and churches as a smorgasboard, where they pick and choose what they want. They are throwing “sola scriptura” in your face – where they interpret the Bible any which way they want.

You’re not on a level playing field with such people. You cannot tell them anything.

Sadly, I came to that conclusion yesterday. I have been trying to tell one person one thing for well over a year. Every day he posts his misconception and every day I correct it. It makes no difference at all to him and I’m now thinking that it makes no differences to the lurkers, either.

I’m not trying to convert him. I just want him to understand that what he thinks the Church teaches is not necessarily really what the Church teaches. I have asked him to produce verifiable Church teaching to back up his claim and I am ignored. Then he posts the same misconception. If I emphasize his lack of evidence he mocks me.

I fear for these people. There is so much hatred for the Church and so much deceit and yet these people believe they are saved and every sin, even future sins, are already forgiven and they are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. So they can lie all they want and not feel guilty. I know that’s wrong and I think I’m getting off-topic here but it’s very frustrating. Most of the time they will say they belong to a church but they won’t name it.

I’m very frustrated because I feel that I have been called to be an apologist, even if a poor one, but it’s like I’m banging my head against a wall sometimes.

 

[LittleSoldier]

I think it is a weird combination of Evangelicalism and Liberalism.

Liberalism is basically the anti-dogmatic principle that rules our Western Society today. It claims that Truth is relative, (therefore so is Religion) and that everything is OK. You must embrace and celebrate diversity, equality and inclusiveness. Everything is equal, everyone is equal, morality is relative and basically a residue of Medieval intolerance and bigotry, and forced upon mankind by the Church.

Evangelicalism is founded on the emotional experience of accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. That is enough to guarantee your salvation, and freedom from guilt.

When you combine these two, you have what you described.

Thanks for the explanation of Evangelicalism. I don’t know much about it or at least I didn’t know that was what it is called. I do know of the emphasis on a personal relationship and that being enough to ensure salvation no matter what (of course Catholics do have personal relationships with Jesus but for some reason those don’t count).

But I’ve noticed that the people I am trying to discuss this with have damned most of the world. They insist that no Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindu, agnostics, atheists, pantheists - really anyone who isn’t just like them - can be saved, will be saved, will go to Heaven. They also attack what they think are liberal ideas and people they pigeon-hole as liberal.

On the other hand, they do accept any “Christian” faith as long as it is not Catholic/Orthodox - they even deny the doctrinal differences within non-Catholic Christian churches. I’ve even been told there is a “Protestant Church” with established doctrine which is agreed on by all Protestants. When I asked the person who made the claim if he spoke for all Protestants he said, “yes.” When I asked for proof of a central authority in the “Protestant Church” he attacked me and then refused to discuss it further.

I’m beginning to think that, for many non-Catholics, Religion = Catholic Church and that is enough to condemn the Church.

So I’m a bit confused here.

 

[Country_Gal]

What “god” does he believe in, the god of people’s desires and passions? His god sounds like a narcissistic fantasy.

It’s that type of name-calling that repells people from organized religion. Someone doesn’t believe the way you do, so the are living a narcissistic fantasy?

 

[grannymh]

Hi, everyone. I’m sorry I started the thread and then kind of disappeared; there was a death in my family and so everything else got pushed aside.

I will be reading the posts tomorrow as some are very long and have links, which I very much appreciate. This is a topic that has concerned and confused me for some time. I’ve never had what I’ve felt is an adequate response when someone says she hates religion but loves Jesus.

Thanks to everyone; I will be back tomorrow.

My sympathy and prayers for the death of a loved one.

Perhaps there is no adequate verbal response to someone who says she hates religion but loves Jesus.

Perhaps the only response is the example of a person who believes in the “Religion” established by Jesus Christ Whom is loved passionately. Perhaps one could say that going to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receiving Jesus in the Catholic Eucharist is the very best way to love Jesus.

The creation around us reflects God’s love for us. What God has created draws us near to Him. God so loved us that He gave His Son, the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 3:16 & John 14:1-7) Does it make perfect sense that we should respond to God through the Catholic Religion He established with Jesus as the Head?

“Scottish Folds reflect a part of God’s love and pass that love along to us if we are blessed enough to see God’s reflection in a simple cat.” from a post by Little Soldier.

 

[Aussieman88]

I find I am hated more by protestant Christians more than people with no religion.

