There is no question that organized religion is yet another mechanism to control and exploit people for power and wealth. The concept of god is a creation of primitive societies; the continued extension of it represents the success this concept provides in manipulating the masses.
There is no question that organized religion is yet another mechanism to control and exploit people for power and wealth. The concept of god is a creation of primitive societies; the continued extension of it represents the success this concept provides in manipulating the masses.
Though this is also the conclusion that best fits with my world view, it is well to have the humility to recognize that many wise and well-informed people have a firm belief in God. Many use it for good. My brother is one, and his wife, who became an Episcopalian priest in midlife. I admire them both.
It amuses me that I, of all people, should be standing up for religion. Nonetheless: while many of them are wrong about many things, sexuality and sexual identity in particular, don't you think the concept of sin can and often does reinforce a sense of morality within people, inculcating kindness, charity, compassion, and understanding? Depends on the religion, of course, and how its leaders interpret teachings, but it can be a force for good. I have a bigger problem, actually, with the transactional nature of the concept of sin: god saying, you do something for me and I will do something for you. It's a pretty low level of morality if one is doing the right thing in order to reap a reward or avoid a punishment.
I guess I don't like the controlling aspect of sin by many heads and ministers of religious practices. To instill deep guilt in many to control the many. I guess you can't have people questioning every spiritual belief you tell each week, so they focus on all the ways to go to hell versus the goodness of treating everyone with respect and kindness and caring.
Indeed. That certainly turned me off to organized religion. On the other hand, my sister-in-law is an Episcopal priest and would no sooner threaten people with sin than she would jump off a cliff. I can't hang with the divinity of Jesus (beyond the idea that we're all divine) and I'm an atheist, but her take on the world as a place that can be made more perfect with kindness and love does have an appeal.
There is no question that organized religion is yet another mechanism to control and exploit people for power and wealth. The concept of god is a creation of primitive societies; the continued extension of it represents the success this concept provides in manipulating the masses.
Though this is also the conclusion that best fits with my world view, it is well to have the humility to recognize that many wise and well-informed people have a firm belief in God. Many use it for good. My brother is one, and his wife, who became an Episcopalian priest in midlife. I admire them both.
The concept of sin is a direct means of controlling the actions of parishioners.
It amuses me that I, of all people, should be standing up for religion. Nonetheless: while many of them are wrong about many things, sexuality and sexual identity in particular, don't you think the concept of sin can and often does reinforce a sense of morality within people, inculcating kindness, charity, compassion, and understanding? Depends on the religion, of course, and how its leaders interpret teachings, but it can be a force for good. I have a bigger problem, actually, with the transactional nature of the concept of sin: god saying, you do something for me and I will do something for you. It's a pretty low level of morality if one is doing the right thing in order to reap a reward or avoid a punishment.
I guess I don't like the controlling aspect of sin by many heads and ministers of religious practices. To instill deep guilt in many to control the many. I guess you can't have people questioning every spiritual belief you tell each week, so they focus on all the ways to go to hell versus the goodness of treating everyone with respect and kindness and caring.
Indeed. That certainly turned me off to organized religion. On the other hand, my sister-in-law is an Episcopal priest and would no sooner threaten people with sin than she would jump off a cliff. I can't hang with the divinity of Jesus (beyond the idea that we're all divine) and I'm an atheist, but her take on the world as a place that can be made more perfect with kindness and love does have an appeal.