The protestants I talk to hate religion but especially catholics. The last one I spoke to about that, I asked him why he was so against the catholic church. He didn’t know and said he’d have to get back to me. HA HAHAHAHAHA! He’s just been taught that and that’s why he hates us. He didn’t know.

He got back to me and said it was because we worship false idols being Mary and the saints. They usually quote the bible and say that our traditions make void the power of God. Which is mostly false because they think everything we do is tradition and not bible based. It’s partly true because our set readings and teachings do not allow our priests to be steered by the Holy Spirit to teach us something that God may want us to hear on that particular day.

Most certainly our mass is lacking, in my opinion, what St Paul describes as the full Gospel. He teaches the gospel and then provides a demonstration of Gods love for us via the Holy Spirit. I think we need to tag an extra 30 mins onto the end of the mass for the priest to lay hands on people if they ask for it and to just pray and let the Holy Spirit have some time to do what ever he wants to. Then we might stop being a powerless church. Then we at least have a chance for God to show up and love on us in power and Glory. Then those who are just sunday catholics might see that there’s more to it…

 

[grannymh]

I find I am hated more by protestant Christians more than people with no religion.

The protestants I talk to hate religion but especially catholics. The last one I spoke to about that, I asked him why he was so against the catholic church. He didn’t know and said he’d have to get back to me. HA HAHAHAHAHA! He’s just been taught that and that’s why he hates us. He didn’t know.

He got back to me and said it was because we worship false idols being Mary and the saints. They usually quote the bible and say that our traditions make void the power of God. Which is mostly false because they think everything we do is tradition and not bible based. It’s partly true because our set readings and teachings do not allow our priests to be steered by the Holy Spirit to teach us something that God may want us to hear on that particular day.

Most certainly our mass is lacking, in my opinion, what St Paul describes as the full Gospel. He teaches the gospel and then provides a demonstration of Gods love for us via the Holy Spirit. I think we need to tag an extra 30 mins onto the end of the mass for the priest to lay hands on people if they ask for it and to just pray and let the Holy Spirit have some time to do what ever he wants to. Then we might stop being a powerless church. Then we at least have a chance for God to show up and love on us in power and Glory. Then those who are just sunday catholics might see that there’s more to it…

Wow! It would take a month of Sundays to respond to this comment from the last paragraph in post 43. “Most certainly our mass is lacking, in my opinion, what St Paul describes as the full Gospel.”

The correct name of the Catholic Sunday Worship Service is The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and it happens to be the “full Gospel” in that Jesus Christ, Whom Catholicism teaches as True God and True Man, is truly present in the Catholic Eucharist. (John 3: 16)

It is important to read the context of the last paragraph of post 43 for the suggestion of an extra 30 minutes and this comment: “Then we at least have a chance for God to show up and love on us in power and Glory.” May I gently suggest that people listen to the words which are said during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and count how many times God in His power and glory is present.

Catholics believe that God is Three Persons in One Divine Nature which means that the power and glory of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit is totally present from the Greeting at the beginning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to the Blessing at the conclusion. One of the optional Dismissal sentences is “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” which, by the way, was presented in one of the Scripture readings and often commented on during the homily inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps – maybe one reason that “religion” is hated is that people do not have a clue that God is really, really present in our lives on the planet earth.

So that we do not go off topic,

May I respectfully suggest that another thread be started on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass itself.

 

[DebChris]

I find I am hated more by protestant Christians more than people with no religion.

The protestants I talk to hate religion but especially catholics. The last one I spoke to about that, I asked him why he was so against the catholic church. He didn’t know and said he’d have to get back to me. HA HAHAHAHAHA! He’s just been taught that and that’s why he hates us. He didn’t know.

He got back to me and said it was because we worship false idols being Mary and the saints. They usually quote the bible and say that our traditions make void the power of God. Which is mostly false because they think everything we do is tradition and not bible based. It’s partly true because our set readings and teachings do not allow our priests to be steered by the Holy Spirit to teach us something that God may want us to hear on that particular day.

Most certainly our mass is lacking, in my opinion, what St Paul describes as the full Gospel. He teaches the gospel and then provides a demonstration of Gods love for us via the Holy Spirit. I think we need to tag an extra 30 mins onto the end of the mass for the priest to lay hands on people if they ask for it and to just pray and let the Holy Spirit have some time to do what ever he wants to. Then we might stop being a powerless church. Then we at least have a chance for God to show up and love on us in power and Glory. Then those who are just sunday catholics might see that there’s more to it…

This s differentiates between why religion, the focus of the thread, and Catholicism in particular is hated. It points very much to misconceptions about the Catholic Faith, and the Mass in particular.
In the normal course of worship, there is no need to add anything to the Mass. Occasionally parishes do offer healing Masses in which prayer groups do lay hands on those who request it after the regular Mass. Watch for one in your parish or a nearby parish. In the meantime, learn as much as you can about your own Faith. Attend enrichment programs offered by your parish. During this year of Faith, take time to read The Catechism of the Catholic Church. You might also purchase a copy of the Catholic Answer Bible in order to respond to common misconceptions.

 

[rfournier103]

1. A recent survey stated that people do not hate religion so much as they find it too restrictive. But, due to some recent books and the pagan media, religion, especially Christianity, is presented as bad and not believing is presented as good. For example, on buses in England, there were signs placed on the side which read: “Stop worrying and enjoy life.” Which I take to mean, “There’s no God/gods to judge you so just do whatever.” Sin and judgment? No such thing.
2. You may have come across the term “Cafeteria Catholic.” In other words, Catholics pick and choose what they want to believe or accept. Some common themes here are “I don’t think I can go without contraception or Natural Family Planning doesn’t work for me.” Or, “I’m not going to force my beliefs on others when I vote.” This can include gay marriage, abortion and other subjects where they either firmly disagree no matter what the Church teaches or they are not fully informed about what the Church teaches. The Church is asking the faithful to not present themselves for communion if they are against certain things the Church teaches as true.

freep.com/article/20130408/NEWS05/304080041/Detroit-area-Catholic-leaders-urge-gay-marriage-supporters-to-skip-Communion

And the Prime Minister of Ireland was told he should resign if he supported abortion law.

irishcatholic.ie/20130530/news/catholic-tds-should-resign-not-support-abortion-vatican-S33909.html

1. Some people believe religion is behind most, or at least many, wars and other conflicts, so they reject it and actively speak against it. But let’s not forget that there are people out there who pose as regular people online (called “astro turf”) who are actually paid or who are part of a group that wants to spread the “I hate religion and you should to” idea to others. It’s like advertising.
2. The number of Catholics and the number of men entering seminaries is growing. There are over a billion Catholics out there. Keep that in mind.
3. Some people have created their own personal Jesus. They are trying to convince others that Jesus loves everybody, which is true, but they are using His name to say, “You know what? This group of people aren’t sinning because God loves them as they are.” Uh, that’s only half right. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, not to enable them.
4. Pope Benedict has spoken of a “vague spiritualism” that some have adopted. The principles seem OK without examination. “I’ll just love my version of God, ignore sin and scandal, and not speak up whenever I think the Church is wrong or ‘oppressing’ people.” In other words, “I’ll take what I want from religion, but I will abandon organized religion because telling anyone they are sinning or engaging in public scandal would hurt their feelings.”
5. There is one ex-Catholic on TV who has made it a point to promote his pagan way of life. Another TV ex-Catholic, who recently passed, stated, “There’s no one - up there.” You see, talk show hosts and comedians are promoting the idea that religion is just a load of manure. Get out and enjoy your pagan/hedonistic self while you can. Life is more “fun” when God/religion are dead to you and bother you to the point where you feel compelled to say bad things about it.
6. Have hope. No matter how often you see it, remember it’s the devil doing his job.

Here’s an example of the word religion used in the Bible.

biblehub.com/james/1-26.htm

Peace,
Ed

I think this pretty much hits the nail right on the head. Those poor people… I believe that the IS a God, and that Jesus is His Son…

…but if I were an atheist, I know there’s a big part of me that would be afraid of being wrong. Especially knowing what the consequences could be for non-believers.

 

[eamonnroma]

I can understand why religion is sometimes hated. Just look at the Catholic Church from the Crusades, to sexual scandals and corruption today. For people without faith, what is there to love in these institutions?

 

[The_GreyPilgrim]

I think this pretty much hits the nail right on the head. Those poor people… I believe that the IS a God, and that Jesus is His Son…

…but if I were an atheist, I know there’s a big part of me that would be afraid of being wrong. Especially knowing what the consequences could be for non-believers.

Pascal’s wager